One of our DogTime readers thought she was being respectful on a walk with her pooch, but someone told her to “curb your dog.” But what does that mean? She writes:
Dear Labby,
I have a neighbor who harasses me on a weekly basis about my dog. I always carry a plastic bag to pick up Sonny’s dog poop and try to walk near a curb unless there’s a car coming.
Today, two bicyclists were coming toward us on the street, so I quickly got on the sidewalk. While there, Sonny peed at the stop sign pole. The bicyclist yelled, “Thanks for curbing your dog, neighbor.” He then repeated it twice, and not in a kind way.
Is it wrong for my dog to pee at the stop sign? Is that not “curbing my dog?” I just moved here and I feel like I’ve given the impression that I don’t care about others in the community.
Signed:
Canine Urine Rules Befuddling Excreting Dog,
Dear Labby Has The Answer!
Dear C.U.R.B.E.D.,
Curbing your dog means picking up their poop, preventing them from peeing on your neighbor’s gladiolas, and just generally being conscientious about all matters of pup’s excretion.
Sure, ideally our dogs would deposit only in designated doggy dumpsters — and then they’d wipe and wash up. But with all the animal-related issues to get your bike basket in a bunch about, peeing on a sign pole should hardly register.
As for your neighbor, maybe a quick conversation would help.
Let them know you’re just as concerned about public sanitation and community harmony as they are, perhaps beginning with: “Seems like we got off on the wrong foot. I just want to assure you that I’m working with Sonny to be as inconspicuous as possible in his bathroom habits…”
Meanwhile, keep scooping that poop and doing your best to see that Sonny isn’t soiling private property.
For now, avoid dog walks through the local cemetery and the fire hydrant museum, and you’ll probably be well within the boundaries of etiquette.
Has anyone ever told you to curb your dog? How do you make sure you’re being courteous on walks? Let us know in the comments below!
