Are you an innie or an outie, that is, an introvert or an extrovert? Does conversing with people come easily, naturally to you – or do you, like many, require alcohol to ease your way into conversation with others, either strangers or friends?
Even better as a social lubricant than beer, we’ve discovered that dog ownership is the ultimate conversation starter. With Spark as wingman, my husband, Larry, chats his way around our neighborhood during their evening walks. He has another circle of friendly folks among the others who walk their dog. He’s become an avid community gossip collector (though never a spreader), a boon for connection in our small neighborhood where people cling to their privacy like their houses cling to the hill. Aloofness has been a hallmark, similar to other neighborhoods’ guarded gates, because there are no front porches and we all live behind closed garage doors.
There’s incontrovertible evidence that all three members of our household have an ‘outie’ conversational style, including our goldendoodle, who is irrepressible.
Irresistible, even, for people want to pet him everywhere we go. “What a beautiful dog,” they say.
He’d be the ultimate chick magnet if my husband were single. He’s a friendly bridge with children and shy adults. It helps that our golden doodle is also an outie, an extrovert eager to meet people, paw them, seek treats, and/or lick their face.
He wasn’t that way when we rescued him from an awkward, sad living situation. He was a neglected, scared, and bewildered 8-month-old pup. Perhaps, with the love, training, and encouragement in the 3 1/2 years since we’ve owned him, he’s become more like us. In this early photo, snapped on our patio, I had to wrestle his head in place literally; skittish and camera-shy was he.
Now Spark is an outie, like us. In fact, he leads the interface with others.
P.S. Stymied for conversation starters? Unwilling to acquire a pet? Here’s an eclectic and interesting list of conversation starters:
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