November 3 Dogged

It’s a dog of a job . No matter which way you look it at it , your at the mercy of something that doesn’t speak English . Canine is the speak , and that’s not the problem ! …. Californians they love their dogs , adore them , put them on a pedestal.Yard space is at a premium , hence most dogs live inside . This is where the problems begin.Dogs of all sizes live in apartments ; labs, ridge backs , shepherds and then a large range of smaller dogs .They don’t like any restrictions in California, that includes their pets . Train them …. no !! .. We want them to be free to be themselves , to show their true personality . Havn’t seen a single dog who sits at the curb or walks quietly beside their master .Theyre stuck inside and only see the outside world on a walk . I’ve done 15 walks ;10 good, 5 bad. It’s a small sample size , but I don’t like the ratio. A day can go from good to bad quickly when your doing multiple walks . Take yesterday This little boy was a legend . Afterwards I felt good and took on another walk close to our house .On the moment of entry I knew this was going to be a test of my nerve . Spike was a big arse lab cross who wasn’t happy at all , he was petrified with hair raised and a guteral growl . I inched towards him with an out stretched closed hand but he kept backing away , barking all the while .I finally cornered him in an upstairs bedroom . Once again I crawl in with an out stretched closed fist with the lead placed close to his feet. He was in flight or fight mode . Fuck it . What do you do ? Howie you gotta get close .Hes gonna bite me .As I touch his chin he explodes with a volley of desperate barks .Im squinting , readying myself for the piercing shock . Nup , its quiet . Fuck it , here we go . I reach in and pat his chest . He quivers and let’s me close in . Done , I’ve got him on the lead and he’s a transformed dog . I get him out on the trail and he walks well .Afterwards I’m buoyant, not many would of persisted , a lot would of walked away . Fuck it , what’ve I got to lose but a hand or two , i’l take this last walk on . What could go wrong ?Firstly , the actual owner makes contact before I even set off .He calls himself ‘Oshies Daddy’. This doesn’t normally happen .He wants to touch base as his baby has an extra bubbly personality .I pick Oshie up ( another young lab)from a small dark apartment . She’s excitable . I get her in her harness . It’s difficult , these dogs with harnesses don’t like being straddled ( best way of putting them on ) by a complete stranger .I get it on , but I think it could be tighter , but of course Oshies Daddy has set it up this way for his baby . Don’t want to make her uncomfortable, do we . 15 minutes in , alls well until a sudden noise startled her . In an instant she steps backward , contorts herself so that she releases her front leg and is out .FUCK!! I grab her by the tail and wrap my arms around her . She has no collar , so I have to get the harness on any how I can . At the same time she is grabbing my forearm with her teeth in an attempt to release herself . It’s all roads here ,so stakes are high .Shes on , the harness is on all wrong but I’ve got her tethered . She’s limping as I have her front leg restricted but this bitch ain’t getn away this time . But she does it again !!! She’s out , I’ve got a mad hodini fuckn dog . I’m fucked up with panic , I bear hug her and crab walk her homeward . Just as I’m 30 m from her gate she busts out of my grip and starts scoffing down these palm nuts that drop to the ground . She’s eaten 10 in 30 seconds before I bear hug her again . I get her back home and I’m exhausted. Fuckn bitch might die of a bowel obstruction now . As I get in the car I’m all shook up , the owner texts me again an asks how his baby went ? He’s already got the information through the questionaire I fill out in the dog walker app , but he wants to know more . You tell them it it all went well because you don’t want to upset them but some of these owners are fuckn clueless and are the reason why their dogs are neurotic messes. If they’re a problem walker or don’t like strangers why get people like me in to go through hell? .., They’re fucked up ….. your dogs aren’t perfect …. and their a fuckn pain in my arse . I’m the one who goes down if I get bit or they can’t walk on a lead and get hit by a car . If I’m still doing this in 6 months i’l be a nervous wreck and will have aged 15 years . They don’t get it …. they’re dogs not people .