Sit.
Today, I went somewhere new to me. It was busy, with a lot for me to get my head around. I’m not a city girl but the guy I was with insisted that I sit down whilst he looked at his phone. I tried my best to get out of there but I couldn’t move, and kept being asked to sit down. I don’t feel safe. I don’t want to sit down. Why are you making me sit here?
Later we went somewhere quieter, thank goodness. I was happier, until somebody really scary came towards me. They were really intense and I just felt so vulnerable. I wanted to run away, but instead, I was made to sit again. I was held there and I couldn’t do anything. Whenever I got up, I was asked to sit down. The guy I walk with didn’t like it when I didn’t sit. He didn’t seem to understand the things I said to him, or maybe he didn’t care.
The walk home. We have to cross roads to get home. I don’t really like traffic so don’t like to be around it much, I’d rather hurry up home. But there was that word again, at every crossing…”sit”. Doesn’t he know my joints aren’t what they used to be? All this sitting makes me sore. My legs hurt. I remember it hurting when I was younger, too. I got growing pains and did too much running. I can’t seem to get home if I don’t do it, and I really want to be away from this traffic. I stand and wait, I don’t move in to the road, I just don’t want to sit here. I’m not allowed to move unless I sit. My expression should say it all. Please don’t raise your voice. Please don’t press my bum down and force me to do things.
Back home. I just want my dinner and then to go to bed. I can smell it being made so go out to my bowl. My legs hurt from our walk but I don’t get given my food if I don’t sit first.
I am a dog. I don’t always want to, or feel comfortable, sitting down. Sometimes it’s not a comfortable position for me. Sometimes I would rather not be in the environment that I am in, or around certain things. I am not being stubborn. I hear that word sometimes, and I don’t really know what it means. But this “sit”…it’s the first thing I’m taught and the thing I’m asked to do most, even though I try to tell you that I don’t want to sometimes. I know we are best friends and that maybe you just have trouble understanding me. Can we do less of “sit”?
Sally Lewis 2021
Know Your Dog 