Time spent afield with your faithful companion is truly what memories are made of. While you probably don’t think back fondly on obedience drills, refining them could end up saving your dog’s life. Regardless of what kind of dog you have, proper obedience training is a wonderful way to enjoy time with your pet!
Hawk: A few days later and all is well!
Last October, my dog Hawk and I were hiking in the woods on a typical fall morning. I don’t remember what made me worry, but he seemed to be spending an awful long time in one particular spot. As I approached, I could see him pawing at his muzzle. As we had practiced in the past, I issued a firm “WHOA” and Hawk assumed a rather tentative standing position. Once I got close enough to see what was going on…I honestly couldn’t believe it. Hawk’s entire muzzle glowed with porcupine quills!
As I got my hands on him, I instantly became aware of the importance of obedience. Basic training commands such as “Come,” “Whoa” (stand still), and later “Sit/Stay” are conditioned early on. Additionally, from the time we bring a new pup home, all of our dogs are constantly touched on the paws, in between the toes, in the ears and on the gums. This becomes so normal that they have no fear or reluctance to allow us to do so.
That time and training I gave Hawk proved to be the key as he patiently lay on the forest floor while I removed quill after quill. I stopped counting at 70. For more on porcupines and pets, see a previous post by Dr. McKay. Obedience and first aid preparedness are vital necessities for any pet owner.
Emergencies aren’t the only time that obedience matters in the field or around town. An average trip with your pet usually involves a car ride. When you arrive at your destination, an untrained dog might leap right out of your vehicle and into traffic. Any dog should have a firm grasp of “Come” prior to going afield or venturing off a leash. This command will allow you to immediately get that pup away from danger and on his way back to you. You’ll be amazed how peacefully you can maneuver past a wide variety of distractions if your dog knows “Heel.” Putting the effort into obedience training will make any outing more relaxing for everyone.
"Cody: You mean I need obedience?"
Remember, obedience takes time and repetition…but is worth the investment. These skills cannot be learned the week before a trip or by occasional reminders to your dog when he strays. Keeping a constant focus on obedience will allow both you and your dog to have a safer, more enjoyable time afield or around the town!
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This is an excellent blog and I really like what you say and the way you present it.
I also run a similar blog based on dog training and obedience and one of my top articles is a recipe for Liver Cake in an article about dog training with treats.
You can view it here if you’re interested http://www.dogtrainingextreme.com/dogblog.
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more gems and pearls.
Tim
I really enjoyed reading your post. I would have to agree about the importance of having a trained dog in situations such as car trips and being in other dangerous situations.