Bailey has really grown on me. In fact, I adore him. I've been walking him and Kula pretty regularly lately, once every week and a half or so. And when I do see them, I usually get to give them two walks a day. It's really great!

Bailey is quite rambunctious, though, a very eager puppy, and I know his person has been struggling with training him to act appropriately when he meets new people. Not everyone wants a 70 pound dog jumping up in their face, unbeknownst to Bailey.

One day, I showed up and let Bailey out of his crate. He sprinted out with glee and my heart sank as I saw what was wrapped around his neck... a prong collar. "Oh, no." I thought. I wasn't sure if his person knew how bad they could be, so I wrote about it in the note I left at the end of the day (I always write a note about what I do with the dogs). As I did so, it occurred to me that a great many people probably don't know how awful they are, so I've decided to take it upon myself to tell you. You're welcome. Heh.

Anyway, the deal is this: Those prongs are meant to dig into the dog a little, right? This is supposed to send the message of "pulling = pain" to the dog. Except that's not how it really works at all. What happens is that the dog will pull and get all excited every time he sees a new dog or person, right? The prong collar then sends the message of "new person = pain" and "other dogs = pain." They won't understand not to pull, but they will understand that they should tense up in anticipation of the pain they expect with every person or dog that crosses their path. And they very well could become growlers or biters because of it. It's not good.

I wrote the gist of that in a note to her, and worried about whether I'd worded it well or not, or whether it was my place to even say anything. All fears were alleviated when she called to hire me for another walk. When I arrived, I let Kula in the backyard, and Bailey out of his crate, and immediately smiled to see only his flat collar around his neck. No more prong collar! Hooray! In his person's note, she told me she agonized over the decision of whether to try one out on him or not and had never planned to use it long term. What a relief!

We went on about our merry way and had a very nice walk together, me and the dogs. I took them out one at a time (so much easier to do training that way), and it was great. Kula is older and more set in her ways. She pulls a little, and doesn't care to walk by my side, even when I ask her repeatedly. She does, however, get very excited when I talk happy-puppy-talk to her, with her eyes brightening up, and tail wagging. It's very cute.

Bailey, on the other hand, acts like he lives to please. He'll roam out in front and I'll say, "Ah ah, where you going? No pulling." And he'll look at me expectantly. Sometimes, if he's really confused, he'll sit and wait for a command. I then make a circle in the air with my finger, tracing the path he should walk to get back to my side. He follows my finger, then walks right next to me, and I pop him a treat. If he gets distracted by life and is just all over the place, we do a quick training session: sit, down, stand, down, sit, down, sit, stand, down, ROLL OVER! Dude, I LOVE that this dog knows roll over! He is so good and responds to all my commands. I am telling you, I love this dog. So smart and sweet. How can anyone not like him? I mean, besides the weirdo elderly neighbors who told me, "We like Kula, but this one? Eh..." Oh my god. First of all, why tell the dogsitter that? Secondly, Bailey is a little angel, and well, I just don't like people speaking badly of him. Clearly, THEY have never worked in a humane society, trying to train dogs a helluva lot more difficult than Bailey. When they do that, then they can come talk to me.

Anyway! I am in love with my Bailey puppy. He kisses my face, walks by my side, and makes me laugh with his silly antics. He's a good boy, and I can't wait until next week when I get to walk him and Kula all over again.