BreOl72: From what I've heard, dogs are a good/easy way to get into a conversation with someone, so...why not simply ask the owner?
cose_vecchie: Well, in all truth I am reluctant to ring the bell just to ask such a question...
Understandable.
cose_vecchie: and by the way, I have never seen ANYONE in that courtyard, yet I have passed before that gate literally dozens of times, at different hours of the day, morning, afternoon, evening... never saw that dog in the company of a human being, or any living creature for that matter. Maybe that's why he looks so sad.
That might be your chance to make a friend. When you're passing by, do you stop and talk to the dog?
I did that decades ago with a dog in the neighborhood.
Poor thing was also always outside in the front yard, barking at everyone passing by.
One day, when passing by, I stopped and did the "doggy-talk" (
you know: "who's a good boy? Are you a good boy?" Etc.)
And sure enough - the dog stopped barking, listened to my voice instead...I did that every day from then on, and soon he waited for me already, wagging his tail and even let me pat and stroke him.
Edit: double word