22 Comments

"I like dogs the same way I like people. It depends."

Expand full comment
Nov 6Liked by Charlie Bleecker

This had me laughing so hard

Expand full comment

I have a dog, and I still agree ◡̈ How funny is it that we can’t admit not loving other people’s dogs without being shamed? Great essay!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Rachel! So funny lol.

Expand full comment
Nov 5Liked by Charlie Bleecker

I love dogs and I can’t imagine living without a dog. But I completely agree with much that you write. To add to the list - the owner with some gigantic “doodle” who says that the dog is friendly and wants it to play with my dog. One “friendly” swipe of their dog’s enormous paw and I may heading to the vet with my much smaller canine. And, in our New England fishing village there is a leash law that often seems to observed more in the breach.

Our terrier is a good traveler - she has been to the South of France four times - and I must say that having her with us enhances the trip. We have met a lot of interesting people in bars and restaurants because they wanted to visit with our “petite jolie chien”. But she has been trained for civility and good canine manners.

Expand full comment
author

I love it, Drake. And I'm sure having a dog and traveling with a dog can be a great way to meet people.

Expand full comment
Nov 11Liked by Charlie Bleecker

Last year someone wrote into a NYT advice column and asked about dog poop bags. The writer combined their dog's morning poop outing with their own morning run. They would routinely leave poop bags along the route, but pick them up on their way back home. The writer was shocked to learn that their neighbors were annoyed by this.

Of course this is annoying.

Expand full comment
author

Hahaha omg I want to see this piece!

Expand full comment
Nov 6Liked by Charlie Bleecker

I have one small genuine question from a dog-owner who agrees with your point but just wants to do the right thing! Are we allowed to put bagged dog poop in garbage cans on garbage day BEFORE the garbage truck has come? As in, the poop bag will be promptly disposed of when the garbage truck comes? Or does it not matter? Asking for a friend…

Expand full comment
author

Hahahaha Emily this made me laugh so hard. I think putting your bagged dog poop in a trash can on garbage day before the garbage truck has come is a considerate thing to do. I should have specified! :)

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Charlie Bleecker

Hahah I really wanted to know if that was a disrespectful thing to do!!! I *do* throw my dog’s poop in others’ trash cans, but ONLY if there is existing trash in there and I know it’s about to be picked up! Whew! I don’t wanna be on anyone’s fuck you list, but definitely not Charlie Bleeker’s! ;)

Expand full comment
author

Hahaha. This was hysterical, thank you.

Expand full comment
Nov 5Liked by Charlie Bleecker

The worst part about sidewalk walking in LA was trying not to get clotheslined by a 15' dog leash—led by the dog.

That said, I love dogs.

Expand full comment
author

Clotheslined by a dog leash lol. So stressful!

Expand full comment
Nov 5Liked by Charlie Bleecker

Preach.

I love dogs but I hate this epidemic of "dog entitlement" and "dogs are people too" attitudes. Also tangentially people whose dog are their personality.

My ex used to let his 120-lb dog wander around a restaurant off leash because she "wasn't bothering anyone." I would look over and the dog would be underneath a table trying to find crumbs and lifting a horrified couple's table and dishes off the ground.

Expand full comment
author
Nov 8·edited Nov 8Author

I could not stop giggling at your last line. Lifting a horrified couple's table off the ground is so good. "She wasn't bothering anyone." Lol.

Expand full comment
Nov 8Liked by Charlie Bleecker

😂

Expand full comment
author

I could not stop giggling at your last line. Lifting a horrified couple's table off the ground is so good. "She wasn't bothering anyone." LOL.

Expand full comment
Nov 5Liked by Charlie Bleecker

This is so accurate, in so many ways. I love Unit X guy’s logic- having trouble getting workers to RTO? Just add dogs! That guy absolutely runs his HOA with two simple goals: increase ebitda and fun for him. And his golden retriever.

Expand full comment
author

Lol thanks, Matt!

Expand full comment
Nov 5Liked by Charlie Bleecker

This is me. Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment
author

Me and you, Bindu! :)

Expand full comment