Now I”m not insulting you, just stating fact. You don’t know Jack, but I’ll tell you about him. He’s my walking buddy who eagerly waits by the door when he thinks it’s time to go out. If I forget the daily routine he’s there to remind me often vocally. He leaps and whirls as if going for a walk is the most exciting thing in the world almost as exciting as supper time. In between walks and meals Jack usually curls up contentedly close to Nancy or myself where he can keep an eye on us. Jack is really easy to satisfy much more than most people, but then Jack is a dog. I know this because I sent out his DNA to be tested and it came back 100% dog, contrary to Jack’s opinion that he is otherwise.
Let me interject this about dogs and dog owners. Most owners think that their dog wants to be treated like humans when in truth they think we are all dogs and he or she is the top one. Case in point, we think we have a dog well trained when he does things like heel, sit, lay down and wait for his food. But who has who trained? Try not feeding him on time or taking him out for a walk in the evening or scratch his ears. I could go on but I think you have the idea.
Well I am one of those dog owners who kids himself into thinking he is winning the battle over establishing who is the top dog. And so, Jack and I go for walks, usually pretty long ones. I call it leash training, Jack calls it, I think I’ll just bring this guy along. Now these walks are not without some contention. I walk for exercise trying to get my 10,000 steps in for the day. Jack thinks more in line of the walk as an opportunity to mark territory and chase squirrels or check out what other dogs are doing. I can’t seem to get him to understand I don’t what to sniff what he is sniffing (usually something another dog has left behind), and I don’t want to chase deer.
Jack loves people and tries to greet everyone we meet on the way. In fact, he’s my Will Rogers dog who never met a person he didn’t lick (or sniff). He thinks everybody is his friend except for men with hats. And people respond to him with complements he doesn’t understand.
And that’s another thing about dogs. We speak to them as if they understand us going into long conversations as to what good dogs they are or expecting them to understand what our day is like. Actually, as a dog trainer explained to Nancy and me, dogs only understand a few words such as “walk” or “eat” or “go”, and all the rest is like Chinese. I always suspected that Jack understands more than just a few words and it was confirmed when the DNA testing showed he is part Chow (Chinese).
But all in all, we get along on our walks and end up back at the house without too much bloodshed. My arm usually returns to its socket from all Jack’s pulling on his leash within a reasonable amount of time. Jack is then ready for his treat. I hold it up and make Jack wait until I say “OK”, patting myself on the back as to how well I have him trained. Jack on the other hand realizes who is the top dog as he has manipulated me into giving him a treat again.