Things I’ve learnt walking my dog to school

walking my dog to schoolI have so many craft projects on the go at the moment, but nothing at the stage of sharing. So I thought for a change I’d share part of my country life. In particular about walking my dog to school.

How it started

This is my 14th year of walking down our little lane, on the school and childcare run. The combination of babies/toddlers/school children/dogs have varied, but there has always been me. Donning boots. Ready to dodge cars and cyclists, whilst ensuring none of my brood ends up in front of oncoming vehicles.

There are no pavements. We walk along the edge of the lane, with high hedgerows on either side. Some sections of the lane are single carriage. We often encounter horse riders and even a pony and trap. It is a country lane.

You would be amazed at how fast and close people think it is OK to race their cars passed pedestrians on a narrow country lane. It is close. Common sense seems to disappear. They’ll dodge a bramble or branch that is overhanging the road, for fear of scratching their paintwork, but squeeze past a child within inches. All as close to the national speed limit as possible, because that’s what the road signs say they can do. I’ve often thought about wearing a coat of barbed wire. It would make them think twice about driving so close. That crazy lady again.

Most car drivers are considerate.

I could use the taxi which the council would supply, free of charge. I’ve always turned it down. The walk is 10 minutes and we love seeing the seasons change along the lane. More importantly, I need the exercise.

So we walk. Spotting toads, deer, birds and flowers as we go.

Son walking my dog to school

There came a point, during those years, where I had a hand free to hold a dog lead. At last, I could combine the school run with the dog walk. A complete time saver, but with it came a whole set of new considerations. If you have ever walked a dog to school, I think you’ll be familiar with a few of these.

Points to consider when walking my dog to school

1. Not knowing which hand to wave to friends in passing cars. There is an  ensuing puppet-on-a-string  hand act, as I try to decide whether to wave the hand with the lead in it, and risk the dog’s neck, or the one holding the…ahem…  used poo bag. Inevitably I end up waving a poo bag at my friend, as they drive past.  Invites to come round for coffee, dry up.

2. The moment I’m somewhere remotely smart, I reach into my pocket and release an avalanche of unused poo bags (affiliated link). Declaring as loudly as possible that they are clean, as I hastily recapture them all. Cross another venue/job interview off my list.

3. On the walk, inevitably someone will comment about the size of my dog. Often strangers, slowing down their cars, wind down their windows, to share their insight.  “Put a saddle on her and ride her to school“. “Is it a pony?” “Isn’t that a big doggie?” I laugh in a friendly manner. It’s OK. Still funny. Even after hearing it approximately 71,529 times before, when walking my dog to school. Sigh. I wish I was exaggerating.

The dog factor

4. Reaching the school gate, small dogs dash up and yap at her. She stands still. “What is it? Will I tread on it? What happens if I do tread on it? I’m listening intently out of  pure politeness”. We will never know what she is thinking. For my part, I’m hoping that the smaller dog doesn’t launch itself at her throat and condemn us to a morning spent at the vets. Again.

5. My dog is a thief. No two ways about it. As she passes, she is tall enough to grab cookies from children’s hands or rifle through handbags for sandwiches. It’s true. Often it is so quick neither party realise until it’s too late. Oops! Sorry. Turn tail quickly and wonder how to persuade husband to do the school runs for the rest of the week/term.

top of her head

The child factor

6. My dog loves children. She’s grown up with them, so she loves them. A crying child apparently needs a face wash, in her mind. Babies in prams, well, they need face washes anyway. Even if it means rifling through blankets to find them. Just need to make sure all grown-up humans are looking elsewhere. Ah-ah. Oh. No. I’m on to you my furry friend.

7. Identifying three types of children. First type will plaster themselves spread eagled against the wall as I pass by, walking my dog to school. Velcroed to the nearest building, out of pure terror of a dog.  Any dog. Second group will throw their arms around her, sometimes remembering to ask first. Third group ignore her. May absent mindedly run a hand along her back. Take appropriate action for each type of child.

8. Having the conversation about why people leave poo bags hanging in the branches of hedges. Nope, I have no idea either. Yes, I do know it looks horrible. Sigh. Just because I have exploding pockets, full of ready to use bags, doesn’t mean I understand either. Maybe it’s a protest. Maybe there’s a clearing-up pixie that no one told me about. I use the provided marked bins. Smile politely.

9. Never underestimate the memory or scent ability of a dog. Even three or four years later, she still insists on stopping to sniff where a rotting badger was on the side of the road. It has long gone, but not to my dog. Again? Really?

