One of my favorite things about Spain is the constant presence of dogs. People are really into having dogs here. I see people walking their dogs constantly; everyday, at any hour. You are “allowed” to walk your dog wherever you damn well please. I like that. My mother is constantly reprimanded (by strangers!) about where she chooses to walk our dog. We do not live in a neighborhood so for variety and actual walking space, she takes Totty down to the library or the high school. On one occasion, an elderly man who lives across from the library confronted her by saying “Don’t you think your dog would prefer to walk in his own neighborhood?” Seriously. Apparently in our town it is only acceptable to certain people to walk your dog directly in front of your house or in the dog park which is a 25 minute drive away from my house.
Anyway, people here take their dogs everywhere. They walk on every street and in every park. They are even allowed in some stores. I really enjoy seeing dogs everywhere because it always lifts my mood.
People here are often fastidious dog caretakers. They go for walks several times a day. As soon as the weather gets chilly (here that means 60 degrees), most dogs wear little coats or sweaters. I also have noticed that most dogs are impeccably well groomed. It’s lovely to see beautiful, happy, healthy dogs running around acting adorable. It makes my day when one comes up to me in the park on my way to class!
Small dogs are popular choices. Most people live in apartments which means that a small dog is more practical. Terriers are common. Mainly Yorkshire terriers but I have also seen the English Toy Terrier, the Rat Terrier, and the Toy Manchester Terrier. I’ve occasionally seen shih tzus and Pomeranians. Pugs are rare but I have witnessed quite a few French bulldogs. The Spanish water dog is relatively common as well. Big dogs like retrievers and German shepherds are extremely rare but I have seen a few. The big guys are so uncommon that they often seem like strange, otherworldly creatures when I see them here.
There are two interesting aspects about dog ownership here that I find to be very different from ewhat is acceptable in the U.S. One is that owners routinely let their dogs off their leads. Dogs are allowed to roam free in the park. I have never once seen a dog run out of the park alone. They also walk the streets without leads. These dogs are well behaved and obedient to their owners. I have never once seen a dog run away from their owner on the street. This surprised me when I first got here. In the U.S. it’s considered standard and necessary to always have your dog on a leash. You are considered an irresponsible owner if you let them fly solo in public. It also makes me wonder about Spanish dogs. How are they all so well behaved?
The second thing is something I really dislike about Spain. Dog poop. It‘s a serious problem. No one picks up after their dog here. As a result, there is dog poop everywhere, all the time. And usually someone has stepped in it before you so it’s smeared across the sidewalk. It’s disgusting. It also boggles my mind because I see public employees gardening and cleaning the park constantly. They are serious about the maintenance of public property here. You would think this would create some sort of social attitude that made it unacceptable to leave dog poop everywhere. WRONG. There are workers who clean the streets every night, so maybe people figure it will be cleaned up anyway. I do not see that as an acceptable excuse. In the U.S.it is never okay to leave dog poop behind. You are a horrible person if you do and you will be fined for it if you are caught.
