These mama's boys just don't know when to quit

[lizblackdog]

*sigh*

Squish had one of his Little Moments tonight when I took the dogs to the park. I don't know what it was he saw - likely a cat - but he took off in mid-fetch.

It only took me somewhere between five and ten minutes to get him back. He went out of the park and into a little cul-de-sac, exploring people's gardens and trashing through hedges. I had meatballs but even that didn't fetch him till he'd run himself into near-heat-exhaustion.

it's a setback, but still better than he has been. At one point he would have been actively avoiding me and he wasn't doing that - he was just so into the running that he didn't register me and meatball.

he was limping on the way home - looks like his shoulder - but by the time we got back to the flat he was limping less so it looks like he just pulled it or something. see how he is in the morning.

I don't know what to do. There are no secure fenced areas except the small childrens' playgrounds where dogs aren't allowed. I can't get a cord that'll hold him when he turns the speed on either - at least, none of the progressively-heavier cords I've used can hold him. I really don't want to restrict him to my walking pace. He can't learn anything or get enough exercise that way.

Comments

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

I'll try and do that. The trouble I've found with that is that when he's wanting to chase a cat or on a good scent he just doesn't register my existence at all.

but he HAS improved. He was loose four or five times before this happened with no trouble - once he would have just taken off the moment there wasn't a leash. He was also a lot easier to get back this time than he has been.

maybe a longer leash and a lot of meatball sessions in very interesting places like the woods.

...Spike just saw something out of the window and Squish got up and the limp is gone, so that's one good thing.

*sigh*

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

it's hard not to get complacent after there's been some improvement.

does he get excited about stuff out the window? that might be a good time to practice getting his attention.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

...now that's a good idea.

He doesn't get as excited as Spike does but cats outside do grab his attention. However, he can't chase or smell them from in here so it should be a good intermediate between "watching me for treats" and "unaware of my existence".

thank you!

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

i totally feel you on this - it's one of the reasons i wish desperately that we had a yard.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

yeah. It was never a problem with Spike, but I really feel the lack of completely safe outdoor space for Squish. Best I can do is the parks that aren't close to the straight roads.

luckily there's a lot of that here. So many cul-de-sacs where people can't drive fast even if they wanted to.