Macanudo came to us a little over a year ago as a birthday gift for my husband. I worried and fretted for weeks about how this surprise gift would be received because we had decided to remain petless for awhile when our Rusty, our Springer Spaniel, passed on to the great doggie park in the sky. Ultimately, however, Mac has been a wonderful addition, so much so, that he has become Carl’s raison d’etre.

Carl is VERY particular about EVERYTHING Mac. His feeding station, his food, his toys (can’t be squeakers), his need for a dog bed in every room in the house, his treats, his collar and his leash. ALLLLLL have to meet certain standards. Up until a few days ago, we’ve been using Rusty’s 100% leather leash. It should be noted that it is a twenty-year-old leash. It should also be noted that we have OTHER leashes, more stylish . . . Even a seasonal designer Vineyard Vines Christmas leash that has NEVER made it out of the junk drawer. Upon returning from the routine late night walk, Carl announced that Mac should have a new leash of his very own.

“Oh! I can stop by PetCo on my way home tomorrow if you’d like,” I offered in an attept to be helpful.

“NO!” he retorted, “I don’t want a leash from a pet store!”

“Um,” I began cautiously, “where would one expect to FIND a suitable leash if not at a pet store?”

“A tack shop!” he exclaimed as if he’d just discovered plutonium.

“What?!” I exclaimed, “Mac is NOT a horse. He’s a DOG!”

“I know, but he NEEDS something nice . . . And sturdy!”

The next afternoon Carl and I took Mac out to exercise in the front yard. Mac playfully ran between Carl and me, chasing his red rubber stick until he had exhausted himself. As we sat and let Mac rest for awhile, he started barking at seemingly nothing.

“What’s all that about?” I asked him, following his gaze toward “the offender.” Well . . . some potted rose trees on the neighbors’ front porch were swaying in the breeze . . . Like dancing lollipops. Mac thought they were alive, thus all the protective barking and growling, growling and barking.

. . . And THIS, I thought, is what needs a special leash from a tack shop!!!

As it happened, Carl hit a dead end with the tack shop. It went out of business years ago, so Carl had to employ Plan B in his quest for a leather leash. He battled every instinct he had and found himself perusing the aisles at PetCo. As predicted, no leather leashes could be found among the merchandise. There was everything else, though: Nylon leashes, heavy duty chain leashes, retractable leashes, embroidered leashes, training leashes, leashes with muzzles, padded leashes, slip leashes, reflective leashes, waterproof leashes. . . Everything but leather leashes. After quite some time, Carl finally selected a sturdy, black, round rope leash with a looped handle reinforced with rubber.

Once home and still not satisfied with the type and quality of his purchase, Carl disappeared into his office to shop on line for the elusive special 100% leather leash for his special dog. He simply HAD to find a LEATHER leash. After what seemed like forever, he pointed, clicked, added to cart and proceeded to checkout and emerged from his man cave with a satisfied smug on his face.

“Mac WILL have his leather leash in three to five business days! It is hand-crafted leather, made by the Pennsylvania Dutch artisans in Amish country!” he announced, full of self-satisfaction. (The fact that the Amish refuse all modern conveniences, the irony of them having a website upon which to sell their wares was not lost on me, but I remained quiet. I was just happy that a suitable leash had been ordered . . . Amish or not!)

The leather leash crafted by the Amish has indeed arrived, but alas! It has been deemed inferior, both in quality and expectations. It has fallen w-a-y short of Carl’s standards for something “special” for his special dog! The Amish leash, come to learn, is too narrow, too thin and too short! (Perhaps he could donate it to someone with a Chihuahua . . . or a cat even!) This leash is SO inferior that it has been relegated to the junk drawer along with the perfectly suitable Vineyard Vines leash . . . A fate worse than death for a leash!

While Carl continues the search for the perfect 100% leather leash with the correct dimensions and thickness, he has resorted to using the rope leash from PetCo. This black leash is about 3/4” round, the looped handle is reinforced with rubber lining, and it measures approximately 9’ in length. Carl and Mac just returned from their morning walk.

“How was the leash?” I asked.
“It was o.k.,” Carl began, “but it’s got a little give to it!”
“Give? What do mean ‘give’?”
“Well . . . It’s got a little elastic in it or something. It stretches!” He explained.
“You mean like a bungee cord?” I exclaimed, “You mean to tell me if Mac sees a squirrel or something else ‘chase-worthy,’ he can bolt and the leash will stretch?”
“Ya, sort of,” Carl replied, hating to admit the truth.
“So . . . Let me get this right . . . . You and Mac are out walking, you light up a pipe while at the same time Mac bolts off toward a squirrel . . . He reaches the end of the elastic ‘give’ and snaps back toward you with full force knocking you flat on your butt?”
“It’s not THAT bad,” he said, “but . . .there IS some give!”

And so . . . The quest continues for the special leash for the special dog!