Notes of a Dogwalker

Behind every “bad” or “stupid” dog, there’s a human who’s inevitably worse. 

Someone who yanks a dog’s throat via rope or metal spikes (prong collar) if they don’t walk in step with their “master.” Someone who ties a dog to a pole in front of a grocery store, or to a post in a backyard, viewed as just another accessory, to be used when it’s convenient. Someone who lazily confuses a dog’s “non-compliance” as a lack of intelligence, while they ingest baby calf growth formula (dairy milk) and tide pods. 

If you believe you need to use a leash, attach it to a harness, forgo the collar and don’t use it as an opportunity to tune out and stare at your phone. Whenever time or safety isn’t an issue, allow the dog to “lead,” building the trust and communication that will hopefully render the leash obsolete. If you need to go shopping, leave your dog at home, in the car with the windows cracked, or bring them in the store. If you think your dog is stupid, look in the mirror.