Walking with Sable

Sable and I go for a walk every morning in the pre-dawn light, rain, fog, snow, or sunshine. We occasionally go for afternoon or evening walks on especially nice days or when Sable has been an extra, good girl.

Like any dog, Sable loves to be out and about sniffing trees, shrubs, grass, etc. and adding her scent wherever she feels it is necessary. Our morning walks are generally 1 to 3 miles, traversing various streets throughout our neighborhood. Sable and I are well acquainted with all the houses that have dogs, most of which bark at us as we walk by.

During the past year, Sable has started to look for one particular neighborhood dog, a shepherd mix. When we are a few houses away from the shepherd's house, Sable starts to get a little excited and pulls on the leash to get to the house quicker, the whole time she is looking at the house to get the first glimpse of the shepherd. Once the dogs have made eye contact the shepherd jumps up and down a bit and might bark once. Sable responds by prancing and pulling harder on the leash as we continue walking. The shepherd runs behind the house to get to the other side and leaps to put its front paws on the top of the chain link fence. Sable doesn't bark, she just continues to prance away down the sidewalk.

I think Sable is just a big tease! It is as if she enjoys seeing this shepherd behind the fence as she saunters away in her "freedom". There are many other dogs in fenced yards that Sable passes, but it is only the shepherd that gets the prancing dance from her. I know I'll never understand Sable's reaction to this particular dog, but I do know I'll never tire of Sable's antics.