Leash training trials and tribulations
The girls started barking at 6:45 this morning. I got up a little after 7 so they would stop barking and John could sleep. Candy and Nigel played outside for a while after eating.
We decided it was time to do a little leash training again. Of course, Nigel needs no training. He would love to go walking everyday, and I hope we can accommodate him. Our leash training class continued this morning with Candy. There is a grass area behind our local Wal-Mart that is perfect for walking. She did okay, although ever so often, she stopped. i can’t say that she had fun, but she wasn’t as stressed out as she has been on previous walk attempts.
We were brave and decided to continue our leash training with Flower. First, when I picked her up, I guess she knew something was up, because she pooped, right down my favorite light blue jeans. I didn’t want to postpone our walk, so I grabbed a microfiber cleaning cloth and water and scrubbed at the spot and then grabbed another one to clean off Flower’s butt. Once we rinsed her off, we put her in the harness we just bought from PetSmart.
She seemed to be doing okay today, although I knew the leash training was stressing her out. She walked a little with me, very slowly, and then ran a while with John. Suddenly, though, she escaped her leash and harness. It was panic time. If she ran east, she would be running towards Sheridan, a busy street, and if she ran south, towards the apartments behind Wal-Mart. If she ran west, she would run towards our house, but have to cross one street and who knows where she would go from there. Running north, she could escape through an entrance leading to the back of Wal-Mart.
I stayed calm, calling her name and trying to lure her with liver treats. She kept darting back and forth, while John tried to grasp her collar. I was standing near a tree, and she kept coming back to where I was, but if I took a step, she would run again.
In the meantime, I was still holding onto Nigel’s leash, and he was distracting me. John finally told me to put Nigel’s leash around a pole that I imagine was there to make the tree grow straight. I did that, and then concentrated on again luring Flower with the treats. She finally came close enough for me to grasp the ring on the front of her collar. I guess we will have to continue her leash training in our backyard for now. That was a little too scary.
The rest of the day
I was hanging clothes up upstairs after we got back when I realized that my little shadow Dottie was always one step behind me. She is such a sweetheart. When we went back downstairs, Nigel the bone collector had collected several of the girls’ bones in his dog bed. I took a few away and put them back at Shih Tzu Central.
I heard a pitter patter of paws a little later and realized that Candy and Nigel had another play date. They started their waltz-wrestle-boxing match near the dining room, but later moved on to Shih Tzu Central. Later, I noticed Nigel nuzzling Flower, attempting to get her to play. I wonder if Candy thinks he’s two-timing her?
Thank God you got Flower back on her leash. Sadie has escaped from the garden and run into the street like it was the most joyous thing in the world. Meanwhile my heart is in my mouth. I once tied her up while I did some gardening and she escaped from her harness. You have to be super careful with harnesses and make sure they’re tight enough. I find the nylon ones are easier to escape from. A friend has a leather harness which is much sturdier and less flexible.
I just realised my previous comment makes it sound like I’m trying to keep Sadie prisoner! She’s very good about boundaries in the garden now and I can leave the gate open and she won’t run out. She also runs around freely in our large back garden. My biggest fear is the road. Just trying to keep her safe 🙂
I don’t really know what the girls would do if we left the gate open. I think they might be too scared to go through it. Nigel, however, is a different story! I think he’d be out in a flash, so we have to be really careful with him. He’s a “door darter.” So I understand completely.
I must admit that our back garden looks more like a high security prison than a play ground. We did escape once a few years ago, we crawled underneath the garden gate and were making our way to the busy road (mom was in the kitchen). When she came out to check on us, we were on what she called “the wrong side” of the gate and she got in a tremendous panic. Luckly our-from-across-the- road neighbor was working in her front garden and she immedeately ran into the road and stopped the traffic, so mom had the time to catch us. I guess if our neighbor would not have been there, we would not be here any more … I have never seen mom soooo angry
🙁
I bet she was angry! Mainly scared, though, I’m sure. Sometimes I can’t see Candy and I panic, although it would be hard, but not impossible for her to get out. You guys must be adventurous to want to venture out on your own! Good thing your neighbor was watching out for you!