Dog sitting reveals town life realities

I have spent the past week dog sitting for a relative in town and I’ve learned some things. Not just learning about taking care of new dogs, but learning what it’s actually like to live in town. 

 

I’ve been taking care of three dogs: a lab, a little lap poodle type, and a mutt. I wish I was better at knowing or explaining dog breeds, but I have no clue. Basically two bigger dogs and one small dog. 

 

But I’m familiar with dogs, I love dogs. It’s the living or being in town that’s new to me. 

 

I’ve only ever spent time in the country with no neighbors or in the heart of the city surrounded by neighbors–not the in-between of a town’s residential neighborhood. And while it’s an adjustment (although a temporary one for me), I have noticed some advantages and disadvantages of this new setting.  

 

Strengths. I like that you’re close to everything. That’s kind of like living in the city, where anything I want is at my fingertips. I had work to do, so I walked the few blocks to where I needed to go instead of driving ten minutes to get there. I like that if I want to take one of the dogs for a walk, I can just put on the leash and start walking in any direction through the neighborhood. And I’ll feel safe doing so, something I can’t alway say in the city. I could do it in the country, but cars like traveling speedily on our road and it doesn’t feel as safe. 

 

My list of disadvantages is somewhat longer. I will say this is just me, and that I understand why people enjoy living in town–I just don’t, at least not without further practice.  

 

For one thing, in town, I feel myself sort of hyper-aware of every move I make. I don’t know whether it’s true, but I feel like someone is always watching me. I wonder if they’re suspicious of my presence, since I’m not the usual person they see with these dogs, hanging around this area. I also feel very conscious of the volume of my voice and the words I choose. I feel nervous yelling at the dogs because I don’t want to disturb the neighbors or annoy anyone.

 

And on top of that, I wonder if people do a lot of comparisons in town. Oh, that person’s lawn is always mowed and looks clean. The other person needs to mow their lawn probably soon, and I think the other person just gave up and is going all natural. 

 

I also think it’s interesting to see who has a fence and who doesn’t. Who works to maintain some level of privacy in their yard or around their house, and who doesn't. It’s just very interesting to me. We never had a fence, never had to really worry about privacy. We have no close neighbors and are surrounded by trees – out in the country I can yell at the dogs as loudly or harshly as I would like. I can step outside the house without thinking about what I’m wearing or how I look. No one is there to pay any attention to my behavior or wonder whether I belong. 

 

I have also realized how spoiled I have been with the country dwellers’ ability to just let the dogs out, let them run, and not have to worry about where they’ll go. Our yard is like our very own dog park. Sometimes we just open the door, let them out, and continue going about our day until we decide it’s time to let them in or they bark to be let in, which isn’t often. They like basking in the sun like the rest of us. 

 

My Determination: “Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” ― John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog