David is away this week so I am on double dog walking. I just took Hattie & Charlie for an on lead walk which I drove to as it's an extremely steap hill on the main road. I cannot believe how difficult it is to walk two large dogs, I don't know whether it's because I am tiny 5 foot 4" and 7 stone or I just badly behaved dogs. I had Charlie on the Cosy Dog harness on the back ring and Hattie on her flat collar and lead because she is normally very good on lead but not today . On the back Charlie spotted a Squirrel, I think, pulled me so hard without warning I physically couldn't hold onto him and Hattie and I hurt my hand from the strength of his pull so that was it he was off into the woods between a country road and the A343 my heart was racing, I recalled him he ignored it. I quickly ran to my car and put Hattie in so that I could start the search when he appeared at the gate where I had parked looking very worried. A word of warning and this is purely from my own personal experience, I would never, ever walk a strong dog on a back fastening harness again. I also do not recommend the Cosy Dog harness as it just doesn't fit snuggly even though we measured Charlie correctly, so I am going to contact them. I completely give up with Charlie it doesn't matter what we do or have done for over 3 years things don't really change that much and I really don't feel I can handle him any more he is such a difficult boy, an absolutely lovely but difficult :'( :'( :'( Please don't try to cheer me up with how well he is compared to how he used to be when he came from the rescue centre it doesn't really help because I am in the situation and I don't feel like that :'( Sorry, sorry, sorry to moan but I really just needed to get that out as there is nobody here to talk to xxx
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( I'm not going to try to cheer you up.... but just send you lots and lots of hugs and sympathy.
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( So so sorry Helen , I wont try to cheer you up , just send a virtual hug xx
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( We're here to listen to you Helen, on good days and on bad days too. :'(
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( I am 5ft 2" and weigh 8st, there is now way I could walk two Labs down my lane, because the 8 year old would lunge at another dog and I just coudn't hold him, so down the lane in the morning I take them one at a time! When we go for our afternoon walk, I can hold them for the short time before I can release them off lead. The 8 year old is much better now so if I have him on my own without the other Lab I can control him. When he was younger, I had to throw myself down on the ground so that he had to pull my whole body weight in an attempt to hold him. He was injured as a pup so I could do nothing with him for fear of undoing the op, until he was 8 months old and by then he was so strong. I guess perhaps Charlie's previous owners didn't do any training either, hence they are difficult dogs to control. Number 2 Lab was brought up under control from the beginning!
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( Sympathies from here as well. I very rarely lead walk my two together, alone they're fine but get them together there is the element of competition so they each pull to get in front of the other. Doesn't make for a relaxing walk.
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( I walk a tiny Chihuahua and a Labrador at the same time, when Elsie is too much (happening less these days) I use a haltie harness which helps. Must say I look at tiny Betty and think angel and look at Elsie and think work in progress. Use a harness rather than collar on them both I think they give me more control. But I have nothing but sympathy for anyone trying to walk two if they were both Elsies !
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( Ah Helen,nightmare....hope you aren't too hurt ....Did you say David was away for 5 days?Just let Charlie run around your garden if you can't or don't want to walk them separately....it won't do him any harm for a short amount of time I'm sure xxxx
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( Poor you, BIG cyber hug here, we all have bad days, I know just how you feel. I really hope you have a better walk soon to help you feel a bit better x x
Re: What an Absolute Nightmare ;(;( Oh dear, Helen, sending you hugs and sympathy too. It's so hard to deal with these setbacks and discouragements. I hope your hand will be okay. Feel free to vent away, this is the place to do it...
