Wallace's irrational fears

Yesterday it rained 4 inches. Over a period of several hours. Of course, the dogs had to go out at some point. I tried to put it off as long as I could, because remember how I mentioned that I can't use an umbrella when I take them out in rain (I thought it was just because it causes them to dawdle for ages or never go?!)...well it was raining so hard that I decided just to try the umbrella...

I geared up, leashes on dogs, rain boots on me, grabbed the umbrella, stepped outside into the downpour...opened my umbrella, and in that split second I remembered why I can't use an umbrella....

Wallace is terrified of umbrellas.

The second I opened that umbrella he took off...fortunately or not, he was still attached to me by way of his leash. So I'm skidding (as close to water skiing as one can get) across the flooded backyard, screaming at him to stop.Of course, I'm still senselessly holding onto the umbrella and so when he does slow down, he turns to see that I still have that wretched contraption, and so he starts up running again.

Gromit thought it was all some big game, so he was running right along with Wallace. I'm lucky I kept my footing and didn't land face first in the mud, and Wallace only stopped running when a giant boom of thunder scared him to his senses and I closed the umbrella and dragged him back inside. Of course no one managed to go potty....and once again I thanked my lucky stars that my parents don't have neighbors at least all theses shenanigans of the dogs have been unseen by others.

Wallace has numerous irrational fears besides umbrellas;

ponchos (I tried this number on him later...he was just as terrified as with the umbrella), balloons, big blue balls (only big blue balls- all other balls are fair game to be popped), vacuum cleaners (he loves Gavin don't you think?), moving trucks, crinkling paper or bags, suitcases, I know I'm leaving out so many of them...it would almost be easier to say what he's not afraid of....thunderstorms (unless they involve umbrellas), food, beds (unless they are air mattresses), and petting.

Otherwise, you can just assume he's terrified of it.