PAWS IN PARADISE: WALK YOUR DOG LIKE A KEY WEST LOCAL

​​The author’s dog checks out the corners before proceeding on his walk. JANICE GARY/Keys Weekly

Who doesn’t want to bring their best friend with them when they come to Key West?

Some of the best times my husband and I had on the island before we moved here were walking the back streets with our beloved boxer-mix Winston, exploring the sights, sounds and smells of Key West. Winston loved this town as much as we did. So much so that when he passed, I sprinkled his ashes on all his favorite spots.

It used to be hard to find lodging that would accept pets. Now, dog owners who don’t want to leave their pets behind have a lot of choices. According to the “Bring Fido” website, there are 465 pet-friendly hotels and rentals in Key West, many of which sweeten the visit with dog amenities like welcome treats and plush pet-bed loaners.

That adds up to a lot of dogs suddenly being added to the small sidewalks of a very

small town.

Since my dog and I have become full-time residents in a home without a yard, walking has become a necessity, not just a pleasant sight-seeing tour. Over hundreds of walks all over town, I’ve learned a lot about walking a dog in Key West. It’s not like anyplace else.

Day or night, all kinds of wheeled things whiz by, some with no lights or sound. Scooters appear out of nowhere. Pedestrians walk around dazed and/or drunk. Drivers are lost and/or distracted. Sidewalks can be narrow and unpredictable. Think of it as a dog-walking obstacle course lined with palm trees, bars and adorable (if overpriced) Conch cottages.

Like many things in this town, locals have found creative ways to adjust to the quirks of island living, which includes best practices for “going out” with your paw-footed friend. I’m sharing some of them here. Hope it makes the walks safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

1. Learn the local Key West “head poke.”

In Key West, full vision of street traffic from the curb is often obscured by parked cars and other visual obstacles. Whether you’re walking a dog or not, the classic “head poke” is a fundamental skill to master. Locals use this simple but effective technique to make sure they don’t get hit by cars, bikes and other moving objects. To do the head poke, pause before stepping off the curb (or between parked cars) and lean forward from the hip, poking your head out to look up and down the street before stepping out into traffic.

(Note: this maneuver involves the upper body as well as the head. And be sure to look both ways. Bikes and skateboards often travel in the wrong direction on one-way streets.)

2. Beware of corner confusion.

Crossing a street can be dangerous here, but so can turning corners. Our narrow sidewalks can create some wicked blind spots. It’s worth approaching with care to avoid surprise encounters with bikes, pedestrians, scooters and other dogs.

You don’t want to end up like I did one morning, when a simple turn around the corner became a two-dog collision. As I fought to keep Ozzy out of the face of a ferocious mini-something, I was thrown to the sidewalk and ended up with a twisted ankle and months of pain. Ozzy, of course, thought it was the best thing ever.

No matter how “friendly” a dog may be, they do not appreciate a surprise encounter with an unknown canine, so it’s a good idea to take a wide circle around a corner, hugging the street side, where you have a better chance of a fuller view of what’s coming.

3. Sidewalk switching

Because of our narrow sidewalks, there is a tradition among local dog owners that involves “sidewalk switching.” If you’re walking your dog and you see another dog approaching up ahead, it’s a courtesy to cross the street to allow both dogs full dominion of the sidewalk.

Before Ozzy the poodle, I had a pit bull/boxer, friendly but also obnoxious. And before that, a dog-aggressive Labrador mix. So, I am sensitive about how dogs react to each other in close spaces. And let me tell you, Key West has little dogs in droves and they seem to have no problem picking a fight with a dog six or seven times their size — a tiff that drives Ozzy crazy.

You can avoid this with the “sidewalk switch” or by moving aside to the curb to give the approaching dog some space. If you think the dogs might want to say “hi,” ask first as a courtesy. We all have our preferences, dogs included.

4. Leash your dog.

I’ve heard it all. My dog is friendly. My dog listens to me. I don’t need a leash. Actually,

you do. The Monroe County Code requires animals in public places to be on a leash, with “effective voice command no longer an acceptable means of control.” Key West’s ordinance, while more vague, emphasizes the owner’s responsibility for actions arising from a loose dog. If you rely on voice control, please carry a leash with you on your walks and put it on as a courtesy when you approach other dogs. I’ve seen unfortunate things happen when people underestimate their dog’s ability to avoid confrontation. We all take care of each other in the Keys. 

5. Pick it up.

It’s unfortunate to say, but during visiting dog season, we suddenly have an epidemic of unpicked-up poop. Please take a bag with you whenever you walk your dog. And use it. Please. It’s just not fun stepping in poop. Especially in flip flops.

5. Beware of distractions.

As we humans know, Key West is a land of a million wonderful distractions. This is true for dogs, too. For them, it’s a veritable party of wild chickens, darting lizards and cats under cars. If you don’t want your dog to take home a scratched schnozz, you must make them aware that roosters rule the roost here and Key West cats are nothing like the kitties at home. They usually figure it out pretty quickly.

One last warning: Beware the dreaded “Fence Furies,” the dogs that go bananas when your dog walks by their fence bordering the sidewalk. You’d be amazed at how frenzied and fierce a small dog can be and how quickly they can add stress to a pleasant walk. They even scare me. And they’re proud of it.

I hope these tips keep you and your four-footed friend safe and happy on your travels around town. May you both make great memories here together.

Don’t miss the upcoming “Wienerpalooza” annual Dachshund Parade at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22. at Custom House, 218 Front St. All dogs are welcome. Proceeds go to Luci’s Fund.

Janice Gary is an award-winning author, educator, writer of nonfiction and a passionate advocate for those whose stories need to be told – and heard. Author of the award-winning book Short Leash: A Memoir of Dog Walking and Deliverance, she is a Pushcart-nominated essayist whose work has been published in journals such as Brevity, Longreads, Potomac Review, River Teeth, Slag Glass City and is included in several anthologies. A resident of Key West, she marvels daily at her good fortune of living among the beauty and inspiration of this storied island and the people who call it home.