I went out for a run at 6:30 this morning, just me and the boy. I've been working on him staying closer, as he slipped into self employment while I was away. Obviously, when I'm running, it's a bit harder to keep doing things with him, but I saw it as a challenge! Anyway, he did brilliantly. I threw a ball for a couple of good check-ins early on, so he knew that there was the potential for reward. A bit of bribery, maybe, but we're still at that stage, so I'm cool with letting him know the ball's there if he earns it. He seems to be getting a bit less food motivated out and about as he gets older. On separate occasions, I threw fish stick, cheese and ham at him and he just let them bounce off him and fall to the ground, uninterested. So it's a good job I have the ball, which trumps everything! He was staying nice and close; I'm happy for him to stop and sniff etc; I was doing a 10km run, so it would be horrible for his joints to expect him to run at my pace the whole time. So, he was sometimes ahead, sometimes behind, but always in eyesight. We run between fields of fruit trees, and he had started roaming off into these more, but not this morning - he stayed either on the track, or just on the edge of the fields. Then, a rabbit ran out in front of us. No more than three metres ahead, it jumped onto the track and, horror of horrors, started running away from us, still on the track. Why it didn't bounce off into the cover on the side, I have no idea. Shadow loves to chase, so I was horrified as he set off after it, knew there was no point poisoning my whistle, but I grabbed the ball in my hand and called him. Amazingly, he hesitated, then stopped, I screamed "YES!!!!", he turned and I threw the ball the other way, swiftly followed by a flying yellow hound. Wahoooo!! Called off a bunny chase! As the run went on, we had two more bunnies jump out in front of us, and each time, he was more hesitant in his chase and turned back to me more quickly. Each time, he got a massive party and a couple of throws of the ball. Thank Dog I took it with me At another point, we hit a tarmac section of the road. I decided to pop him on lead because, as much as traffic is incredibly rare around these tracks, I figured any vehicles on this section would be both faster and quieter than on the rough, unmade roads. Last autumn when I tried running with him on lead, I gave up, because he was a nightmare. He got so excited by me running (it was pretty novel to us all!) that he would leap around and pull both ahead and to the sides, like a thing possessed. I got bored trying and couldn't really be bothered proofing, so gave up and just walked. But this morning, half a year on and with a little more experience of me running, he was a superstar, trotting along (very slowly!) at heel until we hit the dirt track again. It was a wonderful start to the day and I was very proud of my little man
Well done that boy! And you too.... 10Km run at 6.30am? I am impressed! Not sure what I am more impressed with tough, calling Shadow off a bunny chase....or the 10kn run!
The tennis ball can trump anything, but to me it is a two edged sword! I can't stop the wretch wanting the ball all the time, jumping around me! However, very well done and what bliss to be out running at 6.30 am also very impressive.
Woo hoo, that's great!!!! Obi can't believe that anyone would let treats just bounce off them.. And I'd be lucky to walk 10km, let alone run it
Meant to say I was very IMPRESSED with YOU for being up so early and running all that way! The am should have been written as a.m as it looked as if I said 'I am very impressive'
Fantastic, Shadow well done young man Fiona you're crazy I'm doing a 10 mile charity walk in a couple of weeks, now feeling inferior xx
Good stuff! Once Poppy is distracted I have to wait until she isnt fixed on whatever it is she is concentrating on
To be honest, it wasn't difficult to be up at that time, despite working 'til gone midnight, as Squidge had jumped up on the bed and given all human ears a very thorough and energetic washing It was my first 10km run - I'm very new to the running scene. 7km was my max before this, but I figured I'd give it a go and see how I got on. I was a hot, sweaty mess, that's how! Shadow seems to understand that when it goes back in my pouch, that's that. Which is handy really - the last thing you need running is a dog trying to trip you up! Haha! I didn't read it like that until you pointed it out 10 miles is a lot farther than 10 km!! Nobody's disputing the crazy, though
Wow, called off a bunny chase? Amazing what a little maturity and a lot of training will do I'm honestly jealous of those of you who have dogs who'll focus so intently on a ball, it's a neat trick to have up your sleeves for situations just like this!
Excellent work, both of you - and a lovely photo! I'm now thinking of taking a tennis ball for Tuppence when we're in the woods to stop her picking up sticks, but then she'd be jumping around loopily just like Shadow too!
Where you live is so beautiful and peaceful! I've given up trying to teach Lucky to run with me, either he's too far behind sniffing things, or he gets overexcited and runs round in circles barking and starts to manically dig holes. Last time we tried, he ran round in huge circles and then bolted about 100m ahead of me at top speed.
