Flicka

[Emily_Babbelhund]

and it is lovely to have a companion again.

Hear, hear!

I’m so happy for you and Miss Flicka.

 

[Jacqui-S]

SO pleased to hear this Sonia.
At times it didn't feel like you were going to stick with it, you sounded so upset and distraught, but I should have known, you are made of strong stuff.

You are truly a star and Flikka definitely fell on her 4 lucky paws.

 

[edzbird]

She is mostly a joy now and it is lovely to have a companion again

This is just wonderful. I'm so happy for you & Miss Flicka

 

[Joy]

That's so lovely to hear.

 

[Naya]

I am so glad that Flicka has found her place with you. You have shown how resilient you are and your patience is paying off

 

[Granca]

Well done to you and to Flicka, Sonia! Your perseverance is paying off.

 

[Selina27]

Great news Sonia @Jelinga

 

[Loraseal]

Lovely to hear. Love and perseverance is the best training tool. I think she is a very bright little sweetheart X

 

[Stacia]

As @Loraseal says, she is a bright little sweetheart, the only fly in the ointment is I can't walk her off the lead yet, as if she sees another dog she is so frightened and she would bomb off, has done it once when off lead, very scary as she goes back to the car on a private but busy road and I can't risk that. My morning walk in a field down the lane, I can let her off. Hope to have a lesson on getting her more confident round dogs,

 

[kateincornwall]

So happy to read about your progress, very uplifting and I am sure that you will have positive results re other dogs, given time and patience xxx

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

the only fly in the ointment is I can't walk her off the lead yet,

She’s made such great progress with you, she may yet turn out to be an off lead wonder too.

But if she doesn’t, you’ll adapt and be fine too. Carbón is my first dog with zero recall and while I do let him off lead to ‘surf’ at beaches that are well away from any road (that’s mostly just Cornwall), I’ve just had to accept that walks on lead, even in the countryside, are just better for both of us.

Talking to a couple of friends who had chronic absconders really helped me adjust to the new normal and while I still feel frustrated and guilty at times, i feel much more confident at ignoring people who give me dirty looks or outright scold me for keeping Carbón on lead (this happens most often in Germany, but I’ve been memorably told off in Spain as well). But heck, the Señor is a happy little dude who gets a lot of fun out of his lead walks, so his waggy tail helps me adapt to on-lead life too!

 

[Cath]

He is a globetrotter, what more could he want

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

He is a globetrotter, what more could he want

More sausages?

 

[Stacia]

Heartening to know that Sn Carbon is mostly on the lead as he always looks a happy dog. I took Flicka out this afternoon and there was no-one around so she had 3/4 hour off lead but with a tennis ball in her mouth most of the time! I can't have the ball if with other dogs, because it upsets the other dogs. I was walking with a chap this afternoon and decided to disappear into a hedge to see if she would notice I had disappeared. No! Just took the ball to the chap!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I was walking with a chap this afternoon and decided to disappear into a hedge to see if she would notice I had disappeared. No! Just took the ball to the chap!

Heh heh, the Señor would do the same! As he would say, “Amigos, if you cannot be with the one you love (or if your ML disappears into the shrubbery), one must love the one you are with: ojalá!”

 

[edzbird]

Our walks are mostly on lead too. Occasionally I'll let one off for a short trot on the beach as long as there is noone else there. I used to take them off lead in the plantation, but we started to see others up there. Meg is unfriendly. Coco is too friendly. It's not what I imagined having dogs to be, but they seem happy with it. We rent a secure field every week or so for a free run.

 

[MrChew]

Heartening to know that Sn Carbon is mostly on the lead as he always looks a happy dog. I took Flicka out this afternoon and there was no-one around so she had 3/4 hour off lead but with a tennis ball in her mouth most of the time! I can't have the ball if with other dogs, because it upsets the other dogs. I was walking with a chap this afternoon and decided to disappear into a hedge to see if she would notice I had disappeared. No! Just took the ball to the chap!

Chewie is also on lead a lot due to leash laws and walking in bushland with native wildlife, as well as his overfriendliness. We do let him off lead in not too busy places or on the BEACH, where he promptly loses his mind.

 

[Stacia]

Encouraging to read of other contented dogs who have lead walks. I have always had free walking dogs and had five GSPS who ranged but always came back and then the Labs would be free but not so far. This Flicka who is a spaniel cross is a different kettle of fish, the spaniel side is stronger than the Lab side, not that she has done anything wrong - yet! I think as I gets older, I am more cautious and scared she might!

PS. Had forgotten that she had done something wrong, had bombed off back to the car which was quite a distance away and on a road

 

[MellowYellow]

I'm just back from Finland where my daughter lives with her family and their dog Alto, who is ALWAYS on the lead. When they lived in New York they used to let him off lead in the dog parks, but where they live in the suburbs of Helsinki they are right on the edge of the forest and the sea, but they keep him on the lead in the forest because he would chase wildlife and probably not come back. On the beach they do let him off to swim and retrieve a ball, but otherwise he is on leash all the time and is completely happy.

 

[Kelsey]

These comments are comforting to read! I’m still struggling with Hugo’s recall, and I have been feeling quite upset lately with how often he is on lead versus getting to romp around. He’s just so friendly and wants to say ‘HELLO HI HELLO’, to everyone and everything. But he still loves his walks, he sniffs so much, tail wagging non stop, everyone we come across says he’s the happiest boy they have seen, so that has to mean something! I still work on it though, in areas where it isn’t super busy. Yesterday we came across a few people with their dogs and the dogs would run and chase each other and I told the owners when it was time to walk our separate ways that I’m sorry but he will follow you and ignore me, but much to my surprise, it was the first time ever when I said ‘ok Hugo, let’s go!’ He turned around and followed me. I for once trumped a dog! Now we came across them again a little later and he ran to play and ignored me 🫠 only chased after me when I walked away around the corner, but even that was progress because before he would just accept the new person as his family and not care that I was leaving. But we had another 100% successful run in right after this! But progress and baby steps, but even if he’s mostly an on lead dog, I know he will be happy and fulfilled now