What I Like Best About Germany

There is one thing that I think is the greatest about Germany. It is not the beer, I don’t care a thing about beer. It is not their cars, despite the fact that they make some great cars. It is their dogs.

Everywhere we went in Germany there were dogs. In restaurants, the grocery store, on public transport. People take their dogs everywhere they go. And they are the most well behaved dogs you have ever seen.

On the street, dogs often were not on leashes, but they followed their owners right on their heels. They never thought to depart their masters side, even if a squirrel ran out in front of them. I never heard a peep out of any of the hundreds of dogs we saw. It was as if the dogs here were told never make a sound.

When two dogs passed each other on the sidewalk there was no confrontation or even any “hey, how are you?” sniffing going on. There might have been a slight nod, in a “what up” kind of way that you would have to video tape and play back in slow motion to even recognize.

Tonight when Russ and I were riding back to our hotel on a tram a woman with a white Scottie stood in the accordion center of the two car tram. The floor where they were standing turns when the tram make a turn, but the dog was never bothered. He stood right between her feet so as passengers got on and off the tram they did not step on him, since they did not know he was down the. He was never ruffled by the crowd. He did have a leash, but it did not appear to need it.

The other thing I like in Germany is dogs are always well dressed. Rarely did I see a dog without a coat on. It has been cold, but not really freezing, yet everyone makes sure their dog is well outfitted. It makes me think that my dog needs a coat for the few very cold days we have. I did not see any dogs in boots, but then again the ground was not freezing. I do wonder if people wished their dogs feet when they got home.

Dogs get to go everywhere and are well behaved. I wish that this was something we could adopt in America. Dogs can rise to the occasion if we let them. It is the owners I am not so sure about.