Every night that I am home we walk the dogs. We have a nice little routine. Around 4:30 we walk the 2 big dogs (ha!! that term is a joke now with Bella being bigger than both of them) and get back around 5:15ish. Then we sit in the backyard with everyone for 20-30 minutes. Then I head off to clean the bird room while Hubby waters the yard and plants. After that, around 6:15 or so, I take Bella for her walk. Her walk is much shorter and much more social than the big dogs walk.
So last night we head out with the big dogs and take our normal walk. As we are coming back a guy comes out of this side street riding a bike. Now that right there caught my attention because a bike passing close to us makes little Lola crazy. So I see this bike coming and think, crap!, where am I going to go? Then I notice a little dog running behind the bike. Loose!!! F*ck!!! I yell loose dog and immediately reign Lola in so she can't get near it and head across the street. Hubby does the same with Axl while the guy on the bike stops and picks up his little dog. Nothing happened and we all went on our way into the night.
This whole episode really pissed me off because it highlights one of the problems with society and people in general. People don't think! They just don't. We walk the big dogs (HA!!) when we do because they are extremely reactive to other dogs and at that particular time there are few other dogs out. We are extremely careful with them and watch for all manner of things, bikes, skateboards, anything that might set them off. We are good, responsible dog owners.
The guy with the little dog on the bike I'm sure, if he put any thought into it at all, thought that it would be fine to let his dog run behind him. He probably thought the dog will stay with him and won't go anywhere. That's fine, the problem is he doesn't know what he's going to encounter out there. He has no idea what someone else's dog is going to do to his little dog. If that dog had run past Lola and Axl,I have no idea what would have happened -- and I don't want to find out. They may have reacted and just bite. I don't know. But this is so typical of the way most of the world thinks. I know what I can do so it will be okay. NO!!!! You have to consider and think about what others will do....
Bella is becoming a very large dog. I know she is harmless and loves people. That does not mean I will just let her walk up to anyone at all. I don't know what that person will do. Maybe they don't like dogs. Maybe they are scared of dogs. Maybe they will think she's threatening and will try to hurt her. I don't know. What I do know is that it is up to me to protect my dog, which means making sure they are not in a position to get hurt.
It just amazes me the complete lack of common sense I see in the world....
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