Belle and The Neighborhood

As Belle continues to live within our household, there are several interesting things that need to be noted.

First and foremost, she is extremely territorial. One day, she stood on the sidewalk of a house when the couple who owned the house were returning home from their walk, and refused to let them get around her. Think a small fuzzy Gandalf saying "you shall not pass!" But Belle has gotten smarter the longer she lives here, and started to realize who goes with what house so these types of incidents have significantly reduced, although not extinguished because . . .

Secondly, Belle loves the children in our neighborhood. Nothing pleases her more than to have three or four small children running their hands over her body. She wags her tail and is very happy to see them. But if there is a strange adult around who normally is not seen within our neighborhood, she will actually move the children behind her, and raise hackles and growl at this unknown stranger. Could be an aunt or an uncle visiting. Not her concern. To her, this is someone near *her* children, and she must protect what is part of her domain.

Finally, Belle loves to lick. She will lick the children as they pet her; she likes to lick people's hands or feet. Belle enjoys tasting people.

So yesterday we were out walking and one of the children spotted us through his window and made his mother bring him outside to see the doggies. Now, children all have their own idiosyncrasies and as 2.5 year old, this child had made the decision today that he was not going to wear pants or underwear. Today was this child's day to let it all "be free" so to speak. So, Belle recognizes Mom (this is good), Belle enthusiastically greets child (this is good) and Belle starts to lick (now, this could get interesting).

It was with great care that The Woman guided Belle while Mom guided her child. Belle's nose was at the same height for a potential licking fest at what could be conceived as an amazingly inappropriate action. I myself get scolded if I spend too much time cleaning myself there or make too much slurpy sounds (it appears that one is not suppose to clean oneself during a dinner party). But no harm, no foul. Belle's enthusiasm for seeing her friend was contained appropriately and all parties breathed a sigh of relief as the child ran over to the neighbor's house to say "hi" to all his friends there.



I Am Shiba. Next Up, How Belle Almost Took Down A Pizza Delivery Boy.