Gloom at either end of the lead

It never fails to surprise me that people take their dogs out in all weathers and at all times of the day and night. There are many theories about why we lead walk dogs. The one that seems to be logical is that before the war dogs were allowed to roam pretty much unchecked. They didn't normally go too far, possibly because the humans gave them the appropriate signals confirming that they were pack members so they wouldn't stray away from their security. Unfortunately, during and after the war there was the hazard of unexploded ordnance. Dogs are inquisitive, a bomb site would no doubt be a cloud of interesting smells warranting investigation, they would step on something and WOOF! So they had to be kept in check with a bit of string.

The trouble is that these days a dog is taken out whether it wants to go or not. A calm, chilled out dog will sleep most of the day, most don't need strenuous exercise and most only need to empty a couple of times in 24 hours. So it's barmy that, when it's really rubbish weather, when at either end of the lead there's an animal that would rather be comfortable indoors, in the gloom of winter shadowy figures plod around the streets.

I'd rather stay in and play.