Man dragging slow old dog along, should I have spoken up?

[leflynn]

I would have gone and petted the dog and then started a conversation about the dog if you could and ask a bit about it then maybe mention he looked to be struggling a little

 

[ArklePig]

I get what you mean about it being hard to double back if you haven't really realised until you've passed. I'd probably also say something like aw what a lovely dog, is he elderly?And then say something about how she was struggling to keep up if the conversation opened. I probably wouldn't go in with oi slow down your dog is struggling in case the person turned out to be aggressive.

There's a man near me I see most days when I'm driving home, walking his elderly greyhound and the two of them walk at a snails pace. She is muzzled and has an array of lovely coats. It warms the heart and it wasn't until this thread I realised why it makes me so happy, because you do see a lot of people just dragging their dogs along.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

If it's any consolation, I'll admit that I'm a 50-50 person. 50% chance that so many words goes through my head I can't think of anything to say, until hours later when I'll beat up myself mentally, and think Why didn't I say that. 50% chance that I open my mouth without thinking, and just shouts something like "Oi, you're going too fast for the poor dog!"

Anyhow, if he actually is a regular paid dog walker, he'll probably be out walking the dog in around the same time other days, and you can catch him then. Perhaps just start with the ordinary Aww, can I say Hello? Is it a he or she? How old? Do you walk him/her often?
And maybe finish with something blunt, like: Is he/she supposed to be able to walk as fast as you?

If it was a one off occasion, and you happen to catch someone else out walking the dog at a more suitable speed, you can start with the same as above Aww, can I say Hello? ... But instead finish with something like: I saw him/her out the other day with a young man who seemed to be in an awful hurry, because the dog could barely keep up.

 

[skinnydipper]

If he was dragging the dog then he knew there was a problem whether he was on the phone or not.

 

[ycbm]

If he was dragging the dog then he knew there was a problem whether he was on the phone or not.

He should have known. He appeared to be oblivious.

 

[skinnydipper]

The other thing is, aside from some people having no patience with elderly dogs walking slowly, there often seems to be a reluctance to pay vet bills to ensure that the dog is as comfortable as it can be, with evidence based prescription medication if necessary.

 

[Jenko109]

The other thing is, aside from some people having no patience with elderly dogs walking slowly, there often seems to be a reluctance to pay vet bills to ensure that the dog is as comfortable as it can be, with evidence based prescription medication if necessary.

No need. You can cure all with turmeric paste.

 

[SDMabel]

I think i would have said something like ' ah what a lovely dog you have , is he an old boy ? Looks like he wants to enjoy a slower pace of life' or something along those lines. We lost our old Lab at the end of last year , it would take 30-40 mins to do a little 15 min walk as he loved to sniff everything, walk side to side zizagging across the lane and all done at old man Harleys pace . It taught me to slow down, im ever-grate for him teaching me that.

 

[ycbm]

I've just seen the dog again at 5pm out with an older man walking slowly. I was in the car and couldn't stop. I'll try and "bump into him" at 5pm one evening and ask who the younger walker was and try and get it into the conversation that he needs to be asked to listen to the dog.
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[Esmae]

I would have spoken to the dog "Hello Pooch, off for a walk then, what a beautiful boy you are!" That sort of thing. Hopefully dragger might have stopped and chatted and then you have have made a comment like. "Sad they have to get old and slow down isn't it?" That kind of stuff?

 

[ycbm]

I would have spoken to the dog "Hello Pooch, off for a walk then, what a beautiful boy you are!" That sort of thing. Hopefully dragger might have stopped and chatted and then you have have made a comment like. "Sad they have to get old and slow down isn't it?" That kind of stuff?

As I explained above, I had passed him, I would have had to have double back and catch him up and looked like a fruitloop.
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