Off Leash Experiences
- Nicole Walther
- Aug 21, 2016
- 2 min read
Mini Cooper sure is coming into his own. As I maneuver through raising a puppy, I am learning so much. I've been practicing calling his name and coming back. If I have a good enough treat with me, he actually returns most of the time, but boy, is he selective. I have started bringing him to the barn and he's pretty good about staying with me when I go out and about with my horse, Romeo. But, he isn't loving it there, because my attention is mostly on Romeo. So, he loves sprinting out of the barn isle to the car. That's of course scary because he has to cross the property road to do that and people who come through love to ignore the many "5 mph" signs posted on the property. They often come through with 15 - 25 mph, definitely enough to kill him.
So the question is, do I continue to let him off the leash, or should I only do that where there's not cars anywhere near?
He usually gets to run around with other dogs on the amazing SBCC lawn next door. We often meet other dogs there that he loves to run and wrestle with. It's a great time for him, but as you can imagine, with a busy lifestyle, sometimes he just has to come with me on my errands and get his exercise at the barn with me.
My Daggie's leash has been amazing in keeping him next to me. I hook him on the hip setting around my waist and he heels next to me, no problem. He's learned to walk beside me and pay attention to where I'm going, stays out of the way of my horse when I turn. He sits beside me in the round pen when I lunge Romeo and comes inside the stall with me when I clean up. All is good when he's around my waist but I do want to give him the opportunity of course to learn to be save at the barn off the leash.
The video shows Mini Cooper playtime at the barn (McMullen Stables ) as owner Stacey and The James share their dog 'Tiny' and 'Whiskey's toy with them. Proudly, they have a Miller Lite Squeeky bottle (of course!)
I love seeing how inquisitive Mini Cooper is and smart. I always thought he's been very analytical about things. You'll see in this video, he definitely has a healthy mix of curiosity, thoughtful inquiry and excellent follow-through skills. Mini-Cooper, you're hired!
Let me know what you think about off leash training. Which tips have you received that you found most helpful?
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