Monday, December 7, 2009

Control

Last Sunday we took some of the dogs from Abandoned Pet Rescue to the Fort Lauderdale Winterfest. The purpose was to let the public see the little darlings in hopes that they will get adopted. As of this time, the dog I brought, a black German Sheppard named Dean, has been tentatively adopted. Hooray!

One of the odder things I saw while at the Winterfest, was a lady walking her two little daughters on leashes attached to harnesses. They were exactly like the rig I had Dean the dog wearing. Now I know that parents have a lot to worry about, but really, kids on a leash? Did they transport them to the park, in a large cage, in the back of an SUV? I was tempted to offer the girls one of the doggy treats I had in my pocket for Dean, but my sense of decorum prevailed.

Sunday was the first time I have ever walked a large dog using a harness, and it was an eye opener. Up until now I have always used a choker chain to walk big dogs, and no matter how much I yanked on the damn thing, the dogs would yank back even harder, often resulting in me ending up splayed out on the ground. Dean is a powerful big dog, yet in the harness he walked by my side with ease and without pulling away. When I walked Dean later in the week, I put him back in the old choker chain, and he dragged me along for two blocks. My dog Chandler pulls the same way, and it was obvious that I needed to get him a harness, so this week he and I went to the pet supply store to fit him with one. After peeing on some shelves, and trying to eat one of the low perching birds at the pet store, Chandler finally settled down and let me put him in his new harness. It was a miracle! Suddenly the beast that has been ripping my arm out of the socket for the last year and a half, became a docile, well behaved dog.

All of this has given me another idea for when Mark and I go shopping. The only problem will be getting Mark to stand still while I put the harness and leash on him.

11 comments:

  1. Did the lady have some poopie bags with her?

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  2. That was very thoughtful of you Alan. I'm happy you are helping homeless companion animals find homes. How is Tinker-bell the cat doing. She was Billy's cat he surrendered before he passed from cancer.

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  3. Anon, I didn't see the girls squatting so I don't know if mommy had bags to clean it up.

    Garet, I'll ask today. If I remember Bill had more than one kitty. What happened to the other one?

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  4. I think his mother took the other one. Its name was "t.w.o." or "2" which stood for The White One.

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  5. How lovely of you to donate your time helping those babies. I love you for that.

    Now, as far as putting that harness on Mark, you realize that you could probably put that on pay-per-view...

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  6. Syd, I'm not sure who would pay to see Mark on a leash. I know a few people who would pay me to put a gag on him.

    Garet, I walked dogs today, and I asked about Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell was adopted. It's amazing that the people there know all those cats names. There are over a hundred cats.

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  7. For an old dog yourself, it is apparent that YOU can learn new tricks also! A simple harness to calm your doggy!! FYI- your own mother had a harness-type contraption that she zipped the more active little ones in when we went places. It had hooks on either side to attach to the buggy sides or to a "leash". Say what one might, it is better than losing a child in a moment or having them run into traffic!

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  8. OMG, Peggy. That is HILARIOUS!!!!

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  9. I was going to tell you the same thing about Mom and the harness. Even I remember that.
    I would have adopted that black german sheperd - good thing I don't live in FLA - I would have too many pets - and be the old crazy dog lady. Thanks for taking care of the animals!

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  10. By the way I use a choke collar on both my dogs - and neither one pulls. Thanks to watching to dog whisperer - it used to be a battle royal! Now we walk past dogs of all types and they stay right at my side. It is wonderful.

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  11. Sue, right now we have another German Sheppard, and he is really a nice dog. Also a French Mastiff, huge, yet lovable and sweet, and a Chocolate Lab who is just a big goofy sweetheart. The only thing that keeps me from taking one of them home is allergies, and the thought of walking two big dogs around the block three times a day.

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