You Are Not A Dog Whisperer

Open Letter To My Neighborhood

Story by TQ BONNER

As the owner of a rather particular Rottweiler named Ziggy, I’ve grown accustomed to the challenges of his selective social circle. Ziggy Prefers to be alone.

There is a careful screening process when it comes to new friends. This has led to humorous interactions with our neighbors who have optimistically, yet misguidedly, tried to befriend my discerning dog.

I walk Ziggy three times a day for an average of four miles a day, seven days a week. We walk in the rain and in the snow. The walks are mainly for me to exercise, but Ziggy thinks they’re for him, and that’s okay.

But there’s not a day that doesn’t go by where someone in my neighborhood feels that they can approach Ziggy.

Let me say this: Ziggy’s not having that; he feels like you are a threat to me, a threat to him, and a threat to the world.

He’s going to growl and bark at you, and sometimes, considering how these people look when they’re contorting their faces and trying to baby-talk my 110 lb Rottweiler, I don’t blame him.

Ziggy is not a mean dog. As long as you walk by, he doesn’t pay any attention to you. He doesn’t bark at people standing in their yard cutting their grass.

He minds his own business, like his owner.
But as I stated, there’s never a day when we don’t have to deal with a dog whisperer.

These people think they can walk up to my Rottweiler and start Rubbing his head.

I can never forget those owners of the miniature little toy dogs.

They always feel like it’s playdate time, And then when Ziggy reintroduced himself to these little dogs, they always grab their dogs up in the fetal position and run across the street like I’ve done something wrong.

One more Thing

Whenever we encounter this specific black poodle, it triggers a unique and intense reaction in my dog.

Despite the presence of other black poodles, this particular one brings out a distinct bark and sound in Ziggy that I have never witnessed before.

It’s reminiscent of the intimidating noise associated with Rottweilers, which you might hear in videos of them pulling cars. In these moments, my dog enters into Hulk mode.

Managing him requires me to exert all of my grown-man strength to restrain him.