The Alpha?

Here's a couple more of my Christmas cards with Molly that I sent out years ago. Molly as the alpha, being Rudolph, leading the way for Santa's sleigh. And the other card I just love the look on Molly's face. I think her expression seems like the elves are really there on her back, bothering her while she's trying to take a nap. She probably was taking a nap and I bothered her to take a picture.

Molly was the alpha in our relationship in so many ways. I took her for a walk sure, but she led, we went where she wanted to go and went home when she was good and ready. If she was in the mood for a long walk we'd go and go and she would eventually sit down and give me a look like okay, pick me up, I'm tired and I want to go home and I'm not walking back! She was tiny but after a few blocks she got heavy. I tried to walk her in circles when she was in that mood, but again, she was the alpha and led me where she wanted to go. And I'm a sucker for a cute face.

For a few months now, I've been helping out my neighbor who had surgery on her knee, by walking her dog Trixie. Trixie again is the alpha, she leads me. Trixie has lots of routines. Depends on her mood day by day. We go north, south, east or west, she puts her little nose up in the air, catches a smell and off we go. She loves to go by the houses of people who have dogs, she's tormenting them. Really. I think when she walks by and starts barking she's saying, ha ha I'm out and you're not. And then every walk before going home we have to sit around the block in front of DJ's house. DJ is another one of my four-legged neighbors, very sweet. DJ's parents always give Trixie a treat and she will wait until they come out of the house no matter how long it takes. I feel so funny standing there, I feel like a stalker. But DJ eventually starts barking and gets his owners to take him out. He greets Trixie, she gets her treat and we get to go home. Trixie in the lead!

If it's raining, Trixie does not get out of bed. I've knocked on the door on rainy days when it's just drizzling or even when the ground is just wet after the rain has stopped, but Trixie's mom says that Trixie is still in bed. She knows it's raining, can smell and hear it and stays warm and snugly under the blankets, wont budge. Smart cookie that cutie!

I'm not the only one letting their four-legged family member lead. Trixie is the alpha in her house and I bet there are more Molly's and Trixie's out there leading the way. The Alphas!