Just one of those evenings where it all works! Off to the dog park by myself, the one bad thing was that there was no one else there. So, no doggy play for Simba, which was too bad.its been quite a long time since he's had a good play with another dog. :-\ But...I had come prepared, with my treats, clicker, and ball, which I decided to bring instead of my Fetch Thing as it's easier to carry than the Thing when we go for our walk along the paths around the dog park. Soo.... Decided to do some fetch with the ball, which I haven't done using the ball since I got the Thing. Took a couple tries....thought perhaps at first I would have to not bother as he didn't seem interested, but all of a sudden it clicked and he brought it back without (much) of the chewing and tearing around with it that he used to do with the ball. Did a bunch of good throws, was great! Walked to the end of the park, using the throw treats method to keep him close, worked great! Had a nice walk on a lovely spring evening - we've had a couple cold and rainy days but the sun came out and it was just glorious! Back to the park, decided to try the "throw ball while walking" method of keeping him focussed on me while we walked...viola! Worked a charm! ;D So pleased! It couldn't have gone better - it's exactly what I was hoping for during the long cold months of winter...going for a lovely off lead walk with a dog that stayed close to me and was happy to fetch the ball as we walked, instead of taking off. So, feeling good about all the fetch we have been doing, it's definitely paying off!! The only other down side to the evening...forgot my whistle again! Yeesh. I need to get back to the whistle training...only so much time in the day and inbetween the 3 walks a day and fetch and my Life Apart from Dog ( ) it's hard to fit it all in. Anyhow, it was a great walk. Very happy! When I think back to a year ago, when this barely trained big lug landed on our doorstep...... :
Re: A great night Thats lovely to read Lisa , well done to both of you Nothing beats that lovely feeling when a plan comes together x
Re: A great night Absolutely great. You've done a brilliant job with this dog - best thing that ever happened to him
Re: A great night Well done. It's lovely when you have a walk like that isn't it. Now, 'Life Apart From Dog' .... hmm, what's that?
Re: A great night That's great! Well done both of you! May I ask what you mean when you say throw the treat to keep close? Do you just letter ally throw treats near you etc? Sorry for the dumb question just haven't heard that before. Thanks
Re: A great night Lisa I'm so pleased that the walk you had in your head is now becoming a reality ,good boy Simba x
Re: A great night Was it like having a real dog Lisa ? . That's what I always say when my dogs get it right. ' it's like having a real dog'. You know those dogs that other people seem to have. ;D ;D ;D Having said that Simba is always fantastic. This time it was all his fantastics put together. ;D
Re: A great night Wow, wow, wow Lisa and Simba that is brilliant Yep we use Charlie's like a real dog' too : Jen, having a perfect dog must be soooo boring ;D ;D x
Re: A great night Thanks, all it was truly lovely! Annette, yes, you are right. Throwing the treats means just that, when he gets too far for comfort, I just whistle (with my mouth), when he stops and looks I throw a treat. He comes back to find it. It is getting so that he will run a little way and then stop and look back at me, so I throw a treat. Had another great walk this morning...decided to take the show on the road, so to speak. Went out to the field that is close by and let him off lead. I had my ball, treats, AND whistle! We had some great fetches with the ball, while walking, and I also had the opportunity to blow the whistle a couple times and he came zooming back! Feeling very pleased....I would say "almost" like a real dog...I don't trust him completely not to go haring off and I know my whistle has not been proofed against something really distracting like another dog, or a deer, or something like that, but we are definitely getting there!
