It Does Take Work...But It's Worth It

My mom used to say that anything worth having, is worth working for. I like to think that this is true for many things, but definitely the case with having a well-mannered community canine.

When I was teaching my most recent leash walking class, we talked about why you need to practice (a lot). It won't be perfect the first time...it may never be perfect, in fact. However, working with your dog to hone their skills and better understand your expectations and the constraints placed upon them (and you!) in the environment, is really the key. And one dog owner's definition of "perfect" may not be your definition. Perfect is defined by you and always in context. Many people have incredibly well behaved dogs at home, but the second they try to take those same dogs into public places, it turns into a three-ring circus. Which brings me back to the idea of practicing. You have to actually visualize your goal and then get creative as you find ways to help your dog do just that.

For example, if your goal is to sit with your dog in the outdoor seating area of your favorite restaurant and have a nice lunch, they you have to break that goal down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Start out by taking your dog on a walk through the area of town where the restaurant is located. Did you have to load your dog into and out of a car to get there? That's another piece of the training puzzle. Once you can walk that area of town, stop and hang out near the restaurant. Maybe they have benches near by where you can sit briefly, or a wall out front to lean against for a few minutes to get your dog used to just "hanging out" quietly there. Give your dog treats for being calm, work on your sits, downs, and stays there.  On your next visit, bring your water bottle with you. Do all of the previous steps, and add in drinking some water and sharing it with your dog. Is your dog enjoying all of this? If so, you are probably ready to find a table and have a quick bite to eat. Next time, you can aim to stay longer, maybe inviting a friend along. Work up to having that friend bring their dog too!

I know that for some dogs, those steps outlined briefly above are just too daunting. If your dog is anxious, easily distracted, or simply just young and inexperienced, you may need to break up those steps even more, or extend the amount of time you practice each step before moving on to the next one.  And that's okay. Success is defined by you and your dog. And you should be having fun along the way, enjoying your time with your canine companion.

"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland