Pete's Dogs

Walkin' The Dog

 We have two REALLY annoying dogs that seem to bark all the time back home. I call them “Regis' little Friends”, and the first morning here in Portugal, there were dogs barking that sounded just like them, so I joked that “Regis' little friends” had come to Portugal with us.

No one Walkin' ME!

Now I must say, in general the dogs here in Portugal are really well behaved. People walk their dogs all the time, and they would make The Dog Whisperer proud. They heel, they don't growl at other dogs, they don't even sniff you as you walk past. The sidewalks here are only about 2 feet wide, so you can't really avoid the dogs, but it doesn't matter. Even the stray dogs don't bother you or other dogs. If there is a dog sleeping on the sidewalk, you just step around him. He might open his eyes and give you a glance, but that is about it. Other dogs walk by they just ignore each other. People walk their dogs without a leash, and they just walk along beside. When owners stop at a 'Snack Bar', the dogs just curl up under the table and watch the world go by.

What did he order for me?

If you hear barking or growling, look closely, and you will realize it is probably a tourist dog who just hasn't figured out how to act here in Olhao. I watched two obvious tourists walking a husky down the Malecon and it was pulling on the leash, and barking at every other dog. I mean, really, a Husky in the Algrave; the poor thing is suffering serious culture shock as well as heat stroke.

I can "Watch-Dog" from up Here

Now at night, and especially in the morning it is not the same. The dogs do not realize that Timex the rooster has no freekin idea what the time is, so they think it is time to get up and they start barking. One barks, another answers, someone else adds her two Euro worth and the first one starts again. No one seems to do anything about it. We never hear anyone telling them to “SHUT-UP!”, and we know they are not all strays. Now this really does not bother me, but it is driving Pete crazy. He wanders the streets looking for the houses where these dogs lives and he is threatening to do something.

Going for a Swim

So, “Regis' Little Friends”, have becomes “Pete's Dogs”.