A quick rant

I hope no one minds but this seems like a safe place to vent...

I live in a tiny hamlet - not much more than a cul de sac with 8 houses, a church and a lower school. I also work from home.

I don't take the dogs out (or have clients arrive) between 8.15 and 9.15 am becuase of school traffic - kids, cars etc.
I don't take the dogs out at lunctime or between 3.15 - 4.15 for the same reason.

today my diary meant I had to take them out at 11.30am when for some reason today there was loads of kids and parents around no doubt some end of term thing. So we walked calmly down the lane then I had them sit at my feet - on the lead while a teacher came past with about 10 children. Barney got up to go say hello but I called/gently pulled him back.

The teacher shrieked at me "some of them are frightened you know"

I replied as calmly as I could - yes that's why I'm holding them when I wanted to scream "some of us live here you know and would like to step outside occasionally"

For crying out loud it's not like the dogs misbehaved at all and dogs on the pavement surely are part of life that children have to learn about. Frankly given that half the kids were calling the dogs I was well impressed with how calm they were!

Sorry rant over

 

Re: A quick rant

Oh dear! People have strange reactions sometimes. I hope it didn’t spoil your walk.

I guess it is all good practice for the dogs though, watching noisy and excitable mini-humans go by.

Pippa

 

Re: A quick rant

Sam

I think you're right, which is doubly frustrating as I treat phobias and there's a sign on my gate saying so - ah well. I normally shrug these things off but there's been so much going on at the school it feels like we can't step out of the door (or indeed drive out the road is clogged)

Poor Barney had his style cramped on that walk as he had to stay on the lead while we were in the field as the lane to the School runs along the edge and while he's good most of the time that many children would be just too exciting.

Roll on next week and we can walk when we like!

 

Re: A quick rant

I sympathise! Had a similar experience with a couple of joggers. Put dog on lead and stepped about 15 feet to one side of footpath (across a field). Had the dog sitting neatly not doing anything. Called out good morning in a cheery voice to be greated by a loud shout of "Just you keep that dog under control do you hear!" from the front jogger. Her friend following behind thankfully looked at her and then at me with a look that said "sorry she is nuts".