Just a Dog Podcast · Episode 40 · October 12, 2026 · 12 min

Off Lead | Hello, Maggie.

Introducing Off Lead , a new series on Just a Dog Podcast. Every second Monday, its just me, thinking out loud about what I’ve been noticing about dogs, and humans. In this episode, I explain why I’m doing it, then read my essay, Hello, Maggie, about the bulldog who lives downstairs. She meets me on the stairs with a whole-body wag, and I love seeing her. But my heart aches every time I pass by her door. In this episode: ​What Off Lead is, and why I'm making it ​Meet Maggie, the bulldog downstairs ​Shiny floors and a dog's grip on the world ​Stairs, short legs and a heavy body ​How the fragrances we love might feel to a dog's nose ​The wrinkles, eyes and breathing that come with a flat face ​What love can reach, and what it can't Key takeaways: ​A dog's sense of smell is far stronger than ours, so a scent we find faint can be overwhelming to them. ​Smooth floors like laminate give dogs very little grip, which can strain their joints. ​Flat-faced dogs like bulldogs can struggle to breathe, and extra weight makes it harder. ​Skin folds need regular cleaning to stay healthy. ​Loving a dog and seeing what life is like for them are two different things.