Every year, on the day that offers the first semblance of spring in Annapolis, people come out of the woodwork flooding the streets and sidewalks of downtown, and I am no exception to the crowd. When spring fever hits the town, it usually hits hard. There is not a parking place to be found, coffee shops and ice cream parlors are overflowing with locals and tourists alike getting something they can sip on while browsing the stores, and being the dog town that Annapolis is, four-legged friends are around every corner.
Dog walking in Annapolis is somewhat like show-and-tell and also a true test of which owners are pack leaders. I use a leash with what I consider to be a very leash innovative design because it has three different settings for its length based on where the lead is clipped back to itself. When walking Murphy around town, I always keep it on the shortest lead setting so as to have the best control over her.
My friend and I stopped in a new tea store downtown and clipped Murphy’s leash around the street sign in front of the store so we could shop. I looked up from inside the store and saw a man with an adorable puppy standing just far enough away from Murphy that she couldn’t greet them. I walked outside to say hello. For a good, and relatively awkward, five minutes the man and his 1-year-old puppy just sort of hung out. He watched as his dog sniffed, pawed, and nudged Murphy and then did nothing when his pup continued to jump and paw at me and my friend. He simply seemed confused at what to do when meeting other dog owners and introducing his puppy to new dogs. What is a good way to introduce yourself and your dog to others on the street?
- Greet the human first to show the dogs that you are in control of the situation.
- Allow the dogs to sniff long enough to recognize each other’s scents.
- Reprimand your dog when it jumps on complete and total strangers.
- Continue walking on your merry way.
After the tea store we went on a mission for some of the best Italian hot chocolate on the waterfront to enjoy in a sunny spot. We passed half a dozen black labs, a boxer, two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and an enormous bulldog. While enjoying our drinks we did the people watching typical of anyone sitting on a bench. There were the standard tourists who asked us to take their family photo by the flagpole, local families showing their kids the various boats in the harbor, and a little boy very eager to pet Murphy. How does the dog meets child situation transpire?
- The father very kindly asked if his son could pet Murphy; absolutely and thank you for asking.
- We warn he and his 1-year-old son that she loves to lick and will probably do so.
- The father puts his hand out for Murphy to smell and because he’s kneeling, and because he has a beard, she is instantly kissing his face. Fortunately, he laughs and invites his son over.
- They both pet her ears and she happily licks the child’s eye making him giggle. We offer to have her pull back and sit but the father doesn’t mind and is entertained.
- The whole greeting lasts about a minute, the little boy attempts to say “Murphy,” and we learn how to wave goodbye with a sideways open and close motion of the hand.
We make our way along Ego Alley to head back to the car because we’ve decided it’s a good idea to go to the SPCA. While walking, a woman randomly reaches out and tries to talk to and pet Murphy. If we had still been on the bench, this would have been ok, but trying to pet someone else’s dog while they are walking is usually a little odd and is a good way to get someone tripped up in a leash. What’s worse, however, is when another dog owner is completely ignorant of what their dog is doing at the other end of the leash. How do you share the sidewalks and crosswalks?
- Keep your dog on a short leash.
- Teach your dog to heal and keep him at your side when you are walking in crowds, sidewalks, and crosswalks that are shared with other people and dogs.
Annapolis is a dog town and there is nothing like enjoying a beautiful day with your friends and your dog and watching others do the same. But downtown Annapolis is not the dog park. I love dogs and everything about them; I simply ask that their owners be the Alpha dog.
