On #NationalWalkingDay what else could we talk about except how proud we are of our dogs? A recent walk on a local beach tested Gus’ recall and we helped spread the word. There’s nothing better than our own dogs showing the world how well they’ve been trained!
My Border Collie just loves the beach!
I was walking Gus on a local beach yesterday. He was having a whale of a time, sniffing all the pee-mailed seaweed, exploring nooks and crannies in the rocks and half-heartedly chasing the odd seagull. He kept an eye on me and I did the same on him.
A couple of times he ran down to the water’s edge to have a splash and a paddle. He’s got more adventurous with age – as a puppy he would hardly get his toes wet, but now he bounds in up to his tummy, probably to collect more water he can then shake all over me.
His great recall is always rewarded
I called him every so often and he came bounding straight back every time for his fuss and reward then he’d wander off again.
I saw a man, just standing, watching us with his dog on a lead. As I approached, he hailed me.
“Lovely dog you’ve got,“ he said. He clearly knew the way to get my attention – anyone who praises Gus is clearly a sensible, nice person. “I wish my dog came back when called like that. If I let him off lead we’d be here until teatime before he decided to come back to me.”
I smiled. “Well, we work at it, “I replied, “It takes practice, lots and lots of practice, until it becomes a habit.” I showed him the contents of my pockets. “I always have his favourite toy and some treats, then every time he comes when I call he gets something he loves. Then he can go off again.”
“But he never goes far,” said the man, whose name I’d forgotten to ask for, ”I’ve been watching you and he stays pretty close to you.” Just as he said that Gus went running down to the sea again. (Never work with dogs or children…)
No matter what their age, you need to keep training your dog
“Well, he is nearly ten years old now and we still practise recall on every walk,“ I pointed out, “Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a good recall. It’s a habit, and easy once you know what you’ve doing.”
“I suppose so,” he mused, “This fella is just two and we haven’t really done any training.”
“I’m also a dog trainer,” I said, crossing my mental fingers that Gus would continue to be a model dog, “and we’ve got a course starting on Saturday to teach you to teach your dog to come back when called, every time. Why not come along?”
I gave him a card and talked some more about how our Reliable Recall course involves two sessions over two weeks at our wonderful centre with its outdoor and indoor training areas.
I explained that I love dogs to have freedom out and about – but your dog can only have that freedom if they will come back when called, so your dog does not pester other people and dogs.
He seemed interested. We said our goodbyes and set out on our separate ways. I called Gus and he turned on a sixpence and came running up. “Good boy,” I said, proud of my well-trained dog.
Do you want to be proud of your pooch?
I hope the man books. And why not book yourself, Kate and be as proud of your dog as I am about Gus, when they come running whenever and where ever you call them?
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
