So much to woof, and so little time!

Woof-woof! It's been a long time since we've woofed. Seriously, unbelievable. But believe me, there was just so much to do that we didn't have time to woof at all. And actually that's only good, right? But now something happened that I just couldn't let pass without woof my story to you.

I'm a tough dog!

You should know, as a German Shepherd I am one of the toughest and most intelligent dog breeds in the world. I love the outdoors, exploring new places and being with my boss and lady boss. Meeting new friends is not that high on my wish list, I actually bark away at everything and everyone from a distance. And if they want to get close to me, then I'm not afraid to tell them in their face that I don't trust them yet. During our morning walks in the woods, I always enjoy taking in all the new scents. On the way to the forest, in those little 5 minutes it's great fun to scare the occasional passerby we meet with a good bark and pull on my leash, and my hobby is to try to chase cars. Great, I always win. They always drive away from me, which just gives me a good feeling, I personally chase them all away! It is an important part of my personality and my daily routine. It makes me feel like I can take on the world and nothing can stop me.

Something changed, and I don't like it

But now my lady-boss has really taken a different look at my routine. So yesterday, while I was sticking my nose in the wind with enthusiasm and my lady-boss was holding me on the leash, she suddenly had this stupid thing in her hands. She calls that thing a Halti! A piece of cloth that goes around my snout and is attached to the leash. With a padded strap that goes over my muzzle because that would be softer for me. I looked at my lady boss with a confused look. What? Do I suddenly have to do this with walking? I mean, we've played and practiced in the yard with that stupid thing many times, and that's about it. I get nice kibble when I have it on. But in the garden is different! No one sees me there, and I know there won't be any stupid strange dogs, cyclists, walkers or cars in the yard. Why should I wear this on the street now? I felt like a bull ready to be led into the arena.

I need to be trained to get more attentive?

My lady boss told me that the Halti was meant to train me, to help me be less focused on my surroundings and more attentive to her. It would help me to react better, and to stay calmer. Uhm what the woof, seriously? Are you serious? Calmer? I was really not convinced about this. I want to be free to do what I want and to enjoy my walks without any restrictions. How can I do that with that thing on my snout!

This is not right!

As we continued walking, I quickly realized something wasn't right. I couldn't pull the leash as hard as I wanted to. And that meant my lady-boss doesn't have to run after me anymore! Oh woof! Serious! How can my lady-boss keep track of her fitness if I can no longer pull hard on the leash? I mean, that's the purpose of a morning walk, right? Go jogging together. My goodness, how are we going to do this again? I feel robbed of my freedom. This is really not fair at all.

I sounded like a squeaky toy!

I tried to bark but, and I'm just embarrassed to practice it here, with the Halti on my muzzle I sounded like a squeaky toy. It was horrible! It's not fair that I can't lash out at passersby and other dogs anymore, or chasing cars also seems to be a thing of the past. It's not fair that I can't pull as hard as I want anymore. It's not fair that I can't just do what I want anymore. That way I can't be who I am, a tough, independent German Shepherd.

Alright, this time we play her game

Now, to be honest, I also have to admit that my lady-boss did have some tasty kibble with her, and every time I looked at her I got some. Hmm, Maybe I can tolerate this Halti if it comes with some goodies? Maybe I can wear this stupid Halti for the rewards? And what also struck me was that Lady-boss didn't do anything with that Halti, she just held the line. If I just stood quietly next to her, I actually didn't even feel the thing. And even though this stupid thing was on my snout, when I stood still I could just bark, I could just take the kibble, I actually knew that too, but I forgot for a while. I decided to try, this time we would play her game.

Holy woof, my lady-boss was really in control

But it wasn't easy. We came across a dog that I wanted to run and bark towards. But that joke doesn't go through. Ow woof, that stupid Halti gave my Lady-boss a lot of control. I'm not used to this. I'm never allowed to fly towards it, but normally it takes more effort for her to stop me and I'm more likely to get that adrenaline flowing through my body. Just keep barking and that all failed now. With only 1 finger she could just hold me with her. Um, come on! 1 finger! That makes no sense at all. She didn't even have to work for it! I didn't understand this anymore, so I sat on my ass in a daze. And I got a piece for that too. Do you still understand?

I will never lose my own will

Lady-boss has promised me that if I learn to walk nicely and listen carefully, I won't have to wear that thing anymore. Do I smell an attempted bribe here? To keep the peace with my Lady-boss, and because I also like to see her happy, I've decided to wear this Halti, but only for now. Maybe we're going to find a way where we can both have what we want? Because in the end I know that I am a German Shepherd and that I will never lose my own will. I want to be free to bark, jump, chase and run.

^{All photos taken by my Lady-boss @hetty-rowan}

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