SAFETY

I do a lot of things for my dogs. They are my family members and they are pretty much dependent on me to provide them with everything they need. They are also very trusting of me and will follow me to any adventure I want to experience. And honestly, there are few things I want to do that don't include them.



For each adventure, and even for daily activities, I have safety gear. How I define safety gear is something I own or can do to ensure we are prepared for the calamities that can occur when you're experiencing the world with your dog by your side.

I have been teased and criticized for the amount of time I spend with my dogs. I'm not a weak person, I can take the hits, and I usually don't respond with an excuse or a defense. I'm not witty enough to respond with something clever, so I simply don't respond. It's not that I'm not annoyed by the judgments; they often hurt, but I've always been able to manage the critiques because I feel confident that I am doing what is right for me and my family. Look, I judge all the time. I judge what is right and wrong for my family. You do what works for you and I'll do what works for me.

The crack that irritates me more than any other is the observation that I am "substituting." Many, and I mean many, people believe that I am substituting dogs for "real children." Let me be clear: My dogs are not my children. They are my dogs. They are as much a part of my family as any human, and it is my choice to have dogs and not humans. Even if I had children living with me, I would still have dogs, and I would still take care of them as equal members of my family. Trust me. I've done it. I've lived it. I'm not "substituting" as if children are the pinnacle and I have sadly settled for dogs. I have dogs because I want dogs, and my dogs are essential members of my family.

I am not going to explain or defend my family's dynamic, but I do caution those who tell me I really need to "get going" and have some kids. I caution those who say, "I can tell you don't have kids! You're way too nice to your dogs!" or "If you had kids, you'd never pay attention to your dogs." You know nothing about me. Nothing.



The other criticisms that irk me are that I'm a worrier and over-protective. Yes, dogs live in the wild and stray dogs survive and your childhood dog never had a collar or a fence in its life and lived to be 17. I get it. My providing toys for my dogs when we go to someone's house increases the likelihood that the someone's dog's toys don't get eviscerated. I consider myself as being polite and thoughtful. My putting a jacket on my dog, who has 4% body fat, when it's below 30F ensures we'll be able to comfortably walk for an hour continuing my dogs' physical fitness while you and your dog never get out of the house for more than 2 minutes in December, January and February...Ok, that's it, I've got to stop letting these comments bother me.

So, ok, maybe you get what I'm typing. I care about my dogs' safety, and provide for it, maybe a little bit more than the average person. I am criticized and teased about it, but I keep doing it all, and most days, I do it with a smile because I'm out experiencing the world with my dogs by my side.

This week, I will show you a lot of the things I do to protect my dogs from other dogs, and from the elements of the outdoors. We are able to do a lot out there and we're limited only by me because my dogs are ready for anything!