I know what you mean about people demanding that you handle your dog their way... Pasta poodle has been with us since he was weaned from his momma... He thinks he is people... He wears a collar but is on a leash maybe twice a year... He is controlled by voice...
One Sunday morning they were having a big doings at the airport and I was there with Pasta - I had just finished changing the oil and filter on the engines... As we worked our way through the heavy crowd with Pasta sticking right behind me, from my hangar towards the FBO in search of some coffee, this woman accosted me almost screeching...
" Why isn't he on a leash? He's going to bite someone."
I said "Pasta, sit.", he sat...
"Umm, he doesn't need a leash and he doesn't bite, maam."
Her near screeching brought lots of attention from the crowd.. Pasta was there at my right heel, probably wondering what her problem was...
"But he'll run away."
"No maam, he won't run away... He stays right with me." Which is true around a crowd... When we are alone he wanders a bit further but never lets me out of his sight..
Anyway, she goes on like that for a couple of minutes and I am getting annoyed... Pasta is sitting there in the July sun, panting and I 'need' some coffee...
Finally she said, "Boy, if I unhooked the leash my dog would be in the next county."
After being subjected to her for a couple of minutes I totally understood her dog's desire to leave - heck, I was annoyed...
I said, "Maybe he doesn't want to be YOUR dog. Pasta, come." and walked off through the crowd with Pasta following at my heel...
Years back we kept a sailboat up on Tawas Bay in Michigan at the yacht club... The club had a strict policy that all dogs had to be on a leash at all times - this was long before we had Pasta... A couple there had an older Golden that was just a sweetheart... The dog was named Honey... So, they would get off the boat in the morning, snap the leash on honey's collar, fold the excess leash neatly in a bow and hold it crosswise at the dogs nose and say, "Honey, hold your leash." The dog would delicately take the folded leash between her front teeth and keep it there... Then they would walk to the clubhouse for breakfast, Honey leading the way, holding her leash... If they stopped to talk to anyone, Honey would sit down patiently, always holding the leash in her teeth...
Of course, there came the time when one busybody just had to make an issue of it, during the annual members meeting... She jumped up and made a motion that Honey be banned from the club for violation of the leash rule... Not a voice spoke up to second her motion... Finally in exasperation she snaps, "I am entitled to a second so there can be a vote!"
From somewhere in the silent crowd came a small voice, "If we put a leash in your mouth will you be as quiet as Honey?" The lady went storming out and next spring, she and her boat were gone... Honey was still holding her leash...
