Morning Walk Fiasco

[Julie]

I am picking up the mail and papers for a neighbor that lives around the block while she is out of town.  I was going to walk over and get the Sunday paper when I saw the puppers (yes all 4) looking at me like they wanted to go too.  I pulled out all 4 harnesses and started harnessing them up.  My first mistake was doing Libby first.  She ran to the door and barked while I did the others.  I put Koby & Tiff on leashes and Sgt & Libby on their double leash.  By the time I was ready to open the door, they were all tangled, so I had to sit and untangle them.  When I finally opened the door, Libby ran out first and started barking at everything, the trees, the wind, the air....everything.  I was still trying to close the door and telling her to hush, when she turned around and started wiggling out of her harness.  By then I was frustraited with her.  I picked her up and told her that she was staying home with daddy cause she couldn't walk like a good girl and put her in the house (I still haven't moved past the front door at this point)  When I turned back around, I saw 2 dogs and an empty harness.  I looked up and Koby was walking down the driveway!  How did he get out of his harness??  I coaxed him back to me and then put him in the house too.  I was down to the two good little doggies that were going for a walk with me.  I hooked Tiff to the double leash and we were off.  Those two were perfect, no one pulled, no one barked, they just walked along with me.  We walked over picked up the paper and walked back.  When we got back home, I went in to find Libby & Koby curled up in bed with Eric, getting sympathy from him for me leaving them.   I don't think I will attempt  to walk all 4 again.

[Roberta]

All I can do is sympathise, and laugh, we who do good always end up as da baddies.
Roberta

[Sandishooligans]

Oh my!  (sorry to laugh) What a visual you just painted.  SNORT!

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

LOL. I can see it clear as a bell.  Funny how such tiny little souls can run the whole show isn't it LOL.

[Jenny G]

Been there - done that!  It's kinda good to know that I'm not the only one who has to go through such a huge production for a simple walk down the street!

[TerriL]

LOL!  Sounds SOOOOO familiar Julie! 

[Barb]

Sorry - but I had to giggle....the most I have attempted at one time was 3 and I said I would never do that again !!!!!  My two are going two different ways the whole time - I can't imagine walking FOUR at one time !!!!  At least you know now which 2 will walk good together !

[Bratpak and Lauri]

LOL!!! I can totally relate to that!  I don't walk the Bratpak all together anymore, that is just TOO complicated.  In fact, they'll take ME for a walk!  I take the two Blacks seperately and then come back for the Red lad's turn. 

I wrote this one day after experiencing nearly the same as you:

This is what I have to do to leave the house (well, just sometimes, anyway!!!)

This is what happened yesterday when I wanted to leave with a visiting friend.  She was standing outside the door in my yard while all this was happening.

(Note: my back door, with a safety gate, opens up in my yard and about 2 meters onwards, is a outside brick wall and steel gate that opens up into the complex):

Unlock the safety gate of the back door and all the mutts storm outside, running the yard and waiting in utter excitement by the outside gate.

I go inside and call them all back.

Jessie and Heino go in.

Tommie still sits at the outside gate, his whole body shivvering in anticipation.

Simson is planted in the doorway.

I sit on the floor and call Simson and Tommie back in.

With the back gate still open, Heino runs out again.

Simson follows Heino, barking and whining with excitement.

I get up, go outside.

I grab Heino and push him back inside.

Close safety gate.

Grab Simson, open the safety gate and push him back inside.

Close the safety gate.

Go to fetch Tommie who still sits at the outside gate.

Heino pushes the safety gate open with his wiener nose and all 3 that were inside, come out again.

Everyone is now in the highest state of excitement â€" tails and bodies wagging and expecting eyes scanning my every move.

I grab Jessie and push her back in.

I ask the visitor, who is just smiling at this free circus, to hold the gate close while I grab Simson.

Visitor opens gate and I push Simson inside.

I close the gate and visitor holds it close.

Tommie, now barking his head off at the outside gate, is enjoying the scene.

The visitor just smiles and does her duty as gate girl.

I grab Heino, visitor opens gate and I push him inside, preventig the other from coming out, as well.

Visitor closes gate and accidently squashed an eager-to-get-out snout. 

I find the sore snout and give kisses and rubs through the gate.

I walk back to fetch Tommie.

He rolls over and whizzes looooong strings, shirling, curling and wagging his whole body.

I pick him up, hug him and kiss his cute nosie.

Visitor opens gate and I squeez him through the safety gate with my one hand, using the other hand to keep the others from bursting
out again!

Close gate and lock it.

Tell the mutts to behave and I'll  be back soon-soon.

The visitor is still standing there, smiling… Only God knows what she's thinking...

[Julie]

Lauri - I feel much better now!  I had to laugh at your story, sure does sound familiar!!!

[Roberta]

Yes the word back in or getting them into reverse is impossible, especially with the whiff of freedom.
But would'nt life be boring without them.
Roberta