A Harness And A Lunge Lead

[spottychick]

My new medium sized Easy Walk harness arrived today (it's still a bit too big for Tango LOL He really is a skinny fella) along with a jazzy new 8 m lunge lead (with extra hand grips!). Tango has been quite stressful to walk lately, without the harness, and also has always tended to cry and leap about a lot because my other dog is off lead and he wants to join her (not that she goes very far - but she clearly has more freedom and he's not stupid).

So we put on the new harness and wandered off to the local park. As soon as we got there I put him on the lunge lead - a big test to see what he'd do. He was fantastic!!! He ran ahead and then ran back to me and ran off again. But kept coming back to see what I was doing. When the lead was loose but he was still a long way from me I'd change direction (without pulling the lead) and he'd FOLLOW!!!

He had a wonderful time and mostly just trotted a few metres ahead with Pepper, stopped to sniff at whatever she was sniffing at and so on. Pepper also seemed thrilled to have him running with her. The best thing for me was that he did not try to bolt or run at a great speed away from us, he seemed to want to be nearby. At times I was just jogging along with them and able to keep the lead loose the whole way.

The only issue was that a couple of times I accidentally stepped on the lead and this resulted in him being jerked sideways! Once it actually caused him to be jerked right off his feet Poor little dude! He's not very heavy so it's easy to pull him off his feet. I will try not to be so damn clumsy next time.

We stopped for a coffee at someones house and he had the full 8 metres of lead to play with but just sat nearby.

I left the lunge lead on for the walk home and he simply trotted along the footpath with Pepper about a metre or two ahead of me, occassionally going a little further away, but not far. He passed people's gates and glanced in but didn't attempt to enter anyone's yards. When we got to the people across the road's house, where his friend the greyhound lives, he stopped at their gate and waited to be let in to play. But when I caught up and headed across the road towards our house he followed and then raced ahead to our gate.

I couldn't be happier - these are all very good signs that he is NOT going to run away if he gets off lead (tho not conclusive by any means LOL) and I didn't get my arm pulled off etc. And Tango clearly had the BEST time too

Edited February 15, 2010 by spottychick

[voloclydes]

wow he's come along way in a short time.

leo went to town on the weekend being a country hick now days he finds town roolly interesting. he sat in the shop and waited while i talked and ordered stuff all on lead of course (dog friendly shop too), we only had one almost child tasting(well he like to lick the faces of small children) they smell like food.... or leo thinks so.

[spottychick]

LOL Yes, small children always have something yummy smeared all over their hands and faces

[Loraine]

What a positive experience for you all. I have a home made long line, but I am sure that if I let Zedley off completely he will bolt for the hills

[spottychick]

LMAO Lorraine - that's what worries me about Tango. That's what he did weeks ago when I accidentally dropped his lead. I was lucky to catch him. But a lot has changed in a few weeks.....