Anyone who has read this blog knows that I have my fair share of run-ins with Dumb Ass Dog Owners (DADO’s).
When I’m walking one of my dogs, I’m constantly on the lookout for other people walking their dogs. Mostly because I’m surrounded by DADO’s. The dog I’m walking and what I observe of the person I’m approaching determines exactly how I’m going to handle the situation.
Most times I practice avoidance. (Not to be confused with abstinence, because that would be a totally different blog.)
And by that I mean, I turn around and go back the way I came, or find an alternative route home.
I’ve also been known to nip into a neighbor’s yard and wait for the DADO and the dog to pass.
Most times you just have to take my word for it that I’ve had another encounter, I mean, typically my hands are full wrestling a dog (or two) past whatever the distraction is.
Not this time! THIS TIME I HAVE PROOF!
Saturday afternoon I took Delilah for a walk, we went a route that was a little bit longer than normal, but it was a nice day and we were just enjoying our walk.
There were a couple of yard dogs that like to bark and run along the fence, but for the most part it was a decent walk.
Until…
We were coming up on the turn to our street, but still some distance away. I could see a couple of women standing on the side of the road looking at a house and chatting. They were about two houses away from our turn.
I squinted trying to determine what it was that I was seeing in the road, from my perspective it was very small.
That little white speck, that’s a dog. (This view is after we passed, only after we passed was I comfortable enough to take a photo.)
As we got closer and closer, I could see it was a small dog, like a Yorkie. One woman had the dog on a retractable leash and I watched as the dog wandered from the woman, to almost the other side of the road and back again.
My heart sank. We’d already been walking for 1/2 an hour and I sure as hell didn’t want to turn around and walk back up that hill, and past the barking yard dogs.
I moved to the opposite side of the street from this house and the women. Thankfully that particular area has no house on that side of the road; it’s an empty lot. It is wooded, but there is about 15 to 20 feet of open land before you hit the woods.
I moved Delilah to my right side and walked deeper into the lot than I typically would go. I pulled out a treat and began snapping it apart, handing it off to her. The women stopped chatting, looked at me and smiled, maybe they said Hello, I can’t be sure. I know I nodded my head at them and kept moving.
I had hoped the DADO would see how hard I was working to get my dog past hers and rein hers in, and she did, but only a tiny bit, then they went back to chatting.
Once we were safely past them, I turned around and watched. The women continued chatting with the DADO oblivious to where her dog was and what it was doing.
In fact, I stood and watched, shaking my head the whole time as a car inched its way past the women and dog. Because obviously, the car saw what I saw and was concerned about hitting the dog.
Too bad the DADO wasn’t as concerned. I thought to myself, not only is she a DADO she apparently doesn’t give a shit whether her dog gets hit or not.
I told you I lived in the DADO capitol of the world.
Oh wow!! That’s ridiculous!! I hate flexi leads! At least Delilah was a good girl and you had a place to escape!
A retractable leash would be my dream leash. No such luck. Mom watches me like a hawk! I’ve never been that far away from her since she adopted me. At this rate I’ll never get run over by a car or eat a chicken bone or a dead squirrel or a cigar butt…. Lucky Yorkie. Wait. What?
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I would have shouted out: “my dog is NOT friendly and will eat your little dog as a Scooby snack!”
I can see being oblivious to other dogs, but letting them run out into the road and not paying attention? That is really bad!
another urge moment! Have a great day.
I’ve always believed you, Jodi! The pix just reinforce my belief. DADOs just never cease to amaze me by just the heights of stupidity to which they can rise. That poor little Yorkie deserves soooo much better! Those damn flexi leads need to be outlawed!
Some people should not be allowed to have dogs 🙁 I’ve always believed you, too, Jodi, but a picture really does speak a thousand words. Wish you could come walk at our house. In my neighborhood there really are no DADOs like that. (Well, none that we ever see since there are few people, let alone people who walk dogs here.)
Ugh, that would make me so angry. You need to make up some DADO signs and hand them out. “Here’s your sign!”
Oh take the dog off her and send it to me… and only you could boast about the fact you have a successful and thriving sex life in the middle of a DADO post (and yes I may be a little jealous!)
We actually did think you might be making up all these DADO’s that you encounter, but your picture is worth 1000 words. And you are right, you must live in the DADO capital of the world. We seldom encounter these dummies.
Pet owners should have to take a test and get a license to own a dog/cat. But then that wouldn’t work because you would have to get the government involved.
OMG that poor dog. not only is the owner a dumb ass but obviously she doesn’t give a damn about her dog. i would have yelled out to the woman about her dogs possibility of becoming road kill. i mean it. and yes i would have said road kill.
Delilah great job on following your moms directions. and A+ to mom for remembering to give you treats.
OMG, they even have their backs to the poor dog in the middle of the road! I’m glad for you it was in a place where you could skirt around them, and that Delilah did so well. That one really takes the cake…unbelievable.
PS…I’d love to read a post you might write about abstinence…LOL.
I do not believe the stupidity of some people. I mean, the dog is in the ROAD!! Hello people!! Like, do they really think that is an appropriate thing?? It makes me so.freaking.crazy when I see a dog close to the road and not on a leash because it is dangerous for the dog and what about the person who might hit the dog and what they are going to feel. The other day someone was running a busy road with a dog off the leash. Even if they are super trained to stay they are dogs and could run in the road and get hit.
I can’t imagine allowing my dog to hang out in a road. I would never teach my dog that was an acceptable play area.
Jeez, you mentioned this would be a good one on Facebook and you were right. Some people just need a sympathetic pat. On the head. With a hammer.
Geez Louise. That is ridiculous and so very inconsiderate.
Ridiculous. No common sense whatsoever. We had a similar DADO in our old neighborhood who walked her Collie on a retractable. She thought her dog should meet every single dog in the world and let her roam into the street to cross towards a dog on the other side, or let her wander up to a group of dogs at full extent of the leash, or even once up our porch. No clue. Then Lucas would flip the eff out, and she’d do this irritating giggle and say something like, “Well, that’s not nice.” Asshat.
While it is not surprising that they didn’t rein in the dog for you, a car is a whole other story. Not all drivers are paying attention to the road! What if that preson had been texting! Gah, how annoying.
I love your illustrations! New word for my vocabulary “DADO” hahahaha
I don’t even allow my dogs to cross the street on walks until after they have sat and I give the go ahead. And walking a dog on a flexi, let’s just say no control not to mention dangerous. Don’t get me wrong I use one when at dog shows or events to air the dogs only. Gives them a bit more leeway to do their business. But I am standing still and watching them closely. I do not make a habit of walking them on one though because I don’t have the same control as a regular leash. Many years ago when using one for walking I almost had my shoulder dislocated when Cheyenne charged after a squirrel, that was the last time I did that.
Wow, I could give her a pass maybe for being inconsiderate when you tried to walk by her, but she doesn’t get a pass on not paying attention to cars trying to drive down the street. It makes you wonder how she would have reacted if the driver accidentally hit the poor little dog.
Oh my, that is bad! I probably would have yelled at them to reel in their dog. 🙁