WASHINGTON TYKES: A Gentleman named Dallas: May 17th, 1995--March 23rd, 2008

Monday, April 7, 2008

A Gentleman named Dallas: May 17th, 1995--March 23rd, 2008

Dallas, with Gloria, last September.

Well, I knew it was coming--knew it last September, when I wrote him into an article about puppies. I was heading over to the Riverside Grocery for a few things yesterday, and I see Gloria on Broadway, by herself, and wave hello--and something in her eyes tells me there's news, and the news is bad, and I'm never going to see her with Dallas again. I'm never going to stroke his ears again, while he and Max sniff each other happily, and Gloria and I exchange the news of the day. We'll still talk to each other, of course--Max will always be pleased to see her, and she him. Without our dogs, we'd have been strangers to each other, no matter how many years we lived on the same block, and passed each other on the street. And if you added up all the times that dogs have broken down the barriers between people in this city, you might find that there wouldn't be much of a city without them. But that's a rant for another day.

I've met so many calm sociable dogs in the past year, but something about Dallas was different, special--it seemed almost like he couldn't help being happy and welcoming--his increasing physical infirmity never seemed to dampen his joyful spirits in the slightest. He was old, his joints hurts, his ailments were innumerable, but he always had a smile and a wagging tail for whoever he happened to meet. If I were to give him a human voice, it'd be Louis Armstrong, when he was singing "What a Wonderful World." Ohhhhhh yeahhhhhh.

So when Gloria told me he'd developed a urinary tract infection, and been taken to the Animal Medical Center's ER, and how sad the vet had said he'd looked--well, for Dallas to look sad, it could only have been the end. His life had never been a burden to him before, no matter how sick he got. The line had finally been crossed, and it was time to let him go. Those of us with companion animals all have to look for that change. And we all dread it. And the decision that comes with it.

Gloria has this message for all of Dallas' friends:

Thank you so much ,for your thoughts and kindness to me and Dallas. I was so lucky to have had such a wonderful friend. He saw me thru some of hardest times the last 10years. He truly was an incredible animal, he never barked, he made everyone feel like he was just looking at them when he saw them, and made them feel like they were so special. If I had company he would go to his room and get his bone and then sit next to whoever and keep himself busy, like he knew adults were busy and he didn't want to bother them. I could never figure it out. He had wonderful manners and I did not teach them to him. I loved him, and will always love this calm and gentle dog. He did more for me then I did for him. I have had him cremated because I feel he deserved a resting place with my late husband who loved him as much as I did. Everyone has been so wonderful to me from e-mails to cards I am so happy he touched so many people, it does my heart good.

"The Dog's Book of Verse", in slightly antiquated English, provides a fitting elegy to a neighbor I will never stop missing.

MY GENTLEMAN

I own a dog who is a gentleman;
By birth most surely, since the creature can
Boast of a pedigree the like of which
Holds not a Howard nor a Metternich.

By breeding. Since the walks of life he trod
He never wagged an unkind tale abroad,
He never snubbed a nameless cur because
Without a friend or credit card he was.

By tenderness. The littlest girl may tear
With absolute impunity his hair,
And pinch his silken, flowing ears, the while
He smiles upon her—yes, I've seen him smile.

By loyalty. No truer friend than he
Has come to prove his friendship's worth to me.
He does not fear the master—knows no fear—
But loves the man who is his master here.

By countenance. If there be nobler eyes,
More full of honor and of honesties,
In finer head, on broader shoulders found,
Then have I never met the man or hound.

Here is the motto on my lifeboat's log:
"God grant I may be worthy of my dog!"

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The Rocky Run--where it is, what to bring there, how to act there.

THE ROCKY RUN is located at 165th St. and Riverside Drive, just west and south of the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital complex. There are two double-gated entrances. Be sure to latch the outer gate before opening the inner gate, to minimize the chance of any dogs in the run getting out.
You are free to bring multiple dogs (the more the merrier), but please make sure there is at least one human in the run at all times, for every three dogs you bring. That is a Parks Department rule, and you can be ticketed for breaking it.
If you see somebody breaking this rule, politely inform them of it. In extreme cases, such as professionally run 'playgroups', with large numbers of dogs being supervised by very few people, you can call Jennifer Hoppa, Administrator for North Manhattan Parks. Her office number is (212) 795-1388. Her cellphone number is (347) 865-5399 (leave a message).

We don't have running water for the present time, so please try to bring as much water as possible, whenever possible, for other people's dogs as well as your own. The deep shade provided by the surrounding trees (some of them inside the run itself) keeps things relatively cool during the hot months, but dogs getting vigorous exercise should always have access to fresh water, particularly in summer.

There are several metal drinking bowls left inside the run, which you should empty and rinse out before refilling, when you don't know they were filled very recently by someone else--stagnant water can carry diseases. You should feel free to bring bowls and other assorted drinking accessories of your own.

Things NOT to bring into the run--female dogs in heat, dogs wearing spiked/pronged collars or harnesses, dogs who are highly aggressive. Remember that you are responsible for paying any medical bills, for dogs or people, incurred as a result of your dog's actions. If this happens, you should exchange contact information with the affected party, just as if you'd been in a fender-bender.

Children under 12 should always be under the direct supervision of an adult (this is also a Parks Department rule). Children who come into the run should not be afraid of dogs, and should have been taught how to behave around them.
VERY few dogs will be aggressive towards children at a dog run or park, most will be extra-careful with them, but an over-enthusiastic dog, caught up in the frenzy of the moment, can easily knock over a small child in play. Even a tiny dog can bite hard enough to break the skin, if frightened by a child who approaches him too quickly. Regardless of whether the child is hurt, the end result can be a person who grows up fearful of dogs, and that's no way to spend a lifetime. It should go without saying, the consequences for the dog can be much more serious.

