The next few weeks are going to be trying times for all of us, including our dogs. Keep in mind that dogs are very routine oriented. So, try and maintain your and your dog’s daily routine as much as possible.
This is a good time to work on those yard training drills that seem to be less emphasized once advanced field training has begun. Here are a few suggestions:
- Does your dog hesitate or at first ignore you when called either verbally or by whistle? Sharpen up his/her response to re-call (come or here).
- Work on healing. Off lead as well as on lead. Your dog should not pull ahead, cross in front or fall behind when walking in line or in turns.
- Does your dog retrieve directly to you? If not, you can sharpen those retrieves, even to hand. This will ensure that no bird is lost in the field due to sloppy retrieving.
Just getting your dog out for a good daily walk will be beneficial to not only your dog, but to you as well.
Hopefully, the restrictions to our daily lives will not be long enduring. In the meantime, let’s make lemonade out of this lemon by enjoying time together with our “best friends”.
See you again next month,
C J, Shawnee & Duchess