Making Friends

Azuki has made lots of friends at the nearby square which I take her to romp around off-lead. Almost every day at sunset, dog owners with dogs of all breeds and sizes congregate there to chat while their dogs sniff each other, play with each other, or just sit around quietly and enjoying the scenery.

Azuki has become quite popular there, because she is friendly with every human and canine alike. She has so much energy that she can usually wear out a few dogs before she gets tired, so they appreciate the fact that Azuki helps them exercise their dogs. They also find it incredible that I let her run around like a wild animal, running through bushes, rolling in mud, eating grass and dirt...and calling her back to get treats only when she strays too far. I am, in fact, only letting Azuki be who she really is--although I do dress her in ridiculous outfits, I never forget that she is a dog and needs to be fulfilled in a primal way. In one of her previous lives, she must have been a cheetah, because she certainly runs fast enough. No dogs so far has been able to catch up with the elusive Azuki, who darts in and out of bushes and dashes off, flirting with the boy dogs who tries to pounce on her.

The above pictures are two of her poodles friends. The red one's name I cannot remember, but the gray one is called Junior-chan. They are both friendly dogs who love to play with Azuki. Well, the female red poodle likes to play, but Junior is more interested in just humping Azuki. Mind you, he is only about half of her size, but is extremely bold and frisky. EVERY SINGLE CHANCE he gets, he tries to hump her. His owner and I have to peel him off of my poor pup. Azuki always looks a bit confused when this happens.

I know in the dog world this is probably a dominant gesture more than anything, but I simply do not like to see a boy dog hump my girl dog. She is still a teenage pup, which would be equivalent to statutory rap in human legal terms! And although she is a bit wild, she certainly isn't an easy gal. Well, at least I wouldn't think so. We will never find out since I had her spayed at 6 months, so the poor thing will never quite experience true womanhood.

Believe it or not, mainly due to Azuki's influence, the owner of the two poodles are sending her dogs to the same puppy kindergarden! I never thought Azuki would actually pose as a GOOD role model...certainly not as advertisement for good training. But I guess it's more of her sunny disposition that attracts people. All in all, she is a high-maintenace, at times exasperating, but very good-natured pup with lots and lots of love to give.