On a recent camping trip, while trying to untangle the dogs’, I unclipped Cannon’s leash and watched him run off and around the campground like a total maniac!!! While still in our campsite, I reached over to grab his collar and rein him back in when he got a mischievous glint in his eye and proceeded to run through the brush and into a nearby site. I called and called but he wouldn’t even look up at me. I had to resort to shaking a bag of treats to get my unruly Ridgeback to come back to me. Ugh… this was not his finest hour. It’s times like these when we realize that our sidekick requires a much needed tune-up.
The summer months are great for Cannon since we spend so much time outside, hiking and camping. What I discovered though is that this year we took no trips into town to mingle with all the passersby – resulting in some antisocial behavior on the trail; I didn’t work on sit and down or enforce them with consistency – resulting in Cannon’s long thoughtful consideration of whether or not he would do what I was telling him; he spent a lot of time on leash and so recalls didn’t happen much either – which resulted in an impromptu romp through the campground.
As winter approaches, so does more hours indoors. This makes fall the perfect time to do some extra work with your pup, especially if you’re like me and slacked over the summer. The cool days make pushing those walks a little further an easy task. Walks can be for exercise and to practice getting your dog to heel properly at your side (I prefer the “turn-around” method). Time in your backyard, at a dog park or even in the house can be dedicated to making a game out of practicing recalls, sit-stays, down-stays and wait. With all the fall festivals, pumpkin patches and wine festivals you should get that leash out and practice walking through the busy crowds and interacting with strangers (remember! it’s okay to say “no” if someone asks to pet your pup while you’re training or just not in the mood).
I’ve taken my own advice and I’ve gotten Cannon back on track. After just a few days of re-training my husband even remarked about what a good boy he’s been on his walks. Now I can enjoy my pack being back in order.
