What could I share with or teach others today?

Well, I think I need to see what possibilities present themselves.
I could share one experience that happened to me on Saturday, and this could be a teaching……it is for me. Under no circumstances, when you are old like we are, get a dog that has more energy and strength than you have.
Joy and I went for a walk on Saturday. She is a Golden/Lab mix, and has alot of energy, strength,and abundant love for mankind. She is four years old. Joy usually loves other dogs, and wants to play.
We have hired trainers to help both Joy and us through the past four years. She has a double lead, that you buy if you have a service dog. She is not a service dog, but it helps us tremendously, and we could not walk her without these leads. She is a happy, loving dog.
We were on the trail, and I was leaning over to pick up the dog poop. At this point, all the leashes are in only one of my hands. She took off like a shot and dragged me some distance. You see, there were bicyclists with a dog passing us, and she wanted to join in the fun of running alongside a bike, like the other dog was doing. They stopped to help me, which I was grateful for. I was able to get up by myself and walk her back home alone, although I think they might have helped. It was important for Joy to know we don’t do that. I did not say a word to her. Nothing at all but the word NO after I landed.
I walked her home without a word, but a very tight grip on the leashes.
Yesterday I took her for another walk, but this time, I kept her a bit closer, and changed the routine so I was always able to check my surroundings before picking up poop. We were fine, although the walk was shortened a bit.
This is what I would pass on to others; no matter what, you can love a smaller dog and one not so strong. Really, you can.
A dog, as loving and wonderful as they are, is still a dog and you must be the eyes and ears, and the leader the whole time, unless that dog has had special training. To expect Joy to resist the urge to run along with the bikes and the other dog was my mistake, and to not check the area first was my first mistake, not Joy’s mistake.
I started a new training for both of us yesterday…..Joy can not poop wherever she wants; in the tall grass, on a slope, in a gully, places I cannot easily reach. She will now-and yesterday went well-poop where it is safe for me to see others, and safe for me to pick it up. And she will now go in ‘down’ position facing me while I pick it up, after I have looked around to see if it is safe to do so…
This has set my physical therapy back by a week at least, but I am lucky I did not have any other injuries. I am grateful! I am also grateful for Joy, who brings love, laughter, and well, joy to our senior years.
So in this sharing if it helps anyone realize we are only human, and they are only dogs that can be very powerfully strong, it is worth sharing. And teaching….myself, my limitations, my willingness to make changes in how I do things, then it is worth a long write and a long read.