After several unsuccessful attempts to return her to the woods, I gave up and decided to walk her down the road toward her house. Trotting alongside me willingly, she was perfectly happy to go anywhere I took her. Just as we reached the driveway I saw her master getting into his truck. When he saw us he got out of the truck, and walked toward us. Of course, he recognized me and seemed abashed that we were meeting again like this. We chatted for a few minutes, I turned to go, and Aspen started to follow me. Her master tried every command he had to get her to come home, but she wouldn’t budge. Finally, he bribed her with treats & she headed up to the house with him.
I hurried away down the road, chuckling to myself about this latest encounter. I hadn’t been afraid of her this time, in spite of her size and undisciplined nature, and was sure we’d built a friendly relationship. Ten minutes later, well over halfway home, a pair of joggers came running up the road behind me. One of them called to me “is that your dog back there?” I was surprised, laughed and said “no, but she likes me.” He called “well, she’s headed this way.” What? Within a minute, I heard a loud diesel truck coming up from behind me and slowing down as it closed in on me. I looked up and there was Aspen’s master driving, window down, and grinning at me. “I got ‘er” he called, waved and away they went.
I haven’t encountered a free-roaming Aspen again since that incident, but she greets me from her porch every morning. I call to her, wave, and sometimes Vicky comes out to see what all the barking is about. We too, have become friendly, so that she’ll call to me and I feel comfortable enough to walk up the driveway to the porch. Aspen, with back feet planted and front paws on the railing, tries to lunge at me when I reach out to pet her. I never stay long and I always leave smiling.
As the winter months have rolled by, the secret of my solitary walking route seems to have been exposed. I have regularly been meeting two or three cyclists and five or six other walkers. I don’t know their names but happily, I’ve met and remember the names of their walking mates. Ebony, Cognac, Zoe, Nico and Lulu have joined Aspen in my circle of four-legged friends.
Once again, I’ve joyfully become the lady with the dog biscuits.
Aspen the lab hanging over the fence.
Wilma C. Guzman4 years ago
So nice to hear how you have connected with your neighbours through their dogs. They trust you because their dogs trust you. We need to find new ways to connect. I may be known as the lady who picks up plastic bottles while walking my dog. Thanks for sharing.