Panting after her like she was a bitch in heat...

I will admit that I never thought that this phrase was really, well, true. I figured it was an exaggerated figure of speech. Call me silly.

Recently, a Rat Terrier puppy I walk went into heat just before her scheduled spay operation. Given her size, I figured I could just scoop her up if some canine Casanova got too friendly. The dog I was actually worried about was the only other Rat Terrier in the neighborhood - an intact male - whose owner routinely walks him without a leash.

The first time these two met, about two months ago, the male growled and snapped at her, which was about par for the course with him. The one time his owner asked me to walk him when we she wasn't home, he was so menacing I couldn't get the leash on him. When I called her, the owner said - I kid you not - "oh, just put on the oven mitts and you'll be fine." Um, no? The owner thinks he's great, and he has actually sired a litter. I think he's too aggressive both to people and other dogs, but hey, that's just me.

My other problem was that one of the dogs I walk is an intact male - an Italian Spinone whose name shall be "Marco" for the purposes of this blog. And let's call the Rat Terrier girl "Alice". On the one hand, Marco has his balls. But he is about 10 times bigger than Alice, does have a lovely disposition, and is 12 years old, half-blind and a bit wobbly on his hind legs. Also on the plus side is that other male dogs tend to avoid him - he's big, and puts off that alpha-male vibe. I figured I would use him to protect Alice's virtue.

At first, it went well. She was in the early stages of estrus, and Marco found her only vaguely interesting and she could care less. By week two, he was beside himself. I admit I let him have a little fun, even though Alice ignored him (good girl). I figured that Marco has never had sex, and this probably the closest he'll ever get - and at age 12 1/2 he's not going to get many more chances. He walked around with a dazed look on his face, occaisonally licking her ears or her vulva, then walking around in a daze some more. He never got an erection or tried to mount her, in fact, he was much more interested in her urine than anything else. After she would pee, he would absolutely get lost in the aroma. Ain't love grand?

In contrast, I also walk a neutered male Jack Russell. On the two walks we had together last week, he gave Alice one sniff and that was it. He could care less.

Marco did manage to keep up with her (panting), and moved a hell of a lot faster than he manages on every day walks. He was steadier on his legs, and a lot more alert. He was waiting at the door for me instead of sacked out on his bed, and went up and down stairs a lot better. Not bad for an old dog.

By this Monday, she was no longer interesting. He gave her a quick sniff...and...nothing. We were back to our rambling pace. No panting. Phew. Her new appointment is the 28th - I can't wait.