Why the Dog Barks

I used to think that the dog barked for me. For my benefit. But I don't think that's true. At least not all the time.  

Today a woman walked by, maybe twenty or so yards from the fence, and Lola raced to greet her with barks. I called after her and let her know I saw the (now obviously) elderly lady. That didn't matter to Lo. She turned and acknowledged my command, shrugged it off like a bag into the breeze, and resumed her greeting. 

Woof. Woof. Wo-wo-woof. 

Something like that.  

And that's when it dawned on me. She wasn't protecting me. (Narcissist) 

She had her own motivations for doing it. And that's a pretty cool thought.

*Also it says more about me than the dog, so...