timjwilson Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 I feel compelled to post this since some of the local expat ladies seem to think I am torturing my Jack Russell dog by running her too fast alongside my mobility scooter with a top speed of 12 km/hr. (about 7.5 mph). I take her for a 2 block run along the Carretera in West Ajijic most mornings so I figure many have seen me. Several of the local know-it-all women have voiced their opinions on this 'horrid' cruelty. To be fair there are also many who comment on what a great way it is to give my dog exercise. Yesterday I went to Guadalajara Farmacia and on the way home she chose to run. I was stopped by 2 women. The one who spoke to me was perhaps in her late 60s to 80s with short bright dyed red hair; maybe European(?). She proceeded to voice her opinion that I was running my dog too fast. I patiently explained to her that it was my dog who wanted to run, which could be observed by her straining forward on her leash, trying to go ahead of me and besides that fact she can ride on the platform of my scooter anytime she wants. As if on cue my dog had stepped up there. (She had actually ridden there on the way to the farmacia.) I also told her I have owned dogs for 60 years and know them very well. None of this satisfied her, as she ranted on and on, stating I should carry my dog in the basket at the rear of the scooter. If I were to do that she would quickly leap from there to run. I finally gave up trying to explain things to her and told her she should mind her own business, to which she replied f** you. Nice. I then just continued home. Now, for all who may think my JR is running too fast let me tell you about dogs. At least my experience with dogs. So far as my present JR, given her own way, she would run along at that speed while at the same time circling me and stopping to sniff and pee. I had large and small dogs on my farm in the mountains of BC where the dogs, Great Dane crosses, JRs and Border Collies ran all day long with the horses up into the hills and still had energy left back home to run around and swim in the river. My two Great Dane crosses lived to 17 and 18 so I believe they were very healthy. Please rest assured that my dog loves the daily run and bugs me to get her leash on to get going. I watch her that she is not being over exerted and slow down or make her ride accordingly. I have trained my present JR to be a service dog. She picks things up from the floor for me, as I cannot bend. However, she is also my constant companion and since I am mostly anti-social, my best friend. She understands much of the English language so completely gets it when I ask if she wants to ride. So you can see some of things she does for me, here is a tribute video I made for my previous JR who I also trained. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyBee Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 12 minutes ago, timjwilson said: I feel compelled to post this since some of the local expat ladies seem to think I am torturing my Jack Russell dog by running her too fast alongside my mobility scooter with a top speed of 12 km/hr. (about 7.5 mph). I take her for a 2 block run along the Carretera in West Ajijic most mornings so I figure many have seen me. Several of the local know-it-all women have voiced their opinions on this 'horrid' cruelty. To be fair there are also many who comment on what a great way it is to give my dog exercise. Yesterday I went to Guadalajara Farmacia and on the way home she chose to run. I was stopped by 2 women. The one who spoke to me was perhaps in her late 60s to 80s with short bright dyed red hair; maybe European(?). She proceeded to voice her opinion that I was running my dog too fast. I patiently explained to her that it was my dog who wanted to run, which could be observed by her straining forward on her leash, trying to go ahead of me and besides that fact she can ride on the platform of my scooter anytime she wants. As if on cue my dog had stepped up there. (She had actually ridden there on the way to the farmacia.) I also told her I have owned dogs for 60 years and know them very well. None of this satisfied her, as she ranted on and on, stating I should carry my dog in the basket at the rear of the scooter. If I were to do that she would quickly leap from there to run. I finally gave up trying to explain things to her and told her she should mind her own business, to which she replied f** you. Nice. I then just continued home. Now, for all who may think my JR is running too fast let me tell you about dogs. At least my experience with dogs. So far as my present JR, given her own way, she would run along at that speed while at the same time circling me and stopping to sniff and pee. I had large and small dogs on my farm in the mountains of BC where the dogs, Great Dane crosses, JRs and Border Collies ran all day long with the horses up into the hills and still had energy left back home to run around and swim in the river. My two Great Dane crosses lived to 17 and 18 so I believe they were very healthy. Please rest assured that my dog loves the daily run and bugs me to get her leash on to get going. I watch her that she is not being over exerted and slow down or make her ride accordingly. I have trained my present JR to be a service dog. She picks things up from the floor for me, as I cannot bend. However, she is also my constant companion and since I am mostly anti-social, my best friend. She understands much of the English language so completely gets it when I ask if she wants to ride. So you can see some of things she does for me, here is a tribute video I made for my previous JR who I also trained. Yes I have a golden retriever that also wants to run all day (and night and in between). I can only guess who is thinking you are doing the wrong thing. 😊 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 You know your dog. Anyone else should butt out. 