Dobleve

Yesterday afternoon we took our dogs on a mountain walk in the Sierra Nevada to La Virgen de las Nieves to escape some of the heat in Granada. After lunch at one of the chiringuitos or little “burger huts” at the bottom we started to head back to our car only to find our way blocked by a huge herd of animals. (After some confused close observation we realized there were in fact both sheep *and* goats in the herd.) Roscoe was immediately alert and we think pretty alarmed. The herd was definitely making some spooky noises – just some kind of snuffing in the ground thing but, with over 100 of them doing it simultaneously it was not a soothing sound. Milo however, seemed 100% oblivious. This is a dog who is so vigilant to danger we have come upon him growling at a piece of furniture we’ve had for years. He can see dangerous things blocks away, that aren’t even there. And, he still has been known, on occasion, to flip out over wall outlets. So his reaction, or rather non-reaction, to the herd of bleating and baying animals was puzzling to say the least.

Before long he decided to bark at some children in the near distance and this sent the herd stampeding in all directions. Still, he seemed unflapped and hopped (he can no longer run normally in or in a straight direction) merrily along his way. As we finally got near the car and relative safety something else caught his ire (although, again, amazingly, not the sheep) and he sent the sheep stampeding all over the road once again. At this point one of the cooler looking ones, that is to say one of the big ones with those nifty horns that curl around about the ears, started growling(?) and stamping his front hoof into the ground as he advanced toward us. I’m not afraid of any wall outlets but this threw me. Brian said “well, he’s protecting his flock”. From MILO??!! Ha ha – smart ram. At this point we started to ponder our explanation upon returning the rental car as to why there were ram horn dents in the car door and got out of there as quick as we could. Of course, oddly blissful as ever, Milo gave one final barking sayonara to the goats and sheep sending all 100 of them bolting at break neck speed down the freeway.