Note to Self: Drink Morning Coffee BEFORE Walking Dog

In the couple of weeks that we’ve had a dog, I’ve found myself on more than one occasion explaining something to the dog in considerable detail. Yes, I know that while dogs can learn to recognize commands, generally single word commands, they don’t really understand us.

So the other morning I’m out walking the dog at the butt-crack of dawn, and we come upon a woman walking two dogs.

I should mention at this point that having gotten Bailey from a shelter, we’re still not certain how she will react in various situations, particularly when other dogs are involved. Sometimes she lunges, sometimes she cowers, sometimes she’s indifferent.

This particular morning, she seemed mildly curious, so I let her edge toward the dogs (both of whom where smaller than her, but not tiny). I was trying, with a soothing voice, to encourage her with, “just say hello . . . just say hello.”

After a few moments of silence, the woman walking the other dogs says, “Oh, um, good morning.” I was in such a just-woke-up-fog that I didn’t realize until a few minutes later that the lady thought I was talking to her, not my dog.