Pit Bull On His Leash!

Back in college a friend/roommate and myself came up with this term "pit bull off her leash". We used it to describe when people, mainly girls, got super angry about something. Still to this day when that particular friend and I talk, we will use the saying to describe how mad we may have been while telling each other a current story. Well that term was perfect for Simon the other day, but it has to be changed up slightly for him. He was like a "pit bull ON his leash".

I have mentioned numerous times, Simon is protective. He's caused people to exit the elevator a floor or two early due to his elevator demeanor. In the elevator he simply stares and gets in a protective stance in front of me. Otherwise, I'm not sure what makes people so uncomfortable. I guess that's it...a pint-size pug staring them down with his puffed up broad chest is too much for some. He always seems so satisfied too when someone exits the elevator early. Well Simon "elevated" himself to a new level this past Tuesday.

I was walking the boys out by the lake when a man approached us, asking if I would walk back to the mid-rise building with him to let him in. He didn't have a key fob. Okay, in my opinion....no key fob...no access! Especially if I don't know you and you don't appear to be a person in uniform on official business. Yes, I've let cops and paramedics in the building. This guy was neither. I said no! Because there was no way I was walking next to someone all the way back to the mid-rise when we're currently out at the lake. Okay, I'm exaggerating, it's not that far. But still I wasn't going to alter my route and take time away from my boys. Nope sorry! A few minutes pass by and we are in another section, still out by the lake. What do you know, here comes this guy again, to ask me to walk with him back to the building to let him in. Before I could respond a second time, Simon responded! Don't even begin to tell me my little man doesn't understand what is being said around him. He may not have understood every word, but he got the clue. He likely picked up on my body language too. I'm telling you he flipped his lid. He began barking and lunging in the guy's direction. He was a crazed pit bull stuck on his leash. If he hadn't been restrained by his leash, who knows what would have happened. The guy jumped back a few steps muttered something and then called me and Simon a name! I won't say the names we got called. But it didn't hurt our feelings any.

If only I knew what Simon said to the guy as he aggressively barked. I wish he had speech bubbles above his head for me to read. But if I could imagine what he was saying I think it would have been something like this....Simon talk: "Back up. No back up further! She told you no. I'm on my walk. How dare you disturb my walk. Do you know this is my HUMAN? This is my MOMMIE!!! I've trained her for 14 years. I couldn't have lived this long without her tending to my every need. I GOT A LOT OF NEEDS TOO! Yeah, and I got a daddy too. But trust me, she's my everything. I'm convinced daddy can't take care of all my needs on his own. He forgot Cody a few weeks ago. Yep, he left with 2 dogs then came home with only 1(me). Imagine mommie's surprise when she arrived on the scene and daddy had only one of us pugs. Daddy offered up the excuse of being anxious to get home to his video game. I'm a dog and even I know that was the wrong thing to tell a pug mommie. So believe me I need this human more than anyone could ever know. So get the heck out of here. I don't know where you came from but be gone....Simon says be gone with you!" Yep, that's likely some of the thoughts Simon was spewing at this stranger. He understands stranger danger, he takes it seriously. Clearly!

After circling around and heading back towards the mid-rise, I did happen to notice a courtesy officer that lives here was on patrol and was headed in the direction we had just come from. I believe the courtesy officer likely showed the man to the nearest exit! We actually have a couple courtesy officers at our residence. It's a very large complex, a massive mid-rise and lots of garden style apartments too. Plus there's security patrol. No lurking about long on this property, they have cracked down on that drastically since we first moved in.

In case anyone was wondering Simon scored a little extra treat Tuesday night!