Make no bones about it—it’s a dog eat dog world

Dogs. America loves dogs of all varieties, the edible kind, of course, in addition to our four-legged buds.

I can’t even begin to count the amount of traveling doggies I’ve had the pleasure of visiting with this summer—a delightful pastime that never ceases to entertain and amuse me.

But like anything else that requires time and responsibility—doggie-rearing is just not for everyone.

Remember the family pet of old? Ya carried home in your arms—minus a fancy crate—a cute little free-of-charge puppy from the neighbor who refused to “fix” his dog. It went to the vet once or twice in a lifetime. Ya fed it and trained the thing to poo outside.

Maybe a little ball tossing here and there, some nice walks, running in the yard and a bunch of kid cuddles.

If it didn’t work out (some dogs are just naughty) Dad took the dog to “that nice farm In Vermont” where it could run its little heart out. The End.

Not so in this day and age. Seems there’s no shortage of assistance out there for those too lazy to own a pet, from special pricey gadgets (Heard of the Thundershirt?

Why hold and comfort your distraught pet if Mama Nay wreaks havoc in the sky when you can just squeeze him into a special shirt?) to puppy socialization classes (Well, he watches Animal Planet on the big screen tv from his crate all day until we get home.) and, believe it or not, highly trained doggie behaviorist specialists (It’s all my mother’s fault…she was a female dog too.)

Let us not forget the purpose of technology—having to do way less while still appearing cool. Folks have smart phones that can command gadgets to dispense pet food when they just can’t make it home at dinner time due to such emergencies as happy hour, workouts, pedicures, etc. Now ain’t that special?

I’m always thinking, why don’t you just train that dog to behave? Turns out not all breeds are trainable and many, many pups will remain on a leash for their entire lives.

In addition, of course, to the fact that billions of pet owners just don’t have the time or ambition to raise a good dog.

Which always leads back to my same question…WHY DO YOU OWN A PET???

It’s a fact of life—no one likes everyone. And that rings true in the doggy world as well. Our dog Buck has proved that over and over again.

He’s the official shop dog for Lucky Dogs and greets each and every vehicle personally.

Bucky has limited leash experience (vet visits only) and he’s not shy about his arrogance regarding personal freedom. And why not? He’s EARNED his freedom.

Here’s a dog that listens. He’s been taught because nobody wants their vet chart’s final entry to read HBC (hit by car.) Granted, it took a few years but he gets it. No means no, etc., etc.

When folks exit their vehicles with a leashed pup in tow I swear Bucky seems to shake his head in confusion, then promptly walks away.

No doubt he considers his tethered brethren a lesser breed for having to be restrained and loses interest immediately.

Again, like their owners, dogs choose their friends. With their insane gift of scent they can sniff out an enemy from miles away and believe me, I think we share the same taste.

He can spot a pampered pooch at a glance, THROUGH A CAR WINDOW!!…and he promptly dismisses it with a diva-like head toss followed by a blatant “watch my tail.” It’s hysterical to observe.

So which came first, the undisciplined animal or the unruly children? Or do they all happen at once? If you can’t train your pet to behave, is your success at childrearing compromised?

Do you simply exist in a land of no boundaries? Take a moment to reflect on your friends/family with pets AND kids.

Anyone see a pattern here? I’ll be the first to admit, my daughter’s dog in the most spoiled arrogant little thing on this planet. Therefore, I have abandoned that burning desire for grandbabies.

Oh, I’ll love ‘em if they get here, but boy oh boy, talk about a dog-eat-dog world.

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