Most dogs pull initially because of all the pent up energy they have from spending in their kennels, but as it wears off they calm down afterwards. Not Mimi. For one and a half hours, I tried to encourage her to walk by my side by changing directions, bribing her with pets and treats whenever she did stay by my side for more than ten seconds, even just stopping completely and waiting until she figured it out and came to my side. Mostly, the walk was spent with me trying to control her pulling, which meant each time she pulled the nylon leash dug into my hand, leaving me with red welts as a souvenir.
Mimi was really excitable, like most dogs her age. Even bouts of fetch didn't seem to tire her out. She was really sweet and enjoyed her pets and cuddles. She was also a very clever girl and understood a lot of commands; the problem was she sometimes chose when she wanted to obey and when she wanted to ignore you. She was distracted by dogs easily, and some she wanted to run up to and play with. Conversely, some she was afraid of, and then she would bark and growl in what seemed to me like fear-agressive behaviour (I read her write up on the SPCA website later which said she was good with dogs, so maybe she was having an off day). Once she was on the leash, she was easier to guide when it came to those kind of situations, but off leash it was hard to get her attention once she was all worked up.
When the time came for her to go back to her kennel, Mimi knew immediately what was up and started whining and trying to get away. It's always so sad to have to bring the dogs back to their kennels, with all these other unfamiliar dogs barking and banging around them; it must be really upsetting for them. I managed to get Mimi into her kennel by going in with her. Once inside, Mimi again demonstrated how clever she was and promptly sat down in front of the door, blocking my exit. I stayed with her for a few minutes, trying to soothe her a little, but every time I moved, she jumped back to blocking the way out. While I was trying to shuffle around the kennel with her so I could leave, I accidently stepped on her paw, which of course made her yelp and made me feel even more guilty. As if she knew I was close to getting out, she lay down and stretched herself out in front of the door, and looked up at me with her adorable brown eyes. Even though by now I was tempted to stay in there all day with her, I managed to get the door open and hold her back until I shut it. She looked at me from the other side with a defeated expression, and watched me as I walked away.
How is it that people can give up their pets to shelters and turn their backs on them, never thinking another thought about them? I will say that not everyone that gives up their pets to places like the SPCA mean badly; sometimes the owners are hit with something unexpected, like terminal illness or financial difficulties, leaving them unable to care for their pets. If all other possible options are exhausted, then it probably is best for their animals to find homes that can provide them with all their necessities. But some background stories I've read regarding owner surrenders are: the family surrendered their nine year old dog because of "allergies," the family decided to take a three week vacation to Vegas and surrendered their dogs so they wouldn't have to worry about them (true story), or simply put, the owners didn't want the pet anymore. I spend maybe two hours at the most with each dog I walk, and I want to take all of them home with me (well, maybe not all of them...Pirate the dog)! I know that two hours is not the same as taking care of a pet 24/7, but even the challenges I could see in Mimi would be well worth overcoming to have a sweet dog like her as a companion.
Anyways...my rant for today.
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