A big black dog started to follow me

On my way back, while I was on the residential street that is on the big hill, a large black dog came across the street and started to run with me. After a couple of blocks, I decided I'd better send him home. I stopped and pointed back down the street. In a commanding voice, I said, "Home, go home" and repeated it a few times. He turned and went up a side street. He didn't try to follow me, and he was close enough to home that he shouldn't have gotten lost.