Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Sense of Boundaries

Since the cause had already been clarified beforehand, Zhang Congwen went straight to training this time.

Having learned from previous mistakes, Manager Ding was noticeably more cautious. Upon entering the kennel, he checked the gate several times before confidently fitting the muzzle onto the Tibetan Mastiff.

There are standards for putting a muzzle on a dog; it’s not simply a matter of fastening it. The proper way is to ensure that when pulling outward, there’s no extra room for movement.

After the mastiff was muzzled, it became agitated again. It lunged at Zhang Congwen, barking incessantly. The discomfort from the muzzle made the dog even more restless, causing the enclosure’s mesh to shake as it pushed against it.

Seeing this, Zhang Congwen quickly moved to a spot far enough away to appear non-threatening to the mastiff and crouched down. Only then did Manager Ding attach the leash and lead the dog out.

This time, Zhang Congwen didn’t do anything directly to the mastiff. He simply asked Manager Ding to walk the dog as he normally would, heading towards a quieter area, while Zhang followed behind at a measured distance, chatting with Manager Ding about everyday matters.

He also instructed Manager Ding that if anyone tried to approach the mastiff, he should immediately stop them and ensure a safe distance was maintained. This wasn’t because he feared the mastiff might suddenly attack, but because he had noticed that this dog had a slow-to-warm-up temperament and couldn’t handle overly familiar strangers.

Among humans, it was akin to someone introverted—like Zhang himself—who needed gradual exposure to new people. If someone overly enthusiastic approached all at once, it would only make things worse.

For this mastiff, encountering such a person would raise its guard even higher.

At first, the mastiff was wary of Zhang Congwen, often glancing back to observe his actions. But as time passed, it looked at him less and gradually relaxed.

Witnessing this, Zhang didn’t rush to get closer. Instead, he subtly increased his pace until he was walking parallel to the dog. Still, he kept a certain distance: one on the left side of the path, the other on the right.

Zhang noticed Manager Ding was tense, afraid his mastiff might suddenly lash out. The leash was kept taut throughout the walk, allowing no slack.

Though well-intentioned, this wasn’t normal dog-walking behavior. A tight leash signals “no,” “can’t,” “not allowed” to the dog, causing persistent stress.

Zhang said, “Let the leash stay loose. No need to pull it so tight.”

But Manager Ding misunderstood, releasing most of the leash. The mastiff seized the moment and ran straight to Zhang Congwen.

Manager Ding’s heart raced, but with his experience, he knew not to show any panic, lest the situation escalate and Zhang get hurt again.

Zhang was nervous too, but forced himself to stay still.

Luckily, the mastiff had no intention of attacking. It simply sniffed Zhang, taking in his scent.

Realizing the dog’s intent, Zhang quickly told Manager Ding, “Leave it alone. Let it take its time to smell me.”

Manager Ding nodded and stopped trying to reel in the leash. Zhang remained motionless as the mastiff continued to sniff him.

Once the mastiff stopped, Zhang signaled Manager Ding to lead the dog away, then explained, “When I said keep the leash slack, I meant let part of it hang naturally, not release it entirely and give it more freedom.”

Manager Ding laughed awkwardly and shortened the leash.

After this small episode, the mastiff relaxed even more, no longer paying attention to Zhang. It even marked the roadside comfortably right in front of him.

“It’s never done that before,” Manager Ding said. “Usually, when I walk it, it’s always on high alert. But today, I can sense it’s at ease. Even with you following us, it didn’t get angry once—something I’ve never seen.”

Zhang explained, “I’ve always kept a comfortable distance for it and talked to you in a friendly tone. This sends a signal to the dog that it doesn’t have to treat strangers with hostility. If we keep up this state, positive impressions will accumulate in its mind, and over time, it’ll be able to walk with strangers.”

After another ten minutes outdoors, Zhang stopped and had Manager Ding return to the kennel, putting the mastiff back in its cage.

“Aren’t you coming with me?” Manager Ding asked, puzzled by Zhang’s reluctance to join him.

“I’d like to take in the scenery,” Zhang replied with a smile. “Once you’ve locked it up, send me a message and I’ll come back.”

Though unsure of Zhang’s exact intentions, Manager Ding realized it must be related to training, so he didn’t ask further and headed back.

Soon after, Zhang received a message and made his way to the kennel.

Seeing him approach, Manager Ding greeted him warmly from afar and began walking back and forth with Zhang outside the entrance.

They had already discussed these details by phone, so Manager Ding acted as if he was meeting Zhang for the first time.

Then, the two squatted before the mastiff’s cage.

And a quietly remarkable scene unfolded.

This time, the mastiff didn’t bark or go wild as before. It simply lay calmly in the cage, resting, showing no vigilance toward Zhang’s approach.

At most, it glanced at him with curiosity.

“Is it really alright now?” Manager Ding exclaimed in surprise.

As a manager of the kennel, he knew dogs well and had his own training methods. But Zhang’s approach was entirely different. Manager Ding’s method relied more on discipline, while Zhang seemed to intuitively understand what the dog was thinking, starting everything from the dog’s psychological needs.

“You must be a mind reader,” Manager Ding joked.

“If I could read minds, I wouldn’t still be single,” Zhang replied with a wry smile. “Actually, this mastiff isn’t bad-natured at all. It’s just slow to warm up and prefers clear boundaries. Once familiarity grows, it becomes approachable.”

It was a simple principle.

Many people, upon seeing a cute dog on the street, want to pet it, but rarely consider the dog’s feelings. Not every dog likes to be touched by strangers, just as some people need boundaries in social situations.

“So you’re saying my dog’s an introvert? A social anxiety case?” Manager Ding asked, surprised.

He’d raised the dog himself and thought he knew its temperament, but sometimes familiarity blinds you. Because the mastiff was always lively and gentle with him, he’d never considered it might be introverted.

Just as Song Jiawei never saw Zhang Congwen as someone introverted.

“Whose land is that?” Zhang suddenly asked, pointing to an empty plot.