progress
My pup is learning to be civilized -- dare I say it? He has actually earned his Canine Good Citizen Certificate after all.
It's dark and dreary today and much too warm for January and the back yard is a mess of mud, so to save both our lives I took Leonardo for a walk. We went to Carroll Park which is partly fenced and not a leash-free dog park, but a lovely little park with a pond and lots of big trees and a bridge across the narrow part of the pond (it was designed by the firm of the famous designer of New York's Central Park whose name isn't with me right now, but it's not far away-- O... not Oswald, not Ozimandius, Olmstead! )
I am working with Leo on walking with a slack leash so that my back doesn't hurt from his pulling. He seems to be learning what I'm trying to teach, so when we got to the park I rewarded him by taking off the leash. It feels very naughty and even criminal, but he loves to run freely and it is really a joy to watch him do it. I had treats in my pocket and called him to me and gave him some-- he's not really good on his recall either, but he came to me both times. Not actually TO me but he did change his direction and came my way and ran in a tight circle around me and then came up to me and took the treats. He ran off and I let him and then I walked around on the path calling him to stay with me and he DID. I gave him treats again when he walked beside me on the path and then let him run off for awhile. When he seemed to have run himself down a bit I called him, and he came and I put the leash back on and we continued our walk out of the park. We walked for several blocks and he didn't pull too much. It was the best walk I have ever had with him.
It's dark and dreary today and much too warm for January and the back yard is a mess of mud, so to save both our lives I took Leonardo for a walk. We went to Carroll Park which is partly fenced and not a leash-free dog park, but a lovely little park with a pond and lots of big trees and a bridge across the narrow part of the pond (it was designed by the firm of the famous designer of New York's Central Park whose name isn't with me right now, but it's not far away-- O... not Oswald, not Ozimandius, Olmstead! )
I am working with Leo on walking with a slack leash so that my back doesn't hurt from his pulling. He seems to be learning what I'm trying to teach, so when we got to the park I rewarded him by taking off the leash. It feels very naughty and even criminal, but he loves to run freely and it is really a joy to watch him do it. I had treats in my pocket and called him to me and gave him some-- he's not really good on his recall either, but he came to me both times. Not actually TO me but he did change his direction and came my way and ran in a tight circle around me and then came up to me and took the treats. He ran off and I let him and then I walked around on the path calling him to stay with me and he DID. I gave him treats again when he walked beside me on the path and then let him run off for awhile. When he seemed to have run himself down a bit I called him, and he came and I put the leash back on and we continued our walk out of the park. We walked for several blocks and he didn't pull too much. It was the best walk I have ever had with him.