We’ve just been out for our daily walk. We had an aim today which was to post a letter, so we walked the mile or so to the postbox. On the way back we heard a panicked sounding baaing from behind the hedge. A sheep had got itself stuck with its head fixed fast in the wire netting surrounding the field.
Himself stayed with Gus (the “Dogs will be shot on sight” notice on the field gate meant I wasn’t taking him anywhere near), and I climbed over the gate into the field. It was a bit of a scramble, I’m nowhere near as nimble as I once was, but I made it. I fought my way through the herd of sheep who rushed to the gate, expecting I was bringing food – I was clearly a bitter disappointment to them – and made my way over to the stuck sheep.
All it took was for me to lift the top wire slightly and the sheep pulled itself free. Thankfully unhurt, it trotted away a few feet then turned to look back at me. I’d like to think it was saying thank you, but it probably wasn’t. At least I’ve done my good deed for today. And I got back over the gate without mishap.
Perhaps I should call today’s challenge the sheep game, but a friend of mine calls it the mouse game, so we’d better stick with that – and that’s what I called it on the video in our Coronavirus Canine Challenge group.
You need a decent “leave” for this game, but your videos have shown me most of you have one. (If not check out how to teach that game first.) Place a treat on the floor and ask your dog to “leave it”. Then flick the treat off across the carpet for your dog to chase and eat. Sometimes ask him to leave it when you flick it too – it’s all good self-control practice.
A self-control and fun food game – what more could any dog want!
Enjoy
Keep safe and keep training
Carol
PS I wonder if Gus will chase the mouse in our utility room? That would be a good outcome…