A Morning Walk

This morning was beautiful. I decided to take the dogs and

the kids for a walk before school. Before we bought Kalea

I researched Basset Hounds on line.

I found out that they're really good with kids.

I also found out that bassets love food and rest, and they're

not big fans of exercise.

One trainers recommendation was that

you train the puppy from when they're young to walk

on a leash. They have to learn that you're the boss.

Sounds good. Until you see how cute the puppy is.

Those eyes, that whimper.

DOMINATE THE DOG.

I AM THE ALPHA DOG.

Kalea started out liking the walk, but then she was done with

it. She laid down. At which point I was dragging her.

She gets back up, walks some more, drops, gets dragged, gets

up walks, drops. You get the picture.

As we're walking, a car stops along side us.

I try to pretend that I don't see it, don't know who the lady inside is.

She parks. Rolls down her window. Starts to call to me.

Wow, she's persistent. "Is that dog all right?" she asks me.

I try to explain that we're trying to teach her to walk on a leash.

As if what I'm doing is her business, but my mom did raise me to be both

polite and kind. "Oh, you should let one of the kids carry her."

I try to explain that we won't be able to carry her when

she's full grown, and that she needs to learn. The lady continues

to stare at me, and then at the kids. I see her thinking,

"Should she really have those kids?"

I feel this need to justify what I'm doing, but then stop myself.

It's not her business. Kalea is my dog. I look at Kalea, laying on the ground,

sad eyes looking up at me, pleading, "Oh the pain. Please don't drag me."

"Nice girl." I say. "You can do it. Not much further."

I reach to pick her up, the lady drives away. I put Kalea back

on the ground and continue to drag her along. "Dog" I say, "You'd

best start walking before we have anyone else stop us."

She looks at me, wags her tail, and continues the walk

home.