Is the Pope Catholic?

Dear Dog Lady,

Why do dogs go crazy over walks? It is well known that dogs can learn the meaning of word "walk" and once they do, it's all downhill from there as you try to avoid the word in every day conversation for fear of falsely exciting your pooch.

We walk our dog, Maynard, three times a day, but no matter what, she still jumps up out of dead sleep if she hears something that resembles keys jingling. It’s the sound we make as we pick up our house keys to take her out.

It seems like walks are the absolute purpose of her day. Why do dogs love them so much?

Terence, Seattle, WA

Terence, imagine being held hostage in a place where you’ve already memorized every smell on every carpet. Your day is an endless ritual of dry stuff served in a bowl, crunchy rewards handed out for sitting or doing something else dorky, and occasional slurps from the water bowl. Once in awhile, you get to watch an “American Idol” canine cousin jump through hoops on Animal Planet’s “Pet Star.” No big whoop.

The only break in the monotony comes three times a day, when your captors jingle their keys and take you out into the real animal planet. Ah, what a relief! You can relieve yourself. You can sniff up and down every tree reading pee mail from your pals. You can put your nose up a cute butt, rub noses, wag your tail, and greet your lupine kinfolk. If you’re really lucky, you can run like the wind without a leash and roll around on a green carpet of grass.

Terence, duh, do you get it? A walk is Maynard’s life line. Do not even question your dog’s immense pleasure in stepping out with her baby (and that would be you).

Posted by Dog Lady at November 4, 2005 08:05 PM