Doin’ it Doggy Style

We dog-owners can be a funny lot.  United in the love of panting, hairy bundles of energy and never without a poo bag in a pocket somewhere, you’d think there’d be some solidarity along the way and, to be fair, often there is BUT when it comes to walking the dogs I have to steel myself for what pitfalls might await me.

My dogs are not badly behaved, but they are certainly not headed towards Crufts either.  Our ageing labrador is the most neurotic dog I’ve come across and thunders towards other dogs making a noise like a constipated hippo but then says a quick, wary hello and is on her way (or back to me for a recall snack).  It is with cheery resolve that I shout after her ‘It’s OK!  She’s all mouth and no trousers…just a bit neurotic!’.  Now, I can understand it might be a little alarming to have a big brown grunting thing heading your way, but surely as another dog-owner you realise they are dogs and just have to do their thing?  Also, surely you must assume that if she was some vicious beast I would have her muzzled and/or on a lead?  Give me some credit.  I CANNOT understand dog walkers who flinch away, look at me crossly or worst of all, PICK UP their dog to protect it.  I mean, do they know ANYTHING about dog behaviour?  They might think my dog is unruly, but we’re not in an obedience class in the local village hall, we are walking our dogs on a public bridleway.  Dogs WILL be off leads and WILL come to say hello.  If your dogs trots by your side and ignores all other dogs then yippee for you and I AM very jealous, but it doesn’t mean my dogs are out of control because they run around, have a sniff and attempt a welcome.  There just doing it doggy style – that’s how dogs are!

My other dog, Fergus, is just one year old and still full of puppy energy.  He ALWAYS goes in the reservoir for a swim and comes out looking like a drowned rat.  Again, I can understand someone not wanting a wet, smelly dog to be jumping up on them, and nor should he, but to the old couple who walk their white fluffy small thing on the same route PLEASE stop being so unfriendly and frowning at me then scooping up your dog in the horror that Fergus might splash a bit of pond weed on it.  WHY are you walking your dog by a reservoir, on a muddy path where ALL the other dog walkers in the area go if you don’t want you dog to get dirty or meet other hounds that will so obviously be a bit soggy and wanting to have a sniff of it’s behind? Please, go walk it around some National Trust property instead where you can admire the rhododendrons and not fear for your dog’s safety.

Yes, I know my dogs are ‘free-spirited’ in the sense that I let them be dogs and run and play and splash.  In my defense, Fergus is a cocker/collie X which means he’s a cross of two dogs that run and run and run.  And swim.  Badly.  But dogs are dogs and humans are humans.  Doggy etiquette can be taught and we can train the animal as best we can, but I reckon some of the owners need training too.  And they need to understand that sometimes a little help and solidarity and friendliness can go a long way.

Here endeth the rant.