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kam Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 I feel much more sympathy for a dog wearing an unattractive sweater and being called a "fur baby" than for dog going for a run with a beloved friend. 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adolphsj Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Those people might shift to several auto drivers in lower La Floresta and probably elsewhere who drive their cars with leash out the window while the dog runs next to the car….. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Dogs who get adequate exercise are healthier and actually live longer. Busybodies who anthropomorphize their pets need to mind their own business. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 ROTGL She thought a JRT was running too long or too fast???? Not going to happen. Just keep doing what you're doing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 We used to race Basenjis, called lure coursing. All the sighthound love it, chasing a white garbage bag for over 500 yards. I used to train one of the dogs on my mountain bike with a special leash attachment called a "Springer". This was a male unneutered dog. While running on the fields near our home, the dog stopped dead in his tracks and tumbled, almost taking me off the bike too. This guy comes running out his house, yelling you are killing that dog. I explained that no, he was actually a field champion and had never done that before. Then he had enough grace to admit that his Rottweiler was in heat, and he used to let her do her business on that spot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor David Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Sometimes people start saying something negative about me or my dog. Here's what I do: I just keep going on my way. Not worth engaging. I know my dog. You know yours. End of story. Have a good run. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 5 hours ago, kam said: I feel much more sympathy for a dog wearing an unattractive sweater and being called a "fur baby" than for dog going for a run with a beloved friend. You left out the little pink bows in their fur 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 7 hours ago, timjwilson said: Please rest assured that my dog loves the daily run and bugs me to get her leash on. My most recent dog, who I sadly had to have put down in Oct., loved to run. Although she wasn't a racing breed, like a greyhound or basenji, (she was a husky-type) she was fast. I live out in the countryside, with large open properties and fields. She used to do this thing when she was young that had people scream in trepidation, covering their eyes, expecting to see her rip herself to shreds- she would run full tilt directly towards a barbed wire fence, then flatten herself out and sail between the strands of barbed wire. She was a big, 70 pound dog, but super agile. I probably could have trained that dog to jump through a flaming hoop had I wanted to, which some do-gooder would have no doubt informed me was abusive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor David Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 9 hours ago, timjwilson said: So you can see some of things she does for me, here is a tribute video I made for my previous JR who I also trained. (video) I love the way you have trained your doggies to pick stuff up. The only thing my dogs pick up is food if it falls on the floor, and they don't give it back. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 It will probably never happen, but wouldn't if be great if people would just follow the rule of MYOB! !!! (mInd your own business) All critters know what they like. Have you ever seen a cat running next to its "master" ? LOL.🙃 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 3 hours ago, gringal said: All critters know what they like. Have you ever seen a cat running next to its "master" ? LOL.🙃 Actually I have had several cats who loved to walk on a leash. Not run, mind you, but walk briskly. When I'd stop to talk to someone, she'd pull on the leash and meow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 We renamed our cat from Max to Houdini after we got one of those escape proof cat harness setups and no matter how we adjusted it he could be out of it in 30 seconds flat. Max was not meant to be walked. Period. We have a $30 closet ornament now. As for the OP we seem to have more than the usual population density of Karens around here. You'll have to just ignore it. I assume you make sure the dog is well watered before his walks as the very dry air at this time of year dehydrates man and beast alike quickly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cartero Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 I am surprised you felt compelled to justify your actions at all. Some people are just plain stupid why would you want to engage them in conversation? Nice of you to do so tho. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timjwilson Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 12 hours ago, El Cartero said: I am surprised you felt compelled to justify your actions at all. Some people are just plain stupid why would you want to engage them in conversation? Nice of you to do so tho. The woman actually stepped in front and stopped me, as if there were some emergency occurring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tingting Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 4 hours ago, timjwilson said: The woman actually stepped in front and stopped me, as if there were some emergency occurring. Maybe next time you should just keep going. She'll either move out of the way or else you'll be doing the rest of us a favor by removing her for a (hopefully) VERY long time to come. (insert evil cackling here) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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