This morning we were packing up to go out hiking, I had Zira in the back of the Jeep already and Duke next to me right about to get in too (I needed to make room for him quickly as Z situated herself at an odd angle). My SO and mother were behind me and were keeping an eye on Duke (or at least they were supposed to). Usually Duke doesn't move an inch from me. Well... my neighbor who doesn't believe in the leash law here (we've had a few encounters of her dog rushing up to mine in our driveway... and she lets her dogs potty in all the neighbors yards.. including ours... she's 2 houses down from us to the left) she let her dogs out and one of them ran across 3 yards and into our yard. When the dog hit my yard... Duke took off like a cheetah at this dog. I thought, for SURE this dog was going to get some puncture wounds and there went the day for everyone..
I yelled "DUKE! NO!! HERE!!"..... He went from full on aggression and full speed to immediately stopping on a dime, spun around on his back feet and ran back to me sitting at my side. Not another peep from him as the neighbor came and got her dog in my yard.
I almost had a heart attack. Duke's DA has gotten MUCH better, I can walk him around dogs all day, he sits out around other dogs at training...... but he still doesn't like dogs rushing up to him on his turf, hackles up. Or them dominating him. I was angry at him for taking off, and angry at my SO and mother for NOT keeping an eye out, or handling the leash.... but, inside I was jumping for joy at that recall! We've trained and trained and trained for it... it's never been tested though!
So anyways, Duke healed up nicely from his little infection on his paw and the vet cleared him for hiking today. Zira, Duke, My mother, SO, and myself went out hiking. it was a beautiful day and both dogs had a ton of fun. We took the easy trails so their paws wouldn't get hurt... and thankfully it was really cold, so the sugar sand was not too hot. They got to enjoy it without boots today. Here's some pictures:
And we can't forget Storm... we had some fun training when we got home:
I yelled "DUKE! NO!! HERE!!"..... He went from full on aggression and full speed to immediately stopping on a dime, spun around on his back feet and ran back to me sitting at my side. Not another peep from him as the neighbor came and got her dog in my yard.
I almost had a heart attack. Duke's DA has gotten MUCH better, I can walk him around dogs all day, he sits out around other dogs at training...... but he still doesn't like dogs rushing up to him on his turf, hackles up. Or them dominating him. I was angry at him for taking off, and angry at my SO and mother for NOT keeping an eye out, or handling the leash.... but, inside I was jumping for joy at that recall! We've trained and trained and trained for it... it's never been tested though!
So anyways, Duke healed up nicely from his little infection on his paw and the vet cleared him for hiking today. Zira, Duke, My mother, SO, and myself went out hiking. it was a beautiful day and both dogs had a ton of fun. We took the easy trails so their paws wouldn't get hurt... and thankfully it was really cold, so the sugar sand was not too hot. They got to enjoy it without boots today. Here's some pictures:
And we can't forget Storm... we had some fun training when we got home: