As it happens, August 26 is National Dog Day (also International Dog Day), designed to celebrate All Things Awesome about dogs and “to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year.” We’ve all heard the old saying “There are no bad dogs, only bad dog owners.” Etiquetteer would like to use the day to salute all the Good Dog Owners who make it a pleasure to interact with dogs. They keep their dogs on leashes when required, kindly set expectations with strangers when required (e.g. “Butch likes to be petted under his chin best” or “Fluffy doesn’t like children”), and most important, curb and clean up after their dogs.
Many of us have witnessed Bad Dog Owners; they are easily identified by their Blithe Disregard. We see them omitting Perfect Propriety from their walkies: indulgently allowing their Sweet Precious Darling to dash about off leash where it isn’t permitted, deliberately ignoring Darling’s droppings, or worse. As a concierge many years ago, Young Etiquetteer saw a gigantic poodle galloping into the lobby off her leash yards ahead of her Blithely Disregarding Owner, only to leave a sizeable Calling Card on the carpet right in front of the desk. Life changed forevermore after that for the Blithely Disregarding Owner!
Every Bad Dog Owner is not John Stapleton in The Hound of the Baskervilles, of course. Let’s continue to celebrate the Good Dogs and Good Dog Owners we know.
It’s ironic that, shortly after taking this photograph, Etiquetteer witnessed a Bad Dog Owner allowing his dog to soil a tombstone.