We Discuss Self-Restraint

Millie woofs at ladies when they first enter our house, but gets over it pretty quickly. She woofs more at most guys, but then eventually gets over it. A few guys, however, are on Millie's Very Bad Man list, and when they show up she goes bonkers. For the record, these hapless few have never been anything but lovely to Millie, so I don't understand what her deal is. One even brings Pupperoni to placate her, but his attempts to bond with her just make her more suspicious.

Yesterday evening, we had some friends over. Millie was pretty calm, but then a charter member of the VBM list arrived. Millie was outraged (legs stiff, emphatic woofing with a bounce). I penned her in the living room and we discussed:

Me: Millie, I don't know what your problem is.
Millie: Woof! Woof! Grrrrr...
Me: Millie, you need to settle yourself.
Millie: GrrrrrrWoof. Hurf.
Me: Okay, are you done now?
Millie: Hurf.
Me: I'm letting you out now, but if you woof again, you're back in here.
Millie: -------WOOF!
Me: Okay, back in the living room with you.
Millie: Urrrrr. Whine.
Me: It's your own fault.
Millie: Hurf.

Then came the pouting.