Since September I’ve been walking a Lab called Whiskey three or four times a week for his very elderly owner. It has become more and more stressful though, as Whiskey has been running away more than ever. Yesterday I decided to have him on an extending lead (in an off-lead area) and it was so much easier. I was concerned it might give him even more leverage for pulling ( he’s awful on a short lead) but in fact each time he got to the end of the lead he trotted back to me. So I used it again today and I think this is going to have to be the solution. I thought initially I was offering a little back-up help, but I seem to have been drawn into doing more than I had anticipated. Whiskey’s owner became ill just before Christmas and has been unable to go out which means I’m driving 20 minutes each way to his house. It’s by a park but surrounded by busy roads so I really don’t feel safe with Whiskey off lead. (Molly, bless her cotton socks is still being a little angel when she’s with me and Whiskey. She goes off lead and makes me smile with her ‘this is how good dogs walk isn’t it Mum?’ attitude.) Anyway at least if he’s on an extending lead I can take off his headcollar, which I hate seeing him wear.
How kind of you Joy , to take this on and bless Molly for being so kind . Its so hard to turn away when help is so badly needed , and I`m sure its inconvenient for you at times , but bless you for doing it x
That's very kind of you Joy to help out. My OH uses the giant flexi-lead in certain areas with Casper. I use an extra long biothane lead, which I can drop at times or hook on to a belt.
I had a really lovely walk with Whiskey today. I decided I needed to stop moaning about his behaviour and start training! I left Molly at home and that made it much easier. I actually think perhaps she was inhibiting him from coming close to me - she hadn’t growled or shown signs that I’d picked up on, except for coming in very close to my side, but maybe that was it. Anyway I walked him in the park on the extending lead for about 20 minutes so he could wear off some energy, have wees and sniff a lot (he’s a very sniffy dog). Then I put him on an ordinary 6 foot lead and practised loose lead walking, changing direction every few steps, rewarding with food and then saying, ‘go sniff’ and following him so the lead stayed loose. Then we repeated the cycle for about 20 minutes. Whiskey was so good, I think he must have been taught to walk on a lead earlier in his life. He was also much more attentive to me and engaged with me, so that for the first time I started to feel fond of him. To finish with I walked him along the pavement by a busy road back to his house on collar and lead and he didn’t pull once. It was so nice to see him as a relaxed and happy dog rather than the maniac I’ve been coping with.
Well done you. If only more of us are prepared to help so selflessly like this, a few poor old folks could still enjoy the company of their beloved dogs rather than face the inevitable 'rescue'.
Lovely to read your post @Joy, it must be wonderful for Whiskey to enjoy that interaction, as well as for his owner to know he's getting exercise.
One caution about extending leads. Use the flat webbing models, not the ones with a thin cord. The cord can make for really nasty rope burns on bare legs, and at least one person lost a finger when the cord was wrapped around it. The flat tape models are a lot safer.
Yes mine does have flat tape and I’m trying to avoid other people, winding him in if we have to get close. I know an extending lead isn’t ideal but I’m too worried about the surrounding roads to let him off and he does have a lot of pent-up energy because I don’t go over every day. Thanks everyone for the nice comments.
I think I’m turning this into a training log! Pleased to say that loose lead walking is now fine and the headcollar has been removed. I still pay Whiskey a lot of attention while walking on lead and do a lot of about-turns, fast forwards and sudden stops, as well as still rewarding with food every dozen steps. It’s quite tiring -like with a puppy -but also satisfying. I’m walking him without Molly which helps too. The recall is still far from secure. I’ve moved to a long line which I either hold or leave trailing. It was ok today as it was raining hard so no one else about but on dry days the park is quite busy and a trailing line is a bit of a liability. The other day I did try letting him off and he enjoyed greeting other dogs (he’s a lovely friendly boy) but then took off out of the park. My heart was in my mouth! Thankfully he stayed on the pavement and I managed to grab him.
Well done Joy, it's lovely to read about your progress with Whiskey Great news about the headcollar, even if hard work it must be very satisfying.
