Yay, we went back to training today! As expected, Ella started out as the class clown, lunging, jumping and just generally bouncing around but she settled down after a few minutes and actually worked really well. It was so nice to get back into things and Ella really enjoyed herself (and slept for hours when we got home hehe). This evening I decided to try my first solo walk with baby, dog and pram. I'm pleased to say that Ella did a great job! After some initial pulling, I realised that I needed to give her a slightly longer lead to allow her walk further to the side. The only thing I noticed is that she wanted to walk next to the pram rather than me. This wasn't an issue but I'm wondering if it will affect our heel work (or heal work - hehe @snowbunny) when not with the pram.
Good to hear that you and Ella enjoyed your first training class together post baby. Although I've never walked a dog and pram by myself I would think it natural for Ella to move more to the side so that she can see and not have her view blocked. I would practice the nice loose lead walking with the pram but also find a little time to practice your heel walk with her, even if it's only a few minutes down the road and back. I always think dogs are lot more adaptable and intelligent than we think.
Glad to hear you enjoyed returning to training, good girl Ella. I have never walked a dog with a pram so well done to you. I think Rosemary has hit the nail on the head. Do you tie Ella's lead to the pram? I think Ella will instictively know that she is required to walk differently in both situations. You are doing really well Emily and only a few weeks after having Nathan, how is beautiful Nathan doing? x
Glad you got back to training. I think asking a dog to maintain a certain position in relation to a human, no matter what speed, direction etc the human is moving in, is probably quite hard work. Even a loose lead that requires 'at my side' rather than 'glued to my leg' is probably quite a lot of effort. Charlie wanders round on a 2m lead, doing whatever he wants, normally. And I ask for 'close' when I need it. He often walks 'close' voluntarily in the hope of a treat, but if I don't produce one, goes back to sniffing further away from me. So I'd say no, there is no reason why allowing Ella to find a comfortable way to walk with the pram will impact on your heelwork providing your tactic isn't to always have her walk at heel rather than being able to cue heel, in which case it will, but you could change what you do to accommodate that.
Nope, I won't tie her lead to the pram as I think it will be too dangerous. Ella is reasonably well behaved but she still has her nightmare moments. I think it would be safer to know I could quickly put the brake on the pram and step away to deal with Ella if needed. Thanks for the well wishes, Nathan is doing well. He's two and a half weeks now so still mostly eating, sleeping and making dirty nappies! Thanks @MaccieD and @JulieT, Ella doesn't walk to heel when we go out (unless I ask her too) but she generally walks roughly at my side and over to the left a bit when she's sniffing. It just seemed weird when she was walking next to the pram as she was in front of me which I'm not used to. Looks like we'll just have a mix of walking styles depending on what we're doing and I'm happy with that
Glad your not tying the lead to the pram, I have seen ladies in our village do that and a straining Labrador on the end Nathan sounds like the perfect baby eating, sleeping and pooing is the name of the game, aww I miss it!! xx
Ah, but then comes teething and out goes the perfect baby Sounds to me as if Ella is a clever girl who worked out for herself the best position to be walking in for comfort for all of you
I'd say as long as Ella is walking nicely, it's not a problem and up to you how you want her to walk. Sounds like she enjoyed walking next to her baby brother I'll let you know how I get on later in the year when I become a grandma .
Hehe I don't think it will affect it at all. I mentioned in another thread how my two walk differently when I walk them together than when I walk them apart. When I just have one, they trot nicely at my side (for the most part!). When I have the two of them, Willow is on the outside and ahead, Shadow is on the inside and behind. It's just how they prefer to be, and as long as they're walking nicely, it doesn't bother me too much. It has no impact on what they do when they're on their own with me.
I had an interesting conversation with my trainer at my last 121. When I say 'close' to Charlie and he is expecting a retrieve, he'll sit slightly ahead of me and a little further to my left than is ideal. He does this every single time. I wait a little, then pat my leg and he'll readjust himself to be where I want him. Every time. My trainer said "just leave him where he is, it's fine, so what? He's not competition dog". Very true. I think sometimes it's too easy to get it into your head what's "proper" and strive for that, when there is no point. If your dog is happy walking in front, or at the side of a pram, well, whatever.
Well done to you and Ella - and good boy Nathan, sleeping, eating, and pooing is just what's required of you right now!
