Life with a Tibetan Mastiff

I get occasionally asked what it’s like to live with “those dogs”.  My responses vary, depending on the situation, the person asking, my mood….everything from highly insulting (towards my dog!), to amusing, to deadly serious.  But sometimes the anecdotes just write themselves.

A note, when I refer to Apollo barking in “full voice”: legend says that a TM’s voice could be heard from mountain to mountain, and while that might be exaggeration they do have one hell of a bark when they get pissed off.  In close quarters its deafening.  It makes your average GSD’s bark sound high pitched and wimpy.

So, the other day…….

Apollo is sound asleep in the kitchen, the room furthest from the road.

Wakes from a sound sleep POSITIVE that the invading hordes are about to break down the door. Charges the front window in full on guard mode, complete with aggressive posture and full voice:

BARK BARK BARK

Bounces off the window, still in full voice:

BARK BARK BARK BARK

Actually stops barking long enough to look out the window. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING OUT THERE CAUSE I HEARD IT!!!!!!

BARK BARK BARK BARK

Stops and looks out the window again. Dammit. I know I heard something!

BARK

Looks out window.

Chuff Chuff Chuff

Sigh Must have scared it off.

Chuff

Sigh Flops down in front of the window for the rest of his nap.

Snore