I don't wanna go out today.

And rain is SO not the way to make me want to get out.

Ugh, rain. It was raining here yesterday. I'd been planning on going grocery shopping, but ended up staying in and reading instead.

It's snowing here. It's gorgeous. Toto wasn't real thrilled on his walk this morning, but I still say it's gorgeous.

And, speaking of adding another pet, I have been seriously considering getting a companion for Toto. I think it would be good for him when I go back to work, and I think it would be good for me, in case anything ever happens to Toto. I really want another Cairn Terrier, and I have looked at rescue Cairns, but so many of them can't be adopted into a home with another dog. So, I've also been checking out breeders. Part of me feels badly about that. I mean, I rescued Toto. But, some of his issues almost did me in. And that's not to say that a dog from a breeder wouldn't have issues. I just think some of the more difficult, persistent issues wouldn't be such a problem.

So, we'll see... I think it will be fun to have another dog, though.

A very, very short leash. I don't mean this in the negative sense. Bartleby's leash is less than a foot long.

I follow the short leash school of thought too, bonny. And use a body harness rather than a collar because that controls the tugging/pulling without the choking/gasping for air things.

I haven't tried a backpack though. That's a good idea.

One of the biggest problems I have walking Jas around our neighborhood is that a lot of my neighbors have small dogs that they allow out into their front yards without benefit of leads or invisible fencing. So they come charging at Jasmine and Jas, being a happy Lab, wants to PLAY! And who do you think gets the stinkeye? The owner of the cute, eensy puppy or the owner of the big, black, 65 lb. dog? It's kind of frustrating.

Oh, ugh. I have a huge, HUGE thing with people who let their dogs wander unleashed. If they are with their dog, it's not such an issue, but if not, I get really crabby. I have worked really hard with Toto to wait for permission from me before approaching another dog. So, when a dog runs up to him, it really throws him off. It's not always about your own dog, you know? There's a reason why there are leash laws.

I've actually called animal control and/or the police on wandering dogs. I just have no patience for it. That and people who don't clean up after their dogs. No patience for that either. I have trouble with a couple of my dogless neighbors because of other people. I always clean up, and they know that now, but at first they would be really crabby if Toto even inched onto their lawn.

Oh Brenda!!! {{{Bren and Luce}}} You gave her an awesome life honey.

Yay on the new cat, Nora!

Oh, ugh. I have a huge, HUGE thing with people who let their dogs wander unleashed.

Yeah, it's not good on any number of levels. When I lived in the NC countryside, my neighbors would let their dogs wander, because we lived what they thought was a good ways away from the nearest busy road. All well and good, except the dogs formed packs, knocked each other up, and ran wild. Also, that "distant" road was a state highway, and it was less than half a mile from my home. The dogs could run there in minutes—and did. Some got injured. I felt like Artemis when they'd join me on my runs, but it still wasn't that safe for the dogs.

I met some adorable dogs there (the world's sweetest rottie, the world's dumbest Irish Setter), but I'd have rather met them while they were being walked by their people.

Yeah, since we're in a subdivision of a planned urban development, I think the prevalent mentality is "It's safe here," followed closely by "my dog is in my yard." All of which is true except for when the dog runs out of their yard and is tearing between yards and I'm forced to keep Jas at a sit while the owners chase after their dogs and try to retrieve them.

And like I said, I get the stinkeye for having the temerity to walk my dog past theirs.

Entitlement-- let me shows you it.