A Kid Needs to Pet a Strange Dog Like a Reactive Dog Needs a Bicycle

Last week I had the funniest incident to date involving a child wishing to pet my dogs but it also brings up something serious: dog bite prevention. Kids are cute, dogs are cute, together they are cuteness squared, but that temptation to capture the perfect picture or upload the next viral video often overrides good judgment. Children are the most at risk of dog bites, and it is up to us as responsible owners to mitigate that risk. One of the easiest ways to do so is not to allow random kids to pet our dogs if we have the slightest hesitation about how they might handle it. 

My dogs have had very little experience with kids. Ruby is reactive and unpredictable, doing best when people come to our house but on high-alert outside the home. Boca doesn't worry me very much but when since I usually walk both girls together, her exposure to kids and strangers is limited. She does get nervous about people looming over her or reaching over her head. Boca did wonderfully at Blog Paws and also spent some time with my friend's 3-year-old daughter on our recent road trip. She was sweet and gentle with the little girl; however, several times when the hugging and kissing got too much she would move away. My friend and I took the opportunity to point out Boca's body language to her daughter and explain that Boca didn't want any more hugs or kisses right then. It can be hard to tell a child "no" when all they want to do is love on a dog. I was an animal-crazy little girl myself, but I grew up with a dog that was afraid of children and was taught about boundaries and body language at a young age. Even as an adult I tend to be very reserved around other peoples' animals. 

I do notice that more and more kids ask before running up to my dogs; however, as the inadvertently hilarious exchange below proves, they don't always take no for an answer...

Scene:  A warm evening in the townhouse complex, a woman walking her two ridiculously cute red-and-white dogs. She sees a cluster of girls on bicycles - stationary for now - and hurries to get the smaller dog out of sight of the bicycles. The larger dog would of course take a poop right this minute, and in the midst of picking it up and holding two leashes, one of the girls breaks from the herd and pedals industriously toward our frantic trio. The woman scoops up the smaller dog in the nick of time, with some miraculous third arm and strides away at a breakneck pace.  

Little Girl [pedaling]: Can I pet your dogs?

Woman [fleeing]: No, sorry, she's afraid of bikes. 

Little Girl [pedaling] [possibly mistaking "bikes" for "bites"]: It's okay, I've been bitten before! 

Woman [fleeing]: Oh, dear! Well, we have to go for now. 

Little Girl [pedaling]: Do they both bite?

Woman [fleeing]: Neither of them bite, but we are trying to get away from your bike! 

Little Girl [pedaling]: I can get off my bike! 

Woman [fleeing]: No, sorry, better not! 

I had to admire the girl's perseverance - she clearly loved dogs despite having a previous negative experience (although perhaps not used as a teaching moment by her parents). Maybe she'll grow up to be a trainer or vet tech! I laughed most of the way home, replaying the incident to The Ginger Sisters like the crazy dog lady I am. I felt bad telling her no...repeatedly...but as my dogs' advocate I have to protect them from even the cutest, most determined children. 

Turdlebag Makes Dog Poop Less Embarrassing + Giveaway

Dog poop is an unavoidable part of life with dogs. It's gross, it's stinky, it's embarrassing, and as responsible dog guardians we have pick it up whenever and wherever they go. Turdlebag promises to make this job a little easier with their poop bag carriers. Not only do they hold a roll of bags, but they are secure and roomy enough to hold a full bag until you reach the nearest waste bin!

This post is sponsored by Turdlebag. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Turdlebag dog waste bag holders, but Rubicon Days only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Turdlebag is not responsible for the content of this post.  

We have many different kinds of bag carriers that clip to leashes or belt loops, but when The Ginger Sisters do their "business," I'm always stuck with a stinky green bag swinging at my side. We are lucky to have many waste bins placed strategically around the complex, but if we venture farther afield the options for pitching the offending parcel grow scarce. 

My dad -  who joins us for walks but leaves all bagging duties to me - cracked me up recently by telling me that it's more embarrassing for men to pick up and carry dog poop. He may be right, because I can't remember the last time I was embarrassed by cleaning up after my dogs, unless you count the mortifying occasions I've been caught at the end of a roll. At least when my neighbors see me with the telltale bundle, they know I'm not one of the rude people leaving their dog's mess on the lawn, lurking under the newly fallen leaves. 

My dad was a great sport about trying the Turdlebag, which turned an awkward chore into a more dignified task. He said he would no longer be embarrassed by Boca's call of nature, since it could be swiftly tucked away in the sturdy Turdlebag. It's so important for pet parents (and pet parents' parents) to set a good example in the neighborhood to ensure our dogs can continue to enjoy public spaces and hopefully be permitted in more places. 

The Portland, Oregon company seems to have thought of everything when it comes to picking up and packing out what our dogs leave behind, with practicality and a sense of humor. The bags come in three colors to match almost any dog-walking ensemble. The red matched Boca's harness and leash while blue fit for Ruby. Leashes are passed though an elastic sleeve on the back of the bag and then secured again with a snap so the bag doesn't flop around. 

The wide opening at the top of the bag accommodates its expected contents (one Turdlebag could hold at least two pit stops from my small and medium dogs), then rolls and clips closed until you are ready to dispose of it. The handle on the bottom allows you to empty the bag directly into a bin. 

The bags dispense smoothly without unspooling into a poop bag banner as I've had happen with other holders, and the Turdlebag is machine washable. It's hard to forget you're carrying a bag of dog poop when it's dangling conspicuously from your hand, but Turdlebag puts it out of sight and out of mind until you reach your disposal destination. They transformed us into happier picker uppers! 

We have dog waste stations at fairly short intervals on our usual route close to home, but I think the Turdlebags will be great to have on hikes. I don't want to be that person who leaves their bag on the side of the trail - meaning to retrieve it on the way back - and I look forward to having these on outdoor excursions next summer. 

Turdlebag is offering one bag in winner's choice of color to one lucky reader. Entrants must be U.S. residents and respond to notification email within 72 hours. Additionally, from December 5th to December 20th, 50% of all sales at the Turdlebag store will be donated to 501c3 animal charities!

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