In which I love my dog so much omg it hurts.

I’ll tell you what’s better than a puppy! An old dog. An old dog who heels like heaven.

This morning (well, afternoon, really) when I got up I decided to walk to the coffee shop with Bindu. Alas, I couldn’t find a leash for my dog, so first we hopped in the car and took a quick trip to the farm supply store, where I spent eight bucks and got Bindu a new chain and leash.

Bindu spent the entire drive with her head out the passenger side window of the jeep, her tongue lolling. At a light, a pedestrian said, “That’s a cool dog!”

I replied, “I know, thanks!” and grinned.

Anyway, we got home and began our walk up 2nd street.

My 11-year-old blue heeler bitch is so fucking good on a leash it almost makes me cry. I hate dogs who pull, so I’ve got her trained to always leave slack in the leash. She responds to slight twitches of the leash – I never have to yank on her neck. She walks always on my right (because hey, I’m left handed) and she rarely gets far enough ahead that she can’t see my feet in her peripheral vision.

I don’t even really have to hold the leash as much as thread it through my fingers so that I don’t drop it.

I always use a choke chain on my dogs, because the weight and noise tell them they’re leashed, not because I’m into strangling dogs as a hobby. Also they’re easy on and off; over the head! When first confronted with them they seemed cruel, but now I’ve been around dogs for awhile I realize an occasional choking’s probably good for ’em.

I dropped Bindu’s leash outside the coffee shop and told her, “Stay.” When I came out, people were petting her but she was staring at the door waiting for me to reappear. On our walk home she was proud to be “working,” and her behavior and leash skills were the best EVER, I tell you.

I love my dog!

(Yes, I know I’ve posted about this before but she’s just so good on-leash I can’t help myself.)