Little dogs unwittingly seem to wish to overcompensate for nature's stern injunction through genetic inheritance setting them firmly on a life-course lacking power and physical prowess. On average they seem to tend to be more hostile to the presence of other dogs, of people, and express their suspicion with barking tirades.

There are, of course, exceptions, since no rule is infallible, nor generalized observation monopolistic of reality. Our daughter has, among her stable of various-sized and breeds of dogs, a three-pound Pomeranian. That tiny tyke barks, hilariously, when he is irritated. He is not averse to meeting others, either canine or human since his temperament is more inclined toward generosity of spirit.

On our walks in the ravine lately we've come across a beautiful little Chihuahua trotting briskly along with its human companion, a genial young man who takes his responsibility toward the little creature seriously enough to wrap him in a minuscule winter coat during the winter months. Despite how often the little dog sees us, he rushes toward us aggressively and belligerently yaps, in an excess of outrage that we dare share the trails he must surely believe to be his alone. He is so anxious to convey his vexation at our appearance that he dances about on his tiny back legs while exerting himself to prove his ire against us. An adorable little thing, he is, but if he were a large dog he would present as a potential menace.

Yesterday we came across, for the first time, a teacup Yorkie, its normally fluffy haircoat damped down with the freshly falling snow. Although ours is a toy Poodle, this little creature was much smaller. And it went into spasms of utter delight to come across people on the pathway; ourselves and another walker with whom we were speaking at the time.  This little mote of a dog danced eagerly around us, happy to be noticed, so swift in bouncing about from one to the other of us, if you blinked you might have thought it was more than just one dog flitting about.

Soon, its human companion caught up with it, and with him was a large old yellow Labrador, whom the person informed us was warmly protective of his tiny companion. That being the case, though I offered that we would be willing to take possession of this fiery little spark of life, if he was of a mind to release him to us, I was willing to let the matter go, viewing the ferociously possessive attitude of the protector.