We’ve been dog sitting my parents’ dog for the last week. You would think that adding a very small dog to the walking patterns of our very large dog would not be a problem. After all I do have two hands, perfect for holding two leashes.

Except, it’s not. It’s more like I have two hands, each possessed by a different demon, with different agendas.

Thankfully, our dog is old and moves slower than he did as a pup. So the pace isn’t a problem.

It’s the sniffing. One dog stops, the other keeps going. And trying to drag the other one back to pick up the first one’s mess is apparently violating some doggie rights. Walks take place only in one direction. There is no backtracking.

I image that a small dog could easily be guided in another direction. Nope. It’s like a small, wiggly anchor at the end of a leash. Sure, she looks cute, but she’s stubborn.

There are moments of cooperation—such as when one finds a perfect spot to pee and the other must follow. But usually, they take turns heading in opposite directions then swinging around to see how quickly I can untangle myself from the leashes.

Ah, well, I’m getting better at it, just in time for my folks to pick up their dog and for me to forget again. In the meantime, I’ll ogle those multiple leash holders at Petsmart. If anyone uses one let me know if they’re worth the investment.

Until next time.