Taking a walk with Brody is a unique and sometimes embarrassing experience.  There is a prelude that occurs when I start putting on my shoes and coat.  Brody thinks I’m taking him for a walk regardless of what Im actually planning to do.  He whines and howls quite flamboyantly.  If I happen to grab his leash, he begins barking loudly, right in my ear as I’m bending down to clip it on his collar.  Getting Jake ready to accompany us on our outing is no easy task.  Brody bounces up and down, barks, howls and interferes with my effort to leash Jake.  I have tangled leashes before I even get the door open.

Brody greats the outside world with incessant barking as we set off.  While Jake trots faithfully at my side, Brody darts back and forth yanking on the leash.  Just about everything we encounter Brody deems worthy of a bark; holiday decorations-bark; garbage cans at the curb-bark, bark; a pedestrian out for a stroll-bark, bark, bark!  If that pedestrian happens to have a dog in tow, Brody launches into a barking frenzy.

The embarrassing part of the walk occurs when I attempt to reign him in to stop him from barking.  As I bend down and pull him close, he yipes like he’s been hit by a car.  Oh, well.  We do love you Brody!  It’s a good thing you’re so cute!