Dog Tired
She Said: Casey will have his own backpack sooner than I thought. My dad, who lives in the Bay Area, called me Saturday from PetSmart to ask if it would be OK with me if he bought him one. They had one in his size, and he wondered if maroon would be a good color for his canine friend. I told him I thought Casey would look very handsome in maroon, thanked him, and proceeded to tell Casey he'd be getting a gift from Grandpa.
In stark contrast to last week's encounter with the ignoramus at the grocery store, Casey and I had some very positive experiences on our walk Saturday. I put the backpack on him and we headed to the pet store to buy cat food. After just a few blocks, we met a nice man and woman on the street. The woman inquired about the backpack, and was truly curious about it. She has also considered buying a doggie pack for her dog, but didn't know if it was worth the cost. Her companion commented on how comfortable Casey looked with the pack on. We talked for quite a while about the benefits of using packs to work dogs, and she thanked me for answering her questions. We all walked away feeling good.
Casey and I continued on, walking confidently and with focus. He was doing better on the leash than he ever has before. We passed a young couple working on their landscape. The man smiled at us and said, "You're working that dog."
"That's right," I replied, and we continued on with our heads held high.
At the pet store, Casey got water, treats, affection and praise from the staff. I bought a 5 lb. bag of cat food and told the cashier that I thought it would be sweet justice if the dog carried the cat food home. She said, "He'd probably love to." Now there's someone who understands!
I got home with a very tired pooch, which is exactly what I wanted. Honestly, he listens better when he's tired. It's like he doesn't have the energy to be stubborn, so he just does as he's told. If that's the result of walking him with a backpack, I will do it regularly.