I didn't know how bad things were until that day.
My 65-pound Pit Bull mix was dragging me down the sidewalk. My shoulder hurt. The leash was wrapped so tight around my wrist it left marks. A neighbor walked by, laughed, and said, "Looks like he's taking YOU for a walk!"
I felt so ashamed. But mostly, I was exhausted.
Every day was the same tough fight. He would lunge at squirrels and other dogs. He pulled so much that my shoulder and back hurt. Walks should have been fun time together, but I started to hate them.
I tried everything - training videos from YouTube, treats in my pocket, stopping when he pulled, and even a special spiked collar that made me feel bad when I used it. Nothing worked for long, especially when he saw something exciting.
The worst part wasn't the pain in my body. It was feeling like I was a bad dog owner. It seemed like everyone else knew how to handle their dogs, but I just couldn't figure it out.
But what I discovered next changed not just our walks, but our entire relationship...