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Fucking hell, even at 8am it's hot enough that I came home dripping sweat and both dogs are panting like pants.
However, I need to tell the world that Squish is a Very Good Dog Indeed. If you'd seen him today you'd never have realised he had recall/running away issues.
I've learned a lot in the last year, both from paying attention to my dogs and from my LJ dog friends. There are a lot of mistakes I used to make with Squish that I know better now. First, I didn't let him loose till we'd walked the bounds on-leash, he'd stopped gazing off into the distance and started watching the ball Spike was playing with. Second, I didn't attempt to play with both dogs simultaneously. I have made that work in the past for short periods but Spike is an intolerant sharky ball-stealing attention hog and Squish is very easily put off his stroke. It was always rather like trying to spin a few too many plates with a toddler jogging your elbow. Third, I am teaching Squish that me grasping his collar is a Good Thing. It's either followed by being released to chase the ball again or by a meatball jackpot.
I know. Basic stuff. I never needed to think it all out this way with Spike. But Spike is a good communicator and a people-pleaser, bred for complex interactions with thinking creatures. Squish is none of those things and I've had to learn to think on a whole new level to get to grips with him. I've also had to undo a number of bad lessons that I never needed to do with Spike.
We are WINNING!
P.S. It's a huge pain in the arse carrying greasy chunks of meatball around when it's too hot to wear my jacket with pockets. I had them in a plastic bag in my skirt pocket and kept a few palmed at all times so I'd have them ready. I don't always take them with me for on-leash walks any more but I wanted to have some for this. What do you guys do about treats?
However, I need to tell the world that Squish is a Very Good Dog Indeed. If you'd seen him today you'd never have realised he had recall/running away issues.
I've learned a lot in the last year, both from paying attention to my dogs and from my LJ dog friends. There are a lot of mistakes I used to make with Squish that I know better now. First, I didn't let him loose till we'd walked the bounds on-leash, he'd stopped gazing off into the distance and started watching the ball Spike was playing with. Second, I didn't attempt to play with both dogs simultaneously. I have made that work in the past for short periods but Spike is an intolerant sharky ball-stealing attention hog and Squish is very easily put off his stroke. It was always rather like trying to spin a few too many plates with a toddler jogging your elbow. Third, I am teaching Squish that me grasping his collar is a Good Thing. It's either followed by being released to chase the ball again or by a meatball jackpot.
I know. Basic stuff. I never needed to think it all out this way with Spike. But Spike is a good communicator and a people-pleaser, bred for complex interactions with thinking creatures. Squish is none of those things and I've had to learn to think on a whole new level to get to grips with him. I've also had to undo a number of bad lessons that I never needed to do with Spike.
We are WINNING!
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P.S. It's a huge pain in the arse carrying greasy chunks of meatball around when it's too hot to wear my jacket with pockets. I had them in a plastic bag in my skirt pocket and kept a few palmed at all times so I'd have them ready. I don't always take them with me for on-leash walks any more but I wanted to have some for this. What do you guys do about treats?
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