Tales from a Dog Walker

I have always been fond of dogs, at least as soon as I grew big enough not to be terrified of them. They are fluffy, they are loyal, they are affectionate, they are adorable, what is not to love about dogs? I have had a family dog for most of my life, my neighborhood is packed with dogs and where there are dogs there is a need for dog related services. There is a dog bakery not far from my house, there are doggy daycare services, dog trainers, dog breeders, dog shelters, and of course dog walkers.

So when I was looking for a part-time job to bring in some money dog walking was an appealing option. For the last year and change I have been walking some three to six dogs a day, five days a week and have some stories to share on the subject.

The first thing that is really hammered home when working with dogs is that they are all individuals. Yes some traits definitely correlate for size or breed but ultimately the behavior of each dog is down to the characteristics of that individual dog. I have met stubborn dogs, I have met shy dogs, I have met eager and friendly dogs and I have met aggressive and ill tempered dogs. I have met dogs that are clingy, dogs that are pushy, dogs that are loud and others that don't like loud things, each one is different and need to be handled differently.

For instance one of the dogs I walk is a Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Zeus. Like most labs I have met Zeus is friendly, energetic and loves attention. He happily chases after and retrieves tennis balls and other objects, he gets along well with people and dogs alike, he does alright following commands so long as he is not too excited. Zeus is one of my regulars that I like to walk alongside other dogs, I have walked him alongside my own dog Emma, as well as another regular buddy of his, a Boxer named Otis and even a Poodle named Wally. There are times, particularly towards the end of our walks that Zeus might spot a small animal and go into a stalking pose, a reflection of the hunting dog he might have been under different circumstances. But I do not think he was cut out for that work, for every-time there is a loud noise or a large, loud vehicle passes by Zeus tries to run for cover. Most of the time this results in him hiding behind me as far away from the road as he can until the truck, or bus has passed by. Time and exposure does not seem to have curbed Zeus' aversion to loud engines. Most of the other dogs I have walked do not possess this particular fear, in fact some even respond to large trucks aggressively, especially mail trucks.

Meanwhile Zeus' buddy Otis is quite a different character. Zeus gets so excited to see me he will sometimes hop in place. Otis on the other hand tends to wait until he's hooked up and ready to go before he gets too excited. Sometimes if he's already in the back yard waiting he'll run around and do some zoomies(rapid and excited running about for the sake of blowing off energy) but most of the time he waits until the leash is on. If he's going to see Zeus he remains cool until Zeus comes out and the two excitedly say hi to each other. If I am walking Otis by himself though he often insists on attention and will jump up and hook his paws over my elbows. This leaves me standing in the middle of the lawn hugging this big boxer while he slobbers on my chest.

A couple of times while walking Otis and Zeus the two of them have gotten excited and started trying to do zoomies while on the leash. This has meant that I wind up in the middle of a doggy tug-of-war trying to wrestle both large and powerful dogs back under control. I've always managed it but my back felt it later.

I have walked dogs that are a sheer delight, a young Golden Labrador Retriever named Wrigley is one of the most adorable things I've ever seen. She's sweet, energetic and friendly, loves to meet people and animals, follows instructions, doesn't pull on the leash or chase after anything, doesn't eat things off the sidewalk, which is something that several of my regular dogs including Zeus love to do. When I come in Wrigley gets so excited to see me she will run around and want pets and often brings me a toy wanting to play and when we are done she lays down and settles in with her treat, a Kong filled with a frozen snack.

On the other hand some dogs have personalities that are more difficult to deal with. A Border Collie I walk named Bell is an interesting one. When I first met her she was shy and growly, she didn't want to let me out of her sight but wouldn't come close either. Unfortunately I met her without any introduction so I wound up cold entering her house as a complete stranger. After half an hour of tempting her with treats I managed to get her hooked up and out on her walk. Over time she got to know me better and now greets me by falling onto the floor at my feet, rolling onto her back and whining up a storm until I rub her belly. She clearly doesn't like the mailman and I try to keep her away from other people and animals but after she got used to me she has become quite an affectionate sweetie. Bell definitely ranks up near the top of my list for the most excited greetings I get.

Meanwhile some of the dogs I walk barely move a muscle when I arrive. Some actively don't want to go out. I've had dogs get outside the door, see that it is raining, and immediately turn around to head back inside. Every one is a character in their own right, and while some are more difficult to deal with or more stressful to manage they all have their highlights. From Wally dropping a chicken bone from his mouth with a look of grievous disappointment to Eliza flopping down in the shade and refusing to go any further the varied personalities of the dogs I care for have definitely been the highlight of this job.