I see lots of folks out walking dogs, and I know some are owners and some are professional dog walkers. I try to guess which is which, but that can be as difficult as standing at the bulletin board at some Starbucks where they have pictures of staff and their dogs, and your job is to try to guess which staff members belong to which dogs.
Dog walking is good for the dog and good for the person. Both get some exercise and a change of scenery. Both get a chance for adventure with one another, and that usually creates a bonding of sorts. Sometimes a deep bonding.
It also creates opportunities for personalities to enter into the relationship between the two (or three or four, if multiple dogs are being walked).
I had a chance to chat with a professional dog walker, Heather Dunning (heathersdogwalking.com) and ask about the lifestyle. “We quickly form relationships, and our personalities shape those relationships sometimes in the funniest ways,” she said.
Wanting a story, I asked her to talk a little about one of her dogs. She went for Rose (a.k.a. Rosie), a very smart 4-year-old pit bull with a fun personality. Heather rotates among several spots for walks, as per requests of Rose’s owners. Thing is, Rose has her own favorite spots.
Heather says that in the car, after the first two or three turns, Rosie knows exactly which spot they are going to, and if it is one of her favorites, she gets visibly excited, wiggles her butt and licks Heather’s arm excitedly to show she is happy.
One day, Rosie’s human had lots to do and wanted Heather to keep the dog longer than usual. After a good long hike, Heather took Rose home to her house.
The dog had been there before, but this was the first time she noticed the large ceramic tortoise decoration in the back yard. It startled her, so she started barking at it and cocking her head quizzically when it wouldn’t retreat.
Heather said, “I had to show her that the tortoise wasn’t real, but she still wasn’t so sure about it.”
I asked if there were any problems with Rosie. Heather said, “No problems really because Rosie is a wonderful friend. Sometimes, though, when her human only needs me for a shorter time than usual, we go for a brief walk at one of her favorite places and when we get back to the car, she plants her butt on the ground and won’t budge because she wants a longer walk.
“I apologize and promise longer walks in the future. Then she will allow me to put her in the car. I really love that dog!”
Heather is very happy with her business. She feels she is in the business of loving relationships and plenty of exercise.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
