Dogs that wander
While watching a video this afternoon a particular phrase. The dog in the video was referred to as being off leash happy. I had to stop and try to imagine what that actually meant. Lived with dogs over a number of decades in different places. And in every case if the dog was allowed to just wander that is exactly what the dog would do; wander with or without me. I have spent far too many nights wandering my neighbourhood in and out of the neighbours’ yards looking for my friend. I can call I can wander with the leash in my hand and I can imagine what it is like to have a dog that simply comes home when asked. Is that a particular breed I wonder. Invariably in the absence of a leash the dog would go off to explore. Obviously more fun than sitting home with me. I imagine you can train a dog to do almost anything but certain things are innate. Among them checking out the world. People do not need to put their cats on leashes although I often wish they would but a dog deserves to know that it’s human is right by its side. The leash serves as an easy reminder and you can actually bring the dog back with a tug of your wrist. Safer for the dog and safer for the owner. I am sure that the neighbours wondered why I would wander through their yard at night armed only with a leather strap. Calling my dogs name as I went. A lament if you will. I worried about my dog even as he or she was off to see the world. We always provided a tag to our dogs with a return address and sometimes it worked. But those dogs in videos that are only two happy to jump back into the vehicle and wait for the next adventure to begin leave me curious.
