Recently, I came to an idea how to release the frustration of our everyday walks with Rosie. To be honest, I used to hate dog walking.
We live in the city center. The average stimuli on the street – people, dogs, traffic wardens in yellow jackets, kids running – is just too much for her. Very often she becomes stressed in only a few minutes that ruins the whole activity. I’ve tried lots of things to take the pressure away, and avoid trigger stacking. If I manage to keep Rosie in a relaxed mood, she doesn’t have to feel that her life is in constant danger, and has to react to everything and anything. We are in a much better place than we used to be, but it is still a struggle.
One thing I’m trying these days is that we run home from the corner of the street. I show her a treat in my palm, and start running, calling her ‘Com’ on! Com’ on!’. This is so much fun! She loves running! Her tail is finally up, her whole body is less tense after running a few meters. It makes her so happy, jumping all over me when we stop, paying full attention to me, and even calling me for play sometimes. She becomes even more obedient for the last minutes of the walk.
It’s a really good feeling to finish our walks in a good mood. It makes dog walking much easier for me, too, so I won’t think next time sighing: ‘No, not again…’. Her last memory of the action will be positive. Probably her hormone levels stay normal, too. I suppose she will be less aroused next time when I grab the leash, and slowly learns that walks can be fun, too.
I’m experimenting, but it seems to work pretty well so far.
When we first met, you were a 6-month old, frightened, little creature rescued a month before. I was told later that I had been the first person you didn’t bark at, and now I can value how much that means. It was strange, so many things were swirling through my mind. I had never had an own dog before, I was a know-nothing at that time, but I didn’t have the chance to hesitate, it was time to take action.
You were already one year old when I finally found a community of experienced and helpful behaviourists and positive trainers who changed the way we live. After a dozen hours of rehabilitation we could finally go to regular dog school. Your rehabilitation continued by mantrailing and we have just started protection work for therapy. Teaching you obedience is an everyday routine for us. I accept that you might never chase butterflies, but I’m sure our hearts’ desire will guide us to damn good places.