Last, but not least

10. She has learnt where I like to stop and listen to the birds. She understands when I want to take photos, and she has my back. At home, she jumps up, even from deep sleep, to join me for a walk. Whatever the weather. She is the perfect walking companion.

Along the lane, walking my dog to school

My ambassador

I know dogs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve worked hard to train her to be a dog that behaves well and is a good ambassador at the school gate, or wherever she meets people and other dogs.

Most of all, I love her company. She is no spring chicken and has reached the upper end of her breed’s lifespan, so I count every day as a blessing with her. We have just over a year of school runs left for youngest. I hope she’s around to accompany me even on the very last one. Or maybe by then, I can send her down by herself to pick up the Boy. There’s a thought….
ANIMALTALES


 

15 comments

  1. Totally get the clean bag strewing…keep meaning to make one of these …
    littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/09/walk-dog-bag.html
    Rather snazzy and fastens to the lead
    but of course haven’t yet 😳
    I’ve also pondered a special mini bag to put the poop bag in ? does that sound crazy?
    and as for the bags left and worse I sometimes feel I need a t-stirt emblazoned ..No it wasn’t anything to do with us!

    Our hound doesn’t do crowded social situations anymore than we can help. He loves you or he doesn’t ..it’s fielding people who insist that he’ll love them or their children that cause us distress.
    Now we settle for “He’s NOT friendly” in a very assertive voice. Which is actually an unfounded slur on his character but better than him being mugged by someone and having no socially acceptable way out.

    1. I have a little plastic case, that attaches to the lead. Used to house a roll of bags, but I’m yet to find a refill. Tried to stuff loose bags in there, but found if I pulled one out, half a dozen followed. Probably should work on my filling method! I can see the attraction of a bag to hide the poo bag. Might get some coffee offers again.

      Our other dog is the same. I wouldn’t inflict the school gate gathering on her. Too much. She tends to tell the small dogs to keep their yaps to themselves. I need to work on her a bit more. I think your approach is probably the most effective. Not worth thinking of the consequences.

  2. I don’t blame you either. We used to walk To to school too when we lived in the village and yes, Doc of course came along. But since moving, it’s a bout a ten minute drive now to school. Doc still comes along, but sits in the car, when there’s enough time, he’s allowed to walk T to the gate. All the kids know him and refer to him as the “dog with the Disney face” I miss those walks. 😉 #animaltales

    1. I think it’s great for the dog and also for the children. I can’t help hoping that one day she’ll win over the children that are scared of dogs, but maybe that is a hope too far. Love the idea of Doc having a Disney face. 😀

  3. Such a beautiful dog! My youngest daughter is one of the cuddles and kisses for all dogs types, we’re constantly reminding her to ask first. I know exactly what you mean about those cars. If they’re that obsessive about their paintwork they should stick to big A roads! #AnimalTales

    1. I love it when children ask to stroke my dog. She loves it too, but I hate to think of them going up and cuddling a less friendly dog. I remind my children even now. Agree about the paintwork. Especially as our lane is parallel to an A road. The A road would be less muddy too. 😀

  4. i have a poo bag dispenser that clips to the dog lead, it saves mistakingly washing the things and having them blow around whenever i reach my hands into my pockets. When we walk Bob we tie up the poo bag and place it at the base of a tree (we live in Dubai there aren’t many trees, as we return from our walk we collect the poo bag and tie it to the back windscreen wiper as we drive out the desert to where there is a bin. We just don’t fancy carrying a poo bag on a walk with us.

    1. It is more to do with the people that leave the bags there, for ever. I think it’s fair enough, to leave it to pick up on your return. I used to do that until I read about horses and cows being attracted to them (cereal based dog food) and eating them, leading to medical problems. Not sure if true, but not prepared to risk. We have a lot of horse riding around us, who come down our lane. Never thought about tying to back window wiper. So much nicer than putting in the car.

      1. no worries about horses and cows snaffling a poo bag, but there are antelope in the desert, but they only come down to the lakes in the evening. Yes people are lazy, I’m sure they think they have every good intention of collecting their poo on the way back

  5. I love dogs but have a thing about dog poo trees. I run the eco group at the school I work in; we litter picked in the village last week and, aside from socks (!) our most frequent rubbish was filled dog poo bags. As the adult I had the great job of picking the bags off trees, obviously not a job for the children!

    1. I shall have to adopt your name for the trees! Horrible job clearing them up. I’m sure people would think twice if they were part of your litter picking group.

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