Kali and I took a walk today. Well, we actually took two walks.
We went west nearly a block, there is a house with a big dog that isn’t tied up or fenced in. I’ve made friends with that dog on previous walks without Kali. I just didn’t want Kali’s walk to be scary. Then came back home. I offered her treats as I got to our driveway telling her this is “home”.
Neither of us was ready to go inside. It was not windy. There was enough sun to be wonderful outside. So we walked to the end of our dirt road and turned south.
Right there on that corner, our neighbor has three big dogs. They are in his fenced yard. But they bark at everything that passes. I walk Kali on a tight leash on the other side of the street. I tell her I’m afraid of those dogs and to stay close to me. She is getting it. She whines a little. I remember Cesar’s training of dogs and “sssss” or “shshshshsh” her while keeping the leash tight. Once past the dogs, we relax. I give her the length of her leash.
We walked to the end of that block. I’ve never walked in that direction. With no car, our walks have always been toward our little town. But now that there is a car in our household, though it is gone with my brother to work every day, we have no great need. He picks up the mail or groceries. So Adventure! new route to explore!
Then we walked back home. Past the barking-dog-corner and driveway, “home” + treat. Then we went in to rest. I realized I didn’t have the map or mileage of the walk.
It wasn’t that far so when Kali wanted to do the “outside” thing again we donned harness, vest, leash, sunglasses, sweatshirt, hat–I think you know who wore what–we took the same walk. This time I made sure I had the app turned on, on my phone.
Well, the walking west part was the same. The walking east was the same. But when we went south we explored more. We got to see the back of our property. We got to see the haybarn I can see from my kitchen window. So cool!
Easy to see in this old winter picture. Now no snow and it is green sagebrush everywhere. It looks like a quick walk–if there were no fences between here and hay barn. But going around the block was much longer.
So it was a fun day with two walks. Saw things up close I had not seen that way before. Maybe next time I will make sure to take pictures. After all–the satellite for the GPS couldn’t track me so all I had at the end was that each walk was about 40 minutes long. I estimated about 2 miles or 4. Don’t know. Whatever, it was was good for Kali and me. She’s knocked out beside me. And not nearly as shaky as she has been.
So how do you all handle the other dogs issues on your walks? I trust Kali, just not so much those big dogs.
Darswords 
My dog WHINES at other dogs and people, as she believes she is friends with everyone and everyone loves her and they just don’t know it yet. Usually dogs here my dog whine and they stop barking. She makes it known she’s passive, and that helps.
I don’t like to walk without her. I feel naked and vulnerable.
That’s what I feel she is doing, making it known she’s friendly and passive, and she wants to go to the fence to meet these barking dogs. _I_ am afraid. I don’t know that neighbor. I don’t know those dogs but _I_ don’t feel confident enough to try. Kali the size of two chihuahuas or a short dachshund so she would be two bites to these big guys. I already have a fear of dogs going back to kindergarten when a dog bit my face leaving me with scars on the sides of my mouth. They’re not huge scars but I think they remind me that dogs are unpredictable. Add 6 decades of rationale and I have learned to respect and love dogs. But, still don’t trust the ones that bark at me. Kali has lived with my son’s Great Dane and my daughter took both of the dogs to the dog parks. She is very socialized. It’s me. I know it. And, yes, I am already enjoying having Kali along with me. Now I can walk and talk and not feel I look crazy. And walking with her is like walking a toddler. She’s so curious about everything. That, too, is scary as we may have rattlesnakes hanging out in the sagebrush. And dogs sniff at every dead thing–Yuck! But just like I did with my toddlers, I get down to inspect things and explain to her we don’t touch this. But we can look. 🙂 Thanks for helping me figure this out.
Dog parks are awesome, we miss ours. We used to have one SO close we could walk, but now we hafta drive about 25 minutes, so we don’t go anymore.
I’m sorry about your worries with stranger dogs, but I think most of us are wary of dogs we don’t know, particularly when they’re not attended. I know it must be hard for you.
Yeah, nearest dog park is probably an hour and a half away. LOL! But meanwhile Kali and I are on the learning curve. Thanks for your thoughts. It helps to see another point of view, especially about dogs where I feel such a noob! (Or about blogs, noob times 2!)
Haha, no, we’re all learning everything as we live 🙂
You are right about that! 🙂