Under no circumstances should you ever leave your dog unattended at the run, even for a few minutes, even if someone you know agrees to watch him for you. You can go outside the fence to fetch a ball or briefly converse with someone, but if you have to leave the immediate vicinity, so does he.

Generally speaking, you should unleash your dog the moment the two of you enter the run, or just before. If you don't trust your dog's behavior when he's offleash, he shouldn't be in a dog run at all. If you're unsure whether you should bring your dog in, talk to the people already inside, and ask for their input. Quite often, a dog who is aggressive or uneasy with dogs he or she meets while being walked on a leash near home will behave admirably when let loose inside a dog run.
By all means experiment, but do so with the cooperation and consent of the other dog owners, some of whom may be more experienced judges of dog behavior. And if you're the experienced person inside the run, remember how it was when you first brought your dog there.

Feel free to bring balls, 'Chuckits', sticks, and other means to keep your dogs entertained. When the run is crowded, take care not to hit someone with a flung ball. Try to take it in good humor if the someone who gets hit is you.

Be warned that dogs don't tend to respect property rights (other than their own), and you should think twice about bringing any dog toy that you aren't ready to have some other dog take possession of, or that your dog would feel overly possessive towards. In particular, toys that two dogs can have a tug of war match with are to be avoided, as this type of activity tends to ramp up aggression.
In most cases, a purloined plaything can be retrieved fairly easily, with the assistance of the other dog's owner. Even if you know the dog in question well, be wary of trying to take back a toy from him or her yourself. An excited dog can forget his manners, and even the friendliest pooch can accidentally bite you when trying to hang onto a prized trophy.

Friendly tussles, chases, and the odd wrestling match are not only permitted, but encouraged--as long as they don't get out of hand. I mean between the dogs, of course. But seriously, the vast majority of the dogs at the run know where to draw the line, and how to vent their energy in a playful manner, to the delight of all present.

However, not all dogs who come to the run will be equally well-socialized and friendly, and chemistry between dogs is as unpredictable as chemistry between people--with the difference that dogs tend to make their feelings known right away, often within seconds of the first introduction. Two dogs who have never met before may become lifelong chums or deadly enemies before you've even had a chance to finish exclaiming "Oh how cute--they're saying hello!"

Always watch your dog closely, and particularly when dogs you don't know come into the run (or are already there when you arrive). Study dog behavior closely, and learn the difference between teeth bared in play, and teeth bared in warning. You will be seeing the former far more often than the latter, so relax--but don't be TOO relaxed.

If a genuine fight should erupt, or seems about to, it's your job to intervene. Do not listen to anyone who says "Oh it's just dominance, let them fight it out." Dogs fighting in earnest can cause serious injuries--which is precisely why dogs have evolved such an elaborate etiquette of greeting, sizing each other up, submissive body language, etc--to avoid this whenever possible. They understand that fights are a serious matter, and so should you.

The miraculous thing is that large groups of dogs who have never seen or smelled each other before can, nearly all of the time, co-exist amicably in a small space, without any restraint or close supervision. This is, in part, because the dog run is 'neutral turf', and being offleash, the dogs don't feel trapped, or obliged to defend themselves (or you).

But the system does break down sometimes, and that's when you have to take charge. If your dog is showing signs of aggression, or excessive dominance, towards another dog, he (or quite often she) should be taken out of the run, IMMEDIATELY.

It's for you and the other dog's owner to judge how far is too far, and whether your dogs are well-suited to be playmates. Be sensitive to everyone's feelings, canine and human alike, and err on the side of caution.
That being said, dogs are not delicate little china dolls (not even the ones who look it, I've found), and a bit of rough play can be tremendously gratifying to them, and lead to a calmer, more satisfied companion at home. Weigh the risks against the rewards, and most importantly, find out what your dog needs--he'll tell you. Just listen.

If your dog needs you to protect him or her, do so, without a moment's hesitation. But also give him a chance to learn how to stick up for himself. And although your dog is, of course, the most wonderful in all the world, remember that it's also your duty to protect other people's dogs from him. Even a good dog can have a bad day.

One of the great pleasures of coming to a dog run is meeting other people's dogs, and learning just how different they can be from each other, while still being fundamentally alike. You can learn a great deal as well by comparing experiences and trading information with the other dog owners who come there. It is quite permissible, by the way, to discuss subjects entirely other than your dogs. Not that there is any other subject so delightful, but just for variety's sake.

Please pick up after your dog, and try not to get so distracted that you don't notice he or she is defecating. Don't hesitate to tell a distracted human that his or her dog needs to be picked up after--if the owner is farther away, and if you happen to have an extra bag, it's always a nice gesture to do the job yourself, as someone will probably be doing it for you, sooner or later.
If you have read this entire ponderous sermon all the way through, without yawning once, I feel a deep sense of confidence that you will be a great addition to the extended family of The Rocky Run. If not, you'll probably do fine anyway. Have fun. Look forward to meeting you and your dog. Not necessarily in that order. ;)
If you have any questions or suggestions, you can respond directly to a blog article, or email me at lyonscj@gmail.com

WASHINGTON TYKES

Monday, April 7, 2008

A Gentleman named Dallas: May 17th, 1995--March 23rd, 2008

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The Rocky Run--where it is, what to bring there, how to act there.