Maggie Sit/Stay with 10 foot lead on a busy & noisy street
It's been 2 weeks since Maggie returned from her obedience training camp at Don O'Brien's Boarding & Kennels. We're both living in the real world now. Preparation laid the foundation for any of our quarterback challenges we've gone through since returning. We know the goal is to score perfect obedience, but at times the first game plan gets changed to plan B in an instant, right on the spot.
Reminds me of the rock music.... Walk This Way
The first day we walked together gave us quite a startle. A Wolf-Coyote hybrid dog came bounding towards Maggie at full speed from about 100 feet away on our pathway. I thought we'd both have a heart attack. This dog was enormous with its hair sticking out. Its piercing eyes were fully focused on Maggie and gave me the shivers.
Who knows what Maggie felt except maybe in inaudible scream for HELP! Luckily, the dog meant Maggie no harm, but he was very curious about her.
His owner commented "I really can't control him".
What? I wasn't appeased with that comment. This unfortunate Wolf-Coyote hybrid dog was overweight, and off a leash in a city environment. It was upsetting to see a magnificent animal in such an overweight state in suburbia. Maggie and I walked on both forever changed from the experience.
We've been practicing both the on leash and off leash skills of sit/stay, down/stay, come, and heel. We come across joggers, cyclists, walkers, loud traffic sounds, and dogs walking by us. I love the new heel position Maggie maintains now as she walks by all these distractions in near perfect position. Pretty good for a puppy of 11 months!
Before obedience camp Maggie pulled when walking. My left shoulder was in such a poor state from her pulling. Nowadays, it's pure pleasure to have Maggie heel with a loose leash or off leash in a safe environment.
Maggie's dog walker Marie commented on what a different dog Maggie is since camp.
"So easy going walking, and so much fun."
Maggie's had some tough challenges with a few fumbles to test her obedience skills & my ability to handle them. We have weathered these challenges in good stead thanks to the training Don O'Brien & his family gave us. We're living in the real world and doing good.
Maggie still sitting & still staying
YOU GO GIRL!
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