Ok. Funny story. I CONTINUE to encourage Chuck to adopt the short rope leash for dog-walking that I’m having so much luck with. Casey stays close beside me at all times and cannot pull at all. He doesn’t go anywhere and doesn’t even try, because the leash is around his chest, just behind his front legs. It’s GREAT.
But Chuck will NOT use it. He likes the long retractable leash for walking the dog, even though Casey is all over the place, and always trying to stay at the very end of the leash, as far away as he can get. The fact that the leash is retractable means also that it’s EXTENDABLE. By 16 feet.
DOGS ARE PROGRAMMED TO PULL AGAINST SOMETHING AROUND THEIR NECKS. IT’S INSTINCT. I LOOKED IT UP.
So yesterday morning, or maybe Saturday, we walked over to Starbuck’s with the newspaper. I took the shortcut, ordered our drinks, and grabbed an outdoor table, while Casey made his rounds. Anyhow, they arrive and Chuck gets settled, putting Casey’s leash’s plastic housing under his leg as he settles into his wrought-iron chair. Casey immediately notices the two standard black poodles a few tables away and leaps out on his leash to get to them. They start snarling, Chuck lurches forward to grab Casey, his hot coffee tips into his lap, and the slender nylon leash cuts two places on the back of his leg, just behind his knee. And the poodle owner mutters something about poorly trained dogs while Chuck shrieks f-words in front of a whole lot of residents of 77019.
Last night he showed me, for the third time, the slices on his leg. I said, “I know how to not have that happen again,” and he said shut up.
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4 comments:
As Casey says, "I prefer the long retractable leash so that I can trot, stop and sniff, let Chuck go past, trot ahead again, etc., etc. I'm much more comfortable and look a lot cooler when I'm trotting instead of walking. The long leash also lets me wander off into my favorite grassy places to get just a little privacy for -- well, you know what for. I let Pat use the short leash because she only walks me about once a month anyway."
I also prefer the long retractable leash;it is less binding and allows more mobility.
Pat, I lost your contact information. Write me...Deb
So you're ok with the scalding coffee stains and leg lashings as long as Casey looks cool?
I definitely prefer the long leash for running with him, but I have experienced the dangers firsthand. Casey gets really excited about the dandelion fountain on the bayou, and one bad pulling incident left me with grass stains on the stomach of my tshirt.
Where is the liveblogging on the storm?! I assume you have stockpiled plenty of tequila and limes? I wish my flight had not been cancelled, so I could pitch in :(
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