The love of my life from across the pond: Paipa.

Being an avid pooch-lover, it was not hard to notice the differences between dogs’ lives in both sides of the Atlantic. While I am sure German dogs enjoy the same pleasures as American, Guatemala, or Colombian dogs; like sniffing each other’s butts, getting treats, going to the parks and so on… the difference between dog owners here and back in the Americas is hilariously huge and I can’t seem to get used to it.

Reason No. 1: It is not okay to pet or even smile at other people’s dogs on the street!

Unlike in Seattle, Minneapolis or Guatemala, where if a dog approaches you it’s totally fine to talk to it and even ask if you can pet it, in Berlin dog owners get pissed if you do!

I was right behind a lady at the post office who had an adorable mutt, and the little thing kept trying to get closer to me to check me out. Because apparently I have an interesting smell. When she saw I was smiling at it, she stared at me gruntled some unintelligible German and yanked the poor thing away.

It wasn’t just that day, it has happened many times when people get a little weirded out when I say hello to their dogs, or stared at them. Am I considered a dog creeper for German standards, or what?

And so I was very curious about why, and decided to ask around.

My Berlinerin German teacher said that the reason is that “people are PARANOID about their dogs bitting you or who knows what…” and they are even more worried about their dog’s insurance if such things happen. (And I thought American’s were paranoid.) Plus the dog is very clearly perceived as part of their own personal space.

The funny thing about this paranoia is that Berliner dogs don’t even look like they are capable of unpredictable behavior. They are simply too well behaved, which is my second reason for thinking that they are just a different species from those across the pond.

Reason No. 2: Berliner pooches are the best behaved I have even seen! — and when they are not, it’s a BIG DEAL!

Dogs in Berlin wait quietly and absolutely undistractedly for their owners in front of supermarkets and other places. Many times OFF-LEASH! Americans (from The Americas): When have you seen a dog like this? This never ceases to amaze me. Especially when I pass by them and try to get their attention, but can’t get even a look from them!

I see this every single day in front of the entrance to my neighborhood’s supermarket, and off course I was also curious as to what Germans are doing to their dogs to make them so well behaved and adorable…

Once again, my Berlinerin German teacher says that many people send their dogs to dog school, otherwise many vets or breeders provide owners with very clear instructions or access to tutorials on how to train them and people actually follow these instructions. Wow! I always thought my family had trained Paipa very well…

There have only been two exceptions. One a few days ago when a bubbly mutt approached me and touched my leg with his nose. I was expecting a crazy owner to yell at it and apologize, but it never happened so I greeted the pooch. I then turned around to see if someone was taking care of my new friend, and there was a man with the leash in his hands. And off course he was American! (Thank you for letting me get my fix of dog love after so many months of none at all!)

The second exception was once that I saw a dog crying and barking for his owner to come back from inside the supermarket. And it did not go unnoticed! Before I could even go kiss it and tell it everything was okay, there were people checking if the dog was physically okay and looking for the owner. The owner came outside running and apologized to the people around. Like people, dogs are not expected to be dramatic!

Reason No. 3: Animals suffering (+drama) does not go unnoticed in Berlin! YEY!

There are absolutely no unhealthy looking dogs on the streets, even the older pooches look happy and well-taken care of. And I hate to bring this up, because it is so avoidable elsewhere, but I haven’t seen a single obese dog! As I have not seen that many obese humans around either. People and their dogs are very active, and regardless of how late at night there’s always a pooch or two being walked. That’s how it should always be!

Unlike a former roommate in the U.S. who kept her dog in a cage during the day, and then wondered why it had anxiety and digestive problems, and why it peed inside the apartment and was scared of any stranger coming to our place…

There are also no stray dogs (or cats), and the number of dogs at shelters are proportionally less than those across the pond. The sad thing is that most of the animals at shelters are old ones that families no longer want or can take care of. Not everything is perfect, but at least they take them to a shelter instead of abandoning them on the side of a freeway. Right?

Animals here in my opinion are attributed a healthy degree of personhood. Sometimes I believe they are simply furry and adorable humans, for they are allowed to be part of more areas of their owners’ lives.

Reason No. 4: Berliner dawgs are welcomed in many businesses and public places

Berliner dogs can be found at bars, some restaurants, offices, even at my language school. Quite often when one walks into a bar one might see a dog or two by their owner’s feet, again incredibly quiet and well behaved. (That doesn’t mean they don’t silently beg for food like any other dog!) Restaurants with terraces allow pooches to sit outside and they all have a water bowl and sometimes snacks for them.

My husband says that one of his coworkers occasionally has brought his dog to the office and it is OKAY. Nobody dies or stops doing their work because there is a cute little furry monster in the office. It provides an adorable company, and the dog stays happy being with people. I can’t imagine someone bringing their pooch to my old workplaces in the U.S. without someone freaking out or security coming to kick it out, unless they were guide or aid dogs.

This might very well be related to the fact that German dogs are INCREDIBLY WELL TRAINED! But regardless of why it is this way, I think it improves both the dogs’ and their owners’ quality of life. They are the best anxiety antidote, the best-EST of companions, and don’t like being left at home by themselves. They are pack animals, and as long as they are with their owner they are the happiest things in the world! Just a thought…

What Berliner dawgs and dawg owners have taught me about Berliner and German culture

Germans care a lot about rules and regulations, taxes and fees, and the implicit obligations they have towards their fellow citizens. It is better to be a little cold and strict (with their dogs’ and personal space), than to get in trouble and potentially have you dog rip someone’s hand “or who know what…”

Germans are certainly more disciplined than folks across the pond, but they are way less stressed because they have things under control! Even their dogs…

When you have all of your basic needs covered by the state, you end up with an emotional and energy surplus to look after other beings’ wellbeing. German dogs have really good karma, despite the fact that their socialization with strangers is limited. (I’ve strong opinions)

Dogs are part of people’s lives. Not just “something” you get back to at the end of the day. They get many walks a day, and even get to go to work or school with their humans.