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Ok, so I don't enforce a great deal of obedience on our walks. I walk the 3 together, to save time and because they enjoy it more. I call them 'go sniff' walks. Some days it's good and relaxing, other days not so much (like today). But.....in the end, it's my fault because I chose to let them be, well......dogs
So today was not so good for me and went like this:
3 dogs varying ages, sizes and personalities. Leann (my Lab) just moves forward and sniffs the occasional bush, tree, plant etc. Pebbles (my E setter) is not walking, she's hunting! She's looking for rabbits and gets VERY excited at the prospect of finding one. She knows who's lawn they will be on and looks forward to getting there with great anticipation.
She looks to the left, then darts across the sidewalk to the right. Crosses 2 dogs, tangles the leashes. Leann and Galaxy are sniffing something interesting on the ground. Pebbs realizes there is a scent and dashed underneath plowing under Leann's legs and knocking Galaxy over.
We stop, I breathe deep, untangle the leashes and start up. Leann is ahead, (in my right hand I'm holding my lab's leash and my 12 year old, smallish dog Galaxy's leash). Galaxy stops to pee, gets dragged a few inches by Leann's leash. I tell Leann to wait, Leann stops to wait. Galaxy finishes. We all move ahead.
Leann finds a bush scent and surges ahead. Galaxy stops to poop and gets dragged a few inches. I tell Leann to wait. She stops. Galaxy finishes. I move all the leashes to my left hand and dig out my bag. The dogs wait patiently. I clean up. Pebbles is staring, looking for rabbits.
I give the command to go forward. Leann forges ahead. Pebbs sees a rabbit and darts to the other side tangling leashes and my feet. Galaxy wants to eat the grass. "Wait". Untangle. Move forward. Pebbles sees another rabbit. Galaxy sees a trash can and pulls towards it. No, wait a minute. she has to pee again. Gets dragged a few inches. Pebbs darts over cause she caught a scent. Plows Galaxy over.
Stop. Untangle, move forward. Someone walking their dog ahead, off leash. Cross the street. Me commanding them to move forward. (Telling Leann to "avert"). Leann looks away, Galaxy stares at the dog. Pebbles is looking for rabbits/ Galaxy wants to eat grass. Neighbor comes out. Greets Leann. Leann is thrilled to greet a human. Pebbs catches a whiff, darts under Leann. Stops under her. Leann's back feet are in the air. Pebbs sniffing the ground. Galaxy has to pee.
Untangle leashes. Get to the house. They see the house and begin to move at a snail's pace. They stop in front of the door. No one wants to go in. They beg to go again.
Sigh.....
What was your walk like today?
So today was not so good for me and went like this:
3 dogs varying ages, sizes and personalities. Leann (my Lab) just moves forward and sniffs the occasional bush, tree, plant etc. Pebbles (my E setter) is not walking, she's hunting! She's looking for rabbits and gets VERY excited at the prospect of finding one. She knows who's lawn they will be on and looks forward to getting there with great anticipation.
She looks to the left, then darts across the sidewalk to the right. Crosses 2 dogs, tangles the leashes. Leann and Galaxy are sniffing something interesting on the ground. Pebbs realizes there is a scent and dashed underneath plowing under Leann's legs and knocking Galaxy over.
We stop, I breathe deep, untangle the leashes and start up. Leann is ahead, (in my right hand I'm holding my lab's leash and my 12 year old, smallish dog Galaxy's leash). Galaxy stops to pee, gets dragged a few inches by Leann's leash. I tell Leann to wait, Leann stops to wait. Galaxy finishes. We all move ahead.
Leann finds a bush scent and surges ahead. Galaxy stops to poop and gets dragged a few inches. I tell Leann to wait. She stops. Galaxy finishes. I move all the leashes to my left hand and dig out my bag. The dogs wait patiently. I clean up. Pebbles is staring, looking for rabbits.
I give the command to go forward. Leann forges ahead. Pebbs sees a rabbit and darts to the other side tangling leashes and my feet. Galaxy wants to eat the grass. "Wait". Untangle. Move forward. Pebbles sees another rabbit. Galaxy sees a trash can and pulls towards it. No, wait a minute. she has to pee again. Gets dragged a few inches. Pebbs darts over cause she caught a scent. Plows Galaxy over.
Stop. Untangle, move forward. Someone walking their dog ahead, off leash. Cross the street. Me commanding them to move forward. (Telling Leann to "avert"). Leann looks away, Galaxy stares at the dog. Pebbles is looking for rabbits/ Galaxy wants to eat grass. Neighbor comes out. Greets Leann. Leann is thrilled to greet a human. Pebbs catches a whiff, darts under Leann. Stops under her. Leann's back feet are in the air. Pebbs sniffing the ground. Galaxy has to pee.
Untangle leashes. Get to the house. They see the house and begin to move at a snail's pace. They stop in front of the door. No one wants to go in. They beg to go again.
Sigh.....
What was your walk like today?