Minor Challenges While Walking My Dogs
- Simply Jelly Jam
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
There are a few things that sometimes turn a pleasant walk into a challenging one.
Are walks with your dog drama-free? Or do you encounter challenges that keep you on your toes? Walking both of my dogs together is more pleasant than walking them separately, but there are a few minor challenges that keep me alert on our walks.
In case it's helpful, below are the main points covered in this post:
Cardboard
My large dog, Lucy, has a cardboard obsession. If I did not get in her way, she would eat all the cardboard boxes in the world. In her mind, I am an uncaring owner by blocking her persistent attempts to consume the 'forbidden food.'
Windy recycling and trash days means cardboard can escape their bin entrapment and wander the free world. They get tired easily and rest on streets, sidewalks, and park grass.
When I walk Lucy alone, I usually see cardboard along our route before she can get to it. However, when we walk with my small dog, Rascal, I sometimes briefly miss a small piece of cardboard on the ground ahead of Lucy's path.
No matter how sneakily Lucy attempts to capture her cardboard prey for a mid-walk snack, I am always there to free the cardboard from her mouth and dispose of it in the appropriate bin it once escaped.
Children
Rascal is scared of children. This has been the case since I adopted him as a puppy. For the first few years of his life, I failed to help him overcome this fear. I have accepted his fear and keep him away from those terrifying mini humans.
I sometimes forget that a fitness class for mothers takes place in the park twice a week. Most mothers are accompanied by their young children. Some mothers exercise with their infants and babies in strollers. Toddlers often ride scooters or tricycles.
When I remember, I walk Rascal in the afternoon on those fitness days. I prefer walking when the outdoor temperature is cooler, but we will walk later if it meant he could avoid children.
On the days/mornings I forget about the class, or if a child approaches us to talk to Lucy, Rascal hides behind or under her. While Lucy is friendly with children of all ages, she avoids them when Rascal is anxious. Lucy is always focused on protecting her little big brother.
Dog Friend
Both of my dogs are friends with a miniature poodle named Charlie. Charlie is the embodiment of a chaotic Gremlin with ADHD and a caffeine addiction after a midnight snack. (Did anyone else's mom make them watch that movie at a ridiculously young age only to have nightmares about corrupted Mogwais for much of their childhood? Just me?)
I am grateful my dogs have a dog friend, but three playful dogs on leash is a tangled mess. Charlie's owner only has one leash to handle, but my two dog's leashes can get tied up together or around my legs. It does not help when Lucy treats Rascal and Charlie as jumping hurdles.
Black Labs
Rascal and Lucy are often picky about the dogs they choose to meet on their walks. They are mostly drawn to small dogs Rascal's size or smaller. They also seem interested in meeting bigger dogs with chill temperaments.
However, Rascal is obsessed with black labs. No matter how chill or hyper a black lab behaves in public, Rascal pulls to meet them. Lucy sometimes attempts to get Rascal to a black lab by pulling on her leash or unclipping his leash. (I usually have Rascal's leash hooked to Lucy's leash with a carabiner.)
I used to ask owners if the dogs could meet, but I stopped doing that. Instead, I avoid black labs on our walks.
Why, you ask? Great question! There are two reasons.
Reason number one:
Rascal always whines after meeting a black lab. My first dog, Shadow, was a black lab mix. Shadow 'picked' Rascal after a visit to a humane society. Shadow taught Rascal his ways. They were glued to the hips from the day I adopted Rascal to the day Shadow died.
Rascal was there when Shadow died at the vet clinic (it was/is convenient to combine the dogs' appointments into one), so I do not believe he mistakes black labs. Instead, I believe Rascal has a special place in his heart for the breed, mixed or not. I also believe Rascal misses Shadow every day.
Reason number two:
I, too, miss Shadow daily and have a special place in my heart for the breed. He was my first dog. Shadow was my closest and best-est friend who was there for so many life changes.
No, I do not cry when I see a black lab, but I do feel a mix of happiness and sadness when I am around them. Like Rascal, I feel sad after meeting one because I miss Shadow. Sometimes it feels like Shadow died yesterday instead of over three years ago. It still hurts to think about how he is no longer here.
For my sanity, we will avoid greeting black labs for a while longer.
What's Next?
The minor challenges we encounter during our daily walks are minor. In fact, it sometimes feels like a side quest that keeps our walks interesting.
Despite the challenges, walking with both dogs is pleasant. Lucy, a reactive dog with an abundance of energy, is calm when Rascal joins the walk. Rascal, an anxious dog who prefers to flee from everything, is braver when he walks with Lucy. Walking life is good.
Whether you have a dog, a different pet, or are pet-less, consider taking a walk to take in the fresh air and to clear your mind! Who knows? Maybe you will witness a dog causing entertaining mayhem for their owner.
Comment below to share your challenge(s) while walking your pet!
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Thanks, and have a great day!
~Simply Jelly Jam
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