TheBanyanTree: Honey shows her true colors

[Monique Young]

She's the color of honey, but that's not what we're talking about here. She
has a new sibling to contend with, a little Black Lab/Blue Heeler, and her
attitude the past week has been one of aloofness. To see them together one
would think she had no interest in him whatsoever, that he was the
proverbial thorn in her side, but now and then, when she thinks no one's
watching, she can be caught grooming him or letting him climb on top of her.


            She wants to keep herself separate from him. He's an intruder, a
bothersome toddler who's everywhere at once, he's a puppy like puppies will
be, and she is an older mature dog, calm and set in her ways. She has no
time for a puppy. 

            Yesterday the two of them were on a walk together, as they often
are these days. He tries hard to keep up with her, but he's so much smaller
there's quite a bit of running on his part. She doesn't pay any attention to
what he's doing, just goes on her walk as always, Ash trailing along behind
with her person who accompanies them on all walks. She doesn't really care
what Ash wants to do or where he wants to go, but that is the same
consideration she's always shown her walkers, so it's not as if there's any
change. 

            And then the poodle appeared. A poodle, of all things. Said
poodle apparently did not like the look of little Ash, and made as if to
attack the little guy. Actually did get his mouth, and the attached teeth,
firmly into Ash's fur before the melee. Honey, who has morphed into a well
behaved dog around other animals, Honey, who has learned her manners and how
to act civilized even as all her doggie instincts are screaming "Attack!",
decided no one was touching her Ash, and she made a vicious all-out assault
on the poodle. 

            Unfortunately, the attack was not well planned strategically,
and Honey somehow sat on Ash during the confusion, though perhaps this was
part of her plan to keep him safe. It's hard to tell, because no one's
talking. 

            Honey, Ash, and the vicious poodle are all fine, though their
handler was a bit frazzled by the festive nature of the events. Honey still
tries to act as if Ash has no effect on her, as if he's an interloper best
ignored, but now we know the truth. Anyone who tries to hurt Ash must deal
with Honey first, and she's a formidable opponent. No one's going to harm
her pet, not if she has anything to say about it.