I seem to have hit prime dog-walking time for this evening’s outing.

The park was crawling with canines, most of them relatively well behaved. Even ours

There was also some soccer practice going on, which was beyond exciting for the boys, as their latest toy has been a soccer ball. I’m sure they couldn’t figure out why I wouldn’t let them go chase the darn thing.

Tango & Cash got up close but not too personal with a gorgeous, very well-mannered pit bull. He was the size of a Smart Car and had a coat like chocolate velvet with a demeanor to match. Even when the boys got a bit feisty & restless, he stayed relaxed.

Of course, the prevailing odor led me to conclude it was prime marijuana smoking time at the park, as well. Perhaps the pit bull was just mellow from a contact high.

Guess it’s a good thing we left before he got the munchies.

Someone drove a van down the alley today and spent almost 10 minutes out there chatting and unloading things into the dumpster – and the puppies didn’t make a peep. In fact they barely glanced that way. I’ll consider that a win.

One of my goals with these pups is that they don’t grow up to be barkers. I so don’t want to be that neighbor, the one that allows their dogs to yap incessantly or whine for hours. Not only for the stress that causes anyone in the vicinity forced to listen to it, but also for the trauma to those poor dogs. What kind of person would allow their pet to be that unhappy?

On a related note, I met one of my neighbors this morning. He has an annoying, yapping dog and when we take our walks, he inevitably goes off. Though Tango & Cash used to react to him, they barely even look his direction anymore. Poor little, lonely dog’s human came out this morning to tell me he doesn’t appreciate me getting his dog all riled up, as if it is our fault his dog is so high-strung pedestrian traffic makes him climb the walls. Seriously.

There really isn’t another way out of my cul de sac-ish street so, if I am going to walk, I am going to pass that house. I’ll try to pass it faster, and when we can walk in the street, we will. Not so much for the jerk of a human, but for that poor little dog – that guys seems like the type to hit a critter for doing what comes naturally.

Or maybe I can bring an extra leash and we can take him with us