running_dog
Honored Member
Along with a few other doggy people I've been trying to persuade the infirm owner of a marvelous big dog (of an active intelligent working breed) to let me walk him, he's worn a track round his garden and his longest walk is about 50 yards to the end of the road, this walk happens once in two blue moons.
Today I was passing the gate and had an unexpected opportunity to help hold the dog while the vet was there. Afterwards the owner (as I thought) turned to his wife and told her that this was the person who wanted to walk the dog. The man has seemed worried I couldn't hold the dog (it is BIG and behaves like a yoyo) but he was fairly positive on this occasion. I then ruined the opportunity by suggesting I held the lead and seeing whether I could handle the dog (at that point trying to lick me to death). The woman took hold of the dog, "This is MY personal protection dog" At this point the man turned away and went back into the house, like she'd slammed prison gates on him as well as the dog. "It isn't good for the dog to take orders from too many people. He gets plenty of exercise in the garden and when (husband) is able to walk him." I tried not to look at the garden disbelievingly, promised not to attack the woman (she looked disbelieving), so I told her again what a marvelous dog she has, we discussed grooming, and then I said my farewells.
I really feel I failed the dog by being too keen, I thought the woman was worried I couldn't handle the dog actually she was worried I could, and now what do I do? We parted on good terms, I'm now quite sure the man is on the dog's side, the man likes my dog, they know several of their neighbours know me, they know the vet knows me. I can't think of a better set of references. Maybe the man will keep trying to wear her down but she struck me as the obstinate type. I did wonder about begging the somewhat unconventional vet to prescribe long walks as a cure for anal gland inflammation...
Today I was passing the gate and had an unexpected opportunity to help hold the dog while the vet was there. Afterwards the owner (as I thought) turned to his wife and told her that this was the person who wanted to walk the dog. The man has seemed worried I couldn't hold the dog (it is BIG and behaves like a yoyo) but he was fairly positive on this occasion. I then ruined the opportunity by suggesting I held the lead and seeing whether I could handle the dog (at that point trying to lick me to death). The woman took hold of the dog, "This is MY personal protection dog" At this point the man turned away and went back into the house, like she'd slammed prison gates on him as well as the dog. "It isn't good for the dog to take orders from too many people. He gets plenty of exercise in the garden and when (husband) is able to walk him." I tried not to look at the garden disbelievingly, promised not to attack the woman (she looked disbelieving), so I told her again what a marvelous dog she has, we discussed grooming, and then I said my farewells.
I really feel I failed the dog by being too keen, I thought the woman was worried I couldn't handle the dog actually she was worried I could, and now what do I do? We parted on good terms, I'm now quite sure the man is on the dog's side, the man likes my dog, they know several of their neighbours know me, they know the vet knows me. I can't think of a better set of references. Maybe the man will keep trying to wear her down but she struck me as the obstinate type. I did wonder about begging the somewhat unconventional vet to prescribe long walks as a cure for anal gland inflammation...