Dog Day Afternoon

Walking dogs for a living is surprisingly satisfying. I get exercise, the dogs are wonderful, and boy, do I EVER meet many ladies.
Too bad I'm married, eh?
So for all you shy guys out there, go adopt a dog (not a puppy, dammit, they always get taken first!), a big, fluffy, friendly mutt who just wants a home. Trust me, you will get girls to talk to you. Or at least, your dog.

The biggest thing about dogs is letting them be dogs, but the hardest part of that is keeping them on the leash. Many people I meet while on the job have a phobia that the Boxer/Mastiff/Poodle etc. is going to bite them, which is 99% untrue. The 1% is, if you smell like Foie Gras, they will most likely want a nibble.
Ask any chef coming home late at night, the dogs simply want a taste.

The best way to approach a dog is gently, using the low tones of your voice, and Slllloooooowwwly holding a mildly curled hand. Note: not a fist, just keep your fingers tucked up a bit. The dog generally wants to smell you, not eat you. If you are friendly, the dog is going to know this.

A note, most dogs who seem a tad crazy are generally driven that way by the humans they live with.
My job is not only to walk them, but to let them know that not all humans are crazy, either.

Today, a wonderful Golden Retriever, an Australian Shepard, and an American Black Labrador along with a Jack Russel, who always makes sure I know where the Kong toy is located.

Off now to get a fresh roll of poop bags.

Of Cabbages and Pugs

I'm seriously ready to blow up my truck and get a scooter, but then there's no place to put the dogs. Conundrums mock me, oh Intertubes. The latest news is that my beloved dogmobile is fixed (Hah, didn't even track the pun until I re-read it) and I can now pick it up. Hopefully, it will start.

See, modern cars have these chips in the keys, and if the chips get out of whack, the security system in the car won't allow you to actually start YOUR OWN DAMN CAR. I swear, magnetism is a royal pain in the ass.

But in any case, I've started this up to say hello to everyone on FaceBook, and that yes, Alex has a fledgling Blog going now.

We are building the Labor Day races, and they are going to be a bit different than what all of you are used to. (queue evil sinister laugh and rubbing of hands.)

We'll be sending out a teaser soon, and then a Start Clue for all you teams who have already signed up.

More later, I need to avoid breaking my computer.
-Alex