[caption id="attachment_4167" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Pick me UP!  "]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/P2230176.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-4167" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/P2230176-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

I didn't herd the men.

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Bella did.  During her first visit to the dog park.  It's a hidden talent that I didn't know existed prior to Day 150.

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<strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/12/day-106-canine-modeling-its-a-ruff-life/" target="_blank">One of you lovely commenters (aka Eleanor) suggested awhile back that I was using World's Most Precious Pooch as date bait.</a></strong> Which I certainly was not doing at that time.  But once Eleanor brought it up,  I thought that this whole "date bait" idea was marvelous.  I was ashamed that I had not thought of it myself.

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Sarah <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/23/day-57-we-saw-dead-people-or-if-you-want-to-be-technical-orbs/" target="_blank">(of soon-to-be </a><em><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/23/day-57-we-saw-dead-people-or-if-you-want-to-be-technical-orbs/" target="_blank">Ghost Huntresses </a></em><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/23/day-57-we-saw-dead-people-or-if-you-want-to-be-technical-orbs/" target="_blank">fame) </a></strong>informed me of a certain dog park in my fair city that has a reputation for attracting hottie dog owners.  She pointed out that there's an "after work" crowd and a "Saturday" crowd.  I needed to try both.  For the blog.

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Kennel up, Bella!  We're driving to the dog park!

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When we arrived, Bella huddled with Sarah's dogs.  They were canine wallflowers.  It was mildly pathetic.

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I tried as hard as I could to show tough love when Bella attempted to climb up my legs.  I successfully resisted picking her up.

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And then Mr. Tall &amp; Handsome entered through the gates.  Bella took off towards him while barking like a fiend.  She started circling around his legs and barking the entire time.

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Frankly, I was a bit embarrassed.  What happened to my meek and mute rescue pup?

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<strong>Me:</strong> I'm so sorry.  She's a rescue, and she's scared of men.  She's completely harmless.

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<strong>Mr. T &amp; H:</strong> (<em>smiling and looking down at 10 lb. Bella</em>)  I'm not worried.

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Mr. T &amp; H bent down and pulled a treat from his pocket.  Bella tried to crawl into his arms and give him kisses.  (Luckily, her post-traumatic stress with men wears off fairly quickly.)

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<em>Whew!</em>

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Little Miss B then took it upon herself to greet every man in the dog park this way.  It struck me that she was actually "herding" them.

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Mr. T &amp; H confirmed that his Border Collie used to do the same thing.

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<strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/24/day-149-doggie-dna-test-yes-ive-lost-my-mind/" target="_blank">I'm now convinced that Bella's DNA test results will come back with Shetland Sheepdog somewhere in the mix.</a></strong> Yes, mother.  You were right.

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While we anxiously await the results, my friend, Kassy, so brilliantly pointed out that I will never have to resort to Match.com again.  I now have a dog that herds men for me.

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I love you, Bella!

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Yes, she finally played with other dogs in between herding bursts.  Unfortunately, I didn't capture the herding on film, as I was too busy talking to Mr. T &amp; H.

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