Our daily morning destination, Mount Davidson, is San Francisco’s highest natural point. Bailey yanks on the leash, barking at a golden retriever who is walking in the opposite direction. I throw kibble on the sidewalk. Food motivation distracts her momentarily. She finds the last stray piece. Her head snaps up, searching for the dog. We walk on, hiking up the steep trail to get to the summit. A man in a large hat waves and smiles, “Nice puppy dog.” Bailey growls menacingly. I look away sheepishly. We adopted Bailey when she was ten weeks old. Is it nurture or nature?
Youseef Elias is a retired public defender who spends a lot of time with his reactive dog Bailey. Instagram: @youseef1