The Dog Walker's Dilemma

Three days per week, about five hours total, I walk dogs in a large neighborhood.  This neighborhood has no sidewalks, a few common areas and cul de sacs, and hundreds of homes.  When The Pack and I walk with our charges, we usually walk down the middle of the road avoiding homeowners' lawns to protect everyone from peeing on people's grass.  I listen for cars, and when one is approaching, we move as far to the left or right as we can to be safe, but not to infringe too much into people's yards.  I am aware of 6' easements in this public roads neighborhood, but I am also aware of people's attachments to their landscapes, and their disdain for dog pee.

Walking down the road

Today, a unique dilemma arose.  I shouldn't call it a dilemma.  I didn't question what to do.  I did wonder what reactions I would face, and I quickly prepared myself.

There I was, a Dog Whisperer's Apprentice, walking with five dogs down the middle of the street.  A car approached from the east, and as I began to move aside, I noticed a car approaching from the west as well.  Of course, on the lawn to which we were headed out of harm's way, a person appeared and began walking toward us.  The Perfect Storm for a dog walker.

I put my smile on, and had all the dogs quickly sit.  The car from the west passed us by.  The car from the east slowed, and the driver's window lowered.  I could hear a voice, not a happy voice, begin with, "You know...," just as the person on the lawn began to shout, "You know...!"  I looked to the lawn person, and I looked to the driver, and I looked to the dogs, and I looked to the lawn person.  Remember, the two yellers were yelling at the same time, but I'm pretty sure this is what I heard.

Little dogs only pee a teeny bit...

"You know what I can't stand about you dog people?  You're always walking down the middle of the road!"

"You know what I hate about you dog people?  You're always letting your dogs use my yard as a toilet!"

Trying to keep all five dogs from sniffing and peeing was not 100% successful.  It was 80% successful.  One dog peed on the lawn person's lawn.  DANG IT!!!  But I smiled and said, "Do you two see my dilemma?"  They both stared at me.  I looked at one.  I looked at the other.  Then I looked at the dogs and said, "What should we do, guys?  We walk in the road to stay out of the lawns, but when cars come we have to be safe.  Maybe these two people know what we should do. (Looking to the people.) Do you two see our dilemma?  Any suggestions?"

Driver:  "Carry on."

Lawner:  "Carry on."

Me:  "Ok, everybody!  Let's go!  Thanks neighbors."

And on with our walk we went.  Whew!

 Two Happy Lawners