On a website dedicated to Podencos (Max is half Podenco) I read that they should walk/run 25 km per week. Really? That is less than half of what a human should walk (based on the 10.000 steps per day recommendation). This surprises me. In any case, I have ordered a dog GPS tracker and will try to make sure he walks/runs an average of ten km each day. I will also start taking him to the dog parks in Tempelhofer Feld, at Hasenheide, and in Park am Gleisdreieck, despite warnings such as “beware of ridgebacks” and similar.

I have heard from two trainers that they do not usually have problems in any of those places. (In addition to Nicola, I am now also entering a programme with Astrid, who is studying to become a professional trainer and who offers free sessions as part of her training – any input is welcome as far as I am concerned, and I am also realising just how much a professional dog trainer lends moral support to the dog owner, when thoughts of “I can’t do this” emerge). I wonder if they are aware of that. Perhaps I should tell them.

A propos of nothing, this week’s assignment for the “photography shake-up” course I am following is “worm’s-eye view”, I took the above photo as a test shot after tying Max to an immovable object and giving him a “pacifier”. I am entitling it “the dingo ate the baby”. (Sorry).