DNA results are in....

 so we decided to send for a dog dna kit (for our Christmas gift)  just for fun and see what it would tell us about Marcus.

he is NOT a purebred - no surprise there

what did it show? 

He is a Level 2 Gr Pyr (37-74% of his dna)

Level 4 Bulldog (10-20%)

Level 4 Bearded Collie (10-20%)
 

given that 74% of Bulldogs suffer from hip dysplasia and he farts like a champ... I suppose we can weigh that pretty heavy in his genetic make up.  and we cans say we definitely know where the hip dysplasia is from.  
 

His willingness to do his exercises and follow directions must be from his Bearded Collie side as they make great agility dogs apparently. 
 

Both of them weigh in at the 40-60 lb range so that explains the smaller size, Marcus is currently 85 lbs and I don't anticipate him getting much larger.  Unfortunately both also have relatively short life expectancy - especially the bulldog. 

none of this explains his profound shyness and his reluctance to interact with strangers.  He's a very shy and fearful dog - I've been wondering if it wasn't due to the hip dysplasia pain associated with socialization period.  

oh well.

visit to crazy town.

 had a bizarre encounter today.

I was walking Marcus in a public park with a walking trail.  During the day.  Kids are in school.  It's winter.  Not a lot of people around.  We go there because - sometimes we run into other dogs and he gets to say hello.  or - whatever.  it's away from salt and roads and cars.  It's a change.

back to the point.

I keep Marcus leashed but I don't really fuss about making him walk in tight heel position.  He sniffs out squirrels and rabbits and other critters. So he generally wanders from one side of the path to the other.  but generally he walks up the left side of the path.  When I see someone I generally pull him tight to my side and either put him in wait position or sometimes I try for a sit.  - I'm trying to teach him to ignore people he doesn't know.

Now I actually prefer that he walk  on my left.  After my shoulder injury - my left is the stronger side and it allows me to keep him further away from people we don't know.  AND if we were walking on a street - Left keeps him further away from cars when we are walking toward oncoming traffic.

I had a guy - STOP US on our walk to give me Hell for walking on the wrong side of the path.  I'm apparently being inconsiderate, rude and irresponsible by walking on the wrong side.  I should be treating the path like a roadway, and observe common courtesy and walk on the right side of the path.  By disobeying this convention - I could cause accidents - don't cha know.

Strangely enough - I'm really upset by the encounter.  In a way I suppose he is correct.  but on the other hand - who the hell cares?  It's a walking path, in the winter? I think in all the miles of trail that exist in this park - we saw.... 4 maybe, 5 people total?  

Did it spoil my walk- yeah actually - it did.
In fact it rather spoiled my whole day - and I let it.  which is the bigger issue.  Why am I letting this MORON upset me over something so stupid?