Sometimes the simplest of things are overlooked

I found this on another forum and just had to share it.

Dear Neighbour

It was good to meet you and your dog once again this morning. I'm sorry
the circumstances were such that we couldn't have a proper chat, but I'm
afraid that being in a situation where I was restraining my four agitated and
angry dogs whilst trying to ward your dog off with my foot as he tried to
hump them indiscriminately wasn't conducive to chit-chat.

Unfortunately we have had similar encounters several times since you moved
here a few weeks ago, and as my dogs are neutered males and spayed females
who don't appreciate your dog's relentless advances things can get a
little lively when we meet, so I thought perhaps a letter might help to break
the ice as it were.

I appreciate that your dog ran over two fields and nearly a quarter of a
mile to get to mine, so it was going to take you a little time to get there
to retrieve him. However for next time I'd suggest spending 15 minutes
standing two fields away angrily screaming his name possibly wasn't the best use
of your time. It hasn't worked on any previous occasion and didn't work
this morning, so could I respectfully suggest that next time you cut that
part out of the process and come and get your dog straight away?

Anyway, I was sure as hell pleased to see you after 25 minutes of my dogs
being humped, barged and jumped on. It was a shame that having finally
managed to catch your dog and get hold of his collar you only let us get a few
yards down the path before you released him, so he immediately came after
us and the whole performance started again, but hey, that's dogs for you -
whoever in the world could have predicted he would do that?

We did talk a little last time about how you could stop your dog
continuously running off and bothering other dogs, and I'll accept that you have
indeed tried 'everything' - except training apparently. Or rewards, as he '
should' do what you tell him without them. Dogs are certainly clever
animals, but I'd never before realised that they had a sense of ethics and
obligation to do the right thing, I certainly learned a few things from our
conversation. To think of all that time I've wasted with clickers and treats!

On that subject, I'm still I'm not entirely sure how smacking him when
you do finally manage to get hold of him will make him easier to catch next
time - perhaps you could talk me through that one next time we meet?

We also briefly discussed that neutering might help curb his desire to
streak off into the distance hump anything that moved, but you mentioned that
you were considering using him at stud in due course as he a Pedigree
Labrador with Papers; and he's Chocolate - that's important apparently.

Now I certainly can't claim to know a lot about Labradors, but if the
standard for the breed specifies a potato-shaped body and short, stumpy legs
your boy is certainly a fine example and it would obviously be a shame to rob
future generations of his genes; and he has Papers. I hate to break it to
you, though - so does my newsagent but that doesn't make me want to have
his babies.

You told me that you'd thought about an electric shock collar to tackle
his tendency to run off, but were concerned about the cost. I'm sure the fact
you didn't also mention any concerns about the effect of administering
electric shocks on your dog's physical and psychological wellbeing was merely
an oversight, but I thought I'd slip it in here just in case it's an
aspect of these collars you may not have considered?

Anyway, having come home and pondered our mutual problem, I hope you are
as pleased as I am that I have managed to come up with a tried and tested
100% effective solution that requires no time, input or effort from you and
costs only a few pounds.

There is a handy little gadget that savvy dog owners have been using for
many years to address your sort of problem. It's very simple, a long strip
of rope or leather with a loop at one end you can use as a handle, and a
clever little clip at the other end that attaches to your dog's collar (you
might have seen that metal ring on his collar and wondered what it was for?).
This brilliant device is called a lead - L.E.A.D. You attach it to your
dog, hold the handle and hey presto, you have control of your dog and he can
no longer run away! Most pet shops sell them - in fact I probably have a
spare I can loan you to try, just let me know.

You can thank me next time we meet. Or better still, if we don't meet that
will be thanks enough.

love it !

Oh that's just brilliant, and probably the only way it would sink in.......perhaps! Thanks Bev, I like that!

LOL very good!

Love it!

Ha ha I have seen this somewhere else. I think it is very good maybe we should all have it printed off in case we need it.

LOVE IT!!!

Can I share it on another forum?

That is brilliant!!!

Ha, that is brilliant

Brilliant!

Met a few owners like that, which could do with using that new fangled invention, the lead.