This story relates to stopping and sitting at every curb, waiting for traffic, both imagined and real, and then crossing the street with your dog or dogs.

At one time I had four dogs living with me. Two German Shepherds and two Siberian Huskies. I would walk them together every evening. I’m sure we were quite a site walking down the street, especially when we would come to a cross street and all four dogs would sit at the curb, as if on cue. We were an impressive pack, with me at the head.

All of the dogs had been taught proper manners. Sitting for collars and leashes, never going through a door uninvited, walking on a loose lead always, stopping and sitting at curbs, etc. This was life and everybody understood the rules. Without rules I never would have attempted to walk four big strong dogs at one time.

Now, Klondyke was my male husky and the alpha dog in the dog part of the pack. I was alpha of the entire pack. As a puppy, he belonged to my son, Ken, who got him when he was in high school. My son had moved out after college and Klondyke remained with me. Whenever Ken came to visit, Klondyke was overjoyed and followed him everywhere. One night after one of Ken‘s visits when we were saying goodbye, Klondyke made the mistake of stepping out the front door with us to say his goodbye. Both he and I realized he was outside at the same instant and when I went to reach for his collar, he was off like a shot. Down the street and around the corner he raced with Ken in hot pursuit. I stuck my head in the door and hollered at my husband that Klondyke was loose, but I really don’t know what I expected him to do about it. Anyhow, when I turned to look down the street where Klondyke and Ken had gone I was surprised to see Ken coming around the corner with Klondyke in tow. When he got to the front door I asked him how he managed to catch Klondyke and Ken’s exact words were, "I don’t know, Mom, he got to Grove Park Blvd. and took about two steps into the street and sat down. It gave me just enough time to grab his collar."

Talk about GOOD HABITS. That’s why you stop at every corner and have your dog sit, traffic or not. You never know when it just might pay off.