When I lived in Georgia, I had a huge backyard to explore. We lived in the country with only a few houses for miles around.
When I wanted to go outside I just scratched on the door and dad would let me outside. I would wander around, do my business and then sit in my bed on the deck until I was ready to go back inside. When I was ready, I would just scratch on the door, and dad open it. I never wore a collar or went anywhere on a leash. 
But when my new mom brought me home, she apologized to me and said “I don’t trust you because you won’t come when I call so you have to where a harness and be on a leash.” Well, I can tell you I was not happy about that! I hated being tied down.
The first harness I had to suffer the indignity of wearing was my new sister BobbieSue’s harness. In addition to it being so annoying, it had cats on it! Oh! Don’t I look miserable?
Then mom got me an actual dog collar. This one was bigger, red and 
for dogs. But that didn’t make me like it any better. I hated it so much and I tried to get out of it as often as I could. Mom made we wear it all the time!She said it was the only way she could keep me safe when we went outside and I needed to get used to it so stop whining about it! Then one day she came home from work and had to cut if off of me! I had tried really hard to get it off of me and had twisted it around my leg and foot. At first she tried to loosen it to remove it but it was so tight and it hurt so she took these big scissors and cut it off!
I was finally free again!And I loved it. I had won the collar wars! Free to be me! Or, so I thought. Imagine my surprise when…
Mom went to the store the very next day and bought me a dog collar (sigh!). At least it’s red and has dog paws on it. We’re still using BobbieSue’s leash (it matches her harness) but I 
guess I just have to resign myself to being a regular dog-collar wearing dog. So Sad. I so miss the freedom of not being tied down.
I still look a little sad in this photo, but it was taken right after she put the new collar on me. Maybe one day I will be able to run free and leashless. I know mom has a backyard but she won’t let me loose in it. She said she would once I got used to living in my new home. I think she’s afraid I will run away and try to find my way back to Georgia. I could do it if I tried. I really could. If I wanted to! But it’s cold here in Virginia so maybe I will wait until Spring!
Toby In Charge 