Sometimes, things happen that send you down a different path. It may be a path you wanted to take but, for whatever reason, couldn't. Today, I had no choice but to take the darn path.
I have been putting off walking for several reasons: my back hurts, my knees ache and I can't put weight on my left foot. Good reasons not to walk, right? Well, I thought so. Despite nearly everyone in my family telling me it would be good for me to walk, I really wasn't all that keen on hobbling around the neighborhood like a relative of Quasimodo.
Nearly every creature in the house, except for Copper and the Abys, is overweight. Jack and Rooney are so much so, it's a worry. The recommendation was they get daily exercise.
If you're good at math, or a member of my family, you put two and two together and come up with the algorithm for Mom should walk the dogs every day. Well, Mom has a bad arm (forgot that one,) back, knees and foot. She is not up for walking a Chihuahua let alone a 180# pound Protector of the People.
Today, the choice was taken from me. The pool is getting refinished and all the gates are open, so the dogs had to be walked out front. It was either walk them or let them poop on the floor. I seriously considered the latter, but you have no idea how massive a Bullmastiff poop is. No idea.
Remember when I mentioned the contraption Andy bought which is a sort of harness made of rope. Well, I will never be able to figure out how it works. Ever. So, I resorted to what I can use - a choke collar.
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| Seriously - this thing goes over and under and voila! it's a harness. Not happening. |
The problem is, Jack is capable of pulling me along if he decides to take off, no matter what kind of leash he's wearing. I pictured myself being dragged down the street behind him, like a big, old lady balloon.
Me: Jack, now look. I need to take you out front, but under no circumstances can you pull me. Got it?
Jack: Outside? We're going outside? I want to go outside! Let's go outside!
Me: Jack, you aren't listening to me. I need you to behave out there.
Jack: Okay. I want to go out now. No pulling. I don't know what that means but I won't do it. Promise.
Meanwhile, out front there was a guy in the bed of a pickup truck, lots of squirrels and somebody walking two Shih Tzus. We waited until the coast was sort of clear.
Rooney was mortified and sure I meant to take her, too. Even though she did not have a collar on, she plastered herself against Jack's side, maybe figuring I wouldn't notice her. There would have to be an imminent attack of zombies coming before I would ever take two of them out at the same time. I carefully opened the front door, not really knowing what to expect.
One of the advantages of having a grossly overweight dog is they are kind of slow. Jack was only interested in doing his thing, walking as far as the next door neighbor's driveway, then turning back. Piece of cake.
Then it was Rooney's turn. Even though she had been body-slamming the front door the entire time Jack was out, when I put the lead on her, she turned into a show dog. I was shocked. I expected her to give me trouble but she was good as gold.
She wanted to walk a bit so we ventured out onto the street and started walking. It felt good. She didn't tug on the leash and no one appeared to distract her. We walked to the end of the street and back. Not far - but a good start. I may make this a regular thing.
As we were walking, I thought about all the excuses I've used to not do it. Isn't it fun when life kicks you out of the nest and you realize - hey, I can fly.....well, walk - but you get my point....
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| Who knows - this could be the start of a whole new me... |
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