So here I sit, outside on the deck with the dogs. A guy from Roto Rooter is inside, dealing with toilets and bath tubs that won’t drain – probably because the roots of the bushes outside are pushing through the pipes.

Riveting stuff, eh?

The boyfriend is venturing outside every few minutes to give me updates … and EVERY TIME, Darcy snarls and barks at him, a nice BAR-ROH-ROH-ROH! Beagle-y bark that has no business coming from a terrier.

This has been going on for, well, since the beginning, but it’s been worse for a couple of days now. Chris comes into a room, she bellows at him, he turns on a high, sweet voice and gently pets her. She calms down, wags her tail. He may leave, even for 20 seconds to get something to drink, and when he comes back to the room? BAR-ROH-ROH-ROH!

This … sucks. Darcy is supposed to be "his" dog, and it can’t be that comforting to have your own dog snarl at you like you’re running after her with a bat.

It’s making both of us grumpy, and I’m not sure how to fix it. I’m wondering what it is about him that makes Darcy so grumpy – his height? His voice? His walk? I’ve even wondered if she’s partly blind and he just looks like Some Mean Thing coming toward her.

As much as I hate it, I’ve been keeping my distance – having Chris do most of her belly-rubbing, feedings, playing with toys, leash-holding on walks, etc., hoping that she’ll warm up to him and trust him. I don’t have much of a "progress" report so far

So, this wasn’t the happiest of blogs, but I guess we can’t be The Brady Bunch all the time (just sickeningly most of the time!). I will say that Darcy and Penny continue to be buds – when I get home, Penny runs to Darcy’s gate, just waaaiting for her to be let out. They play and follow each other around, and I’ve even seen them drink out of a water bowl at the same time.

But Darcy’s people skills? Yikes. Back to training class Wednesday!