This morning the beagle and I encountered a woman across the street walking toward us with her Malinois.
The Malinois did what they do in the city. It ignored the cars passing by with the disdain of a dog who sees no future in leaping through the window of a slow-moving Prius to apprehend a Whole Foods vegan chicken nugget. It froze in position. It honed in on the beagle.
The Malinois’s owner did what remarkably good owners do: backed up a few steps, and called her dog to her, offering a treat for attention and asking for some behaviors. The dog was missing a front leg, and the owner kept enough pressure on the leash to maintain control without jeopardizing the dog’s balance. He eventually moved, but his focus was still squarely on the little squeaker toy at the end of my leash.
The beagle looked at me, as I’ve taught her to do in almost all situations requiring judgment because her decision tree is 100% based on, “Ignore danger seek food.” Nothing about that Malinois would have prevented her from going for the treat he was being offered.
I backed myself and the beagle behind a large maple tree, pulled out my phone and, with one eye on the pair across the street dialed my friend, who answered.
“Oh my god,” I whisper shouted into the phone, “I just saw a Malintrois!”
I was an animal behavior and training professional for over forty years, and while a lot of things changed over that time, one thing remained constant: Breed people don’t think you’re funny.
There are some accomplishments I’m proud of in my life, though I can’t think of any at the moment except this one: I did not blurt that out to the woman walking her dog.
This personal growth shit is awesome.
“Ignore danger seek food!” Yep, this is truly the way of the Beagle!! Loved this post!!
Bwahahaha! Love “Malintrios!” Going to keep me grinning all day!