I made sure I greeted the the Working Girl first: a little brown and white whippet, about waist high on Wolfie. I was ready in the way I’d told Wolfie to approach dogs: hand palm down and limp, wrist out. She sniffed it, and moved on to Wolfie. Wolfie started a bit (we’re working on that - that’s what got me bitten - someone else starting as the dog sniffed me) and when the dog sniffed him and moved on, he was fine. He even walked around a bit, watching the Working Dog on her rounds, fascinated.

Actually, we meet lots of nice dogs, all the time. The last time I was bitten, well, I was following the rules, and the dog, when spooked, bit me (prior to spooking he was sniffing my wrist).

But Wolfie is a bit scared of dogs. We’re working on it. Cats are getting better; he’ll pet them and they’ll accept it, everyone goes their own way. This working dog is a sweety, though, and just right for him, so we’ll visit her when we’re in the area.

Some of our family, friends, and neighbors have pets, mostly dogs. We’ve been using the pups as object lessons on how to “talk to dogs” and work with them: Let them smell you and get to know you, then you guys go your own ways. Some dogs love being loved, though, and are quite loveable, but are a little Too Much for him yet.

But like hair cuts and swimming lessons, we’re Getting There.

Little steps. Little steps.