Dog Tales

It's not a dog's world:

Unless we were at a dog park or in a big open field far away from playgrounds, I kept my dog on a leash. If people were passing us on the sidewalk, I'd make sure the leash slack was short enough to prevent my dog from jumping on the passing people. And that's kinda the whole point of the leash, isn't it? If your dog is leashed but you still let it reach me, your leash is as useless as your sense of consideration for others. If I noticed the size or assertiveness of my dog was frightening a small child, I would put the dog outside or in another room. I wouldn't give a dismissive, "It's okay, he's friendly," and expect that to placate the nerves of the terrified, bawling four-year-old staring down a menacing creature thrice his size. None of this used to be an issue. The dog owners of yore were responsible and courteous. They didn't need to be told not to let their dogs jump on total strangers. It was self-evident. Not to sound cliché, but maybe it's simply a "generational thing," and recent irresponsible dog-owning is simply another manifestation of an increasingly self-absorbed culture.

Keep your dog to yourself...