I have a big house in my doorstep. When Cupar was a puppy I would walk the big walks around the estate. Then the 'professional' dog walkers took over. Cupar by then being reactive I had to stop the using them. Of all the things I miss with having a reactive dog, these walks are the biggest things I miss.
Part of the estate has gardens around the house and all dogs must be kept on a lead, so today (it's the Scottish school holidays) I decided as Cupar is getting better in his reactiveness, to drive to the big house and take Cupar around the gardens on my own.
It was absolutely wonderful, the gardens were only planted a few years back but they're gorgeous now and Cupar was brilliant, there were very few dogs but any we did meet, he behaved beautifully. I was armed with squeezey cheese, his reactions were concerned but not over the top, we had no snarling.
To anyone that can just go a walk with their dog and not consider what happens if you meet other dogs, being able to walk in public and not have what looks like the most vicious dog ever, this is a major moment for us.
This is going to be a regular walk now. It does really pay to sometimes put the big girl pants on.
Part of the estate has gardens around the house and all dogs must be kept on a lead, so today (it's the Scottish school holidays) I decided as Cupar is getting better in his reactiveness, to drive to the big house and take Cupar around the gardens on my own.
It was absolutely wonderful, the gardens were only planted a few years back but they're gorgeous now and Cupar was brilliant, there were very few dogs but any we did meet, he behaved beautifully. I was armed with squeezey cheese, his reactions were concerned but not over the top, we had no snarling.
To anyone that can just go a walk with their dog and not consider what happens if you meet other dogs, being able to walk in public and not have what looks like the most vicious dog ever, this is a major moment for us.
This is going to be a regular walk now. It does really pay to sometimes put the big girl pants on.