As usual, I get a thought, that I want to write down, and here comes Boomer, (also eyeing the computer), because he had a thought at the same time! Then we race to the keyboard, and after some tense moments doing battle, one of us gets to write a blog! This is not easy stuff!
I would like to make a comment or two on dog walking! I know that all of my readers, and clients, have wonderfully cooperative and perfect dogs, that do everything that you ask them to do! Not only that, you are all thoughtful to other dog walking folks and always considerate, and never have impolite dogs that create any problems for yourself, or the unsuspecting public! Correct? ...Not correct...need help! Have issues with other people and their dogs! That's the one I would like to get some feedback about! We all have those situations happen...the ones that we know that we are doing what we are supposed to, as responsible pet owners. The problem, is with the irresponsible person, that does something to mess up your walk, with your dog, that up till then, was going great! Both you and the pooch, are in sync, you are both breathing great, and what could make this become anything but a great experience?
I know! That other person; The one that just doesn't understand the concept of sharing a public space with others!
If I see this happen all the time, I have no reason to believe that you don't as well! Here's just one recent example: The other day, while walking through the streets within the mountain preserve near my house, we came across a gentlemen (on the narrow road) ahead of myself and Boomer, talking to someone in a car, smack in the middle of the street. As I tell my Dog Behavior Students; try to embrace new and difficult situations, in order to learn how to make them more doable in the future, I took a deep breath, slowed down my heart rate and breathing, lifted my shoulders, and relayed to Boomer, that all was ok! That worked, up until something possessed this man, to slowly drop the end of the leash to the ground, (I suppose to see if his dog and Boomer would get along! Unbelievable that he would take it upon himself to make a call like that! Boomer was getting visibly upset, and the other dog, was walking over to Boomer, and Boomer was baring his teeth, and ready to attack, when I finally had to yell, "pick up the leash and move out of the way with your dog"! He seemed almost hurt by my order! Some people are just clueless about the "what might happen if... decisions! I actually had to fight the notion of feeling badly for raising my voice, but sanity prevailed, and I knew that since, at no time did I curse, or call him stupid, or any of the other thoughts that crossed my mind, I was well within my rights as a decent responsible dog owner! I probably should have let Boomer just bite his head off! OK, that was my first thought; nobody is perfect! I did try to explain to him, what he had done wrong, (by assuming that all dogs are fine, and would work out their own problems)!
So, tell us some of your own stories! I'm sure that you have many. Enlighten us, tell us how you handled a rough situation! We all need to hear what it is like for the rest of you! We all need to learn more, and perhaps we all need a good laugh, too!
Be well, and keep your babies safe! NEVER LEAVE YOUR PETS IN LOCKED CARS! NOT JUST IN THE SUMMER WHEN THEIR BRAINS SIMMER IN THE HEAT OF A CLOSED UP SITUATION OF A CAR, BUT AT NO TIME SHOULD THEY BE LEFT IN CARS! BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT ALREADY!
Talk to us; we all have something important to say!
I would like to make a comment or two on dog walking! I know that all of my readers, and clients, have wonderfully cooperative and perfect dogs, that do everything that you ask them to do! Not only that, you are all thoughtful to other dog walking folks and always considerate, and never have impolite dogs that create any problems for yourself, or the unsuspecting public! Correct? ...Not correct...need help! Have issues with other people and their dogs! That's the one I would like to get some feedback about! We all have those situations happen...the ones that we know that we are doing what we are supposed to, as responsible pet owners. The problem, is with the irresponsible person, that does something to mess up your walk, with your dog, that up till then, was going great! Both you and the pooch, are in sync, you are both breathing great, and what could make this become anything but a great experience?
I know! That other person; The one that just doesn't understand the concept of sharing a public space with others!
If I see this happen all the time, I have no reason to believe that you don't as well! Here's just one recent example: The other day, while walking through the streets within the mountain preserve near my house, we came across a gentlemen (on the narrow road) ahead of myself and Boomer, talking to someone in a car, smack in the middle of the street. As I tell my Dog Behavior Students; try to embrace new and difficult situations, in order to learn how to make them more doable in the future, I took a deep breath, slowed down my heart rate and breathing, lifted my shoulders, and relayed to Boomer, that all was ok! That worked, up until something possessed this man, to slowly drop the end of the leash to the ground, (I suppose to see if his dog and Boomer would get along! Unbelievable that he would take it upon himself to make a call like that! Boomer was getting visibly upset, and the other dog, was walking over to Boomer, and Boomer was baring his teeth, and ready to attack, when I finally had to yell, "pick up the leash and move out of the way with your dog"! He seemed almost hurt by my order! Some people are just clueless about the "what might happen if... decisions! I actually had to fight the notion of feeling badly for raising my voice, but sanity prevailed, and I knew that since, at no time did I curse, or call him stupid, or any of the other thoughts that crossed my mind, I was well within my rights as a decent responsible dog owner! I probably should have let Boomer just bite his head off! OK, that was my first thought; nobody is perfect! I did try to explain to him, what he had done wrong, (by assuming that all dogs are fine, and would work out their own problems)!
So, tell us some of your own stories! I'm sure that you have many. Enlighten us, tell us how you handled a rough situation! We all need to hear what it is like for the rest of you! We all need to learn more, and perhaps we all need a good laugh, too!
Be well, and keep your babies safe! NEVER LEAVE YOUR PETS IN LOCKED CARS! NOT JUST IN THE SUMMER WHEN THEIR BRAINS SIMMER IN THE HEAT OF A CLOSED UP SITUATION OF A CAR, BUT AT NO TIME SHOULD THEY BE LEFT IN CARS! BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT ALREADY!
Talk to us; we all have something important to say!
