There are very good reasons why it is necessary to structure, order and when to walk a dog walk. Combined with the tools to use, it can make the walk with the dog becomes heaven or hell. I was going to write about this, Because I experienced a total turnover with a dog a few days ago.
Last Thursday it was Finnish patch dog Floki here for the first time. Lilo was free, Which was pretty good because my and Floki's first walk together became both short and terribly hard for both him and me.
Most dogs are muppy in one way or another. The gods should know that Ella was muzzy. Floki is muzzy in the way that he can't move at all when he has a harness on. He believes he can both, may and should do exactly as he wants, and he's doing that too. He flutters around, rushes back and forth, barking hysterically and gets mad when he sees other dogs, and is completely unruly. This is one of the reasons why I really, really dislike to have harness on a dog.
So our first walk was very short, But intense. I realized that I would have to talk to his math and demand that she get a necklace for him. However, we had a walk to look forward to during the day, And since I have no necklace in Floki's size, I found an emergency solution. I took a pretty strong rope and made a loop and used as a retrieveri.
And you know what? The difference was like night and day. We went a really long walk in the rain, Lera, darkness and cold, and Floki went like a dream most of the time. I was so surprised I gaped, But there you see what the right gear can achieve. And I can say that I barely had to make any leash corrections at all. He responded extremely well that the leash was sitting in a place other than his back, Which I became extremely happy and grateful for.
To be the one who creates balance for his dog is really underestimated. Dogs enjoy the best with life when living in balance, and as their man it is our job to create that balance. A dog walk should be enjoyable for all parties, and to let his dog do what and how it wants to promote the balance. Structure, Order and clarity is what creates the framework within which both dog and human move, and that is what allows one to relax.
As a reference out A human perspective I can mention the time I worked at a patient association in Stockholm, where overall target image and frameworks were missing. It was incredibly stressful, Because I had nothing to relate to. When I was younger I preferably lived with as few frames as possible, But now that I am 40+ Have I realized that these frames are what gives solid form to existence.
In my experience is a normal dog not difficult to manage or to create balance for. There are of course others who have more experience than I have, But of the dogs I met during the summer and autumn after Ella, there are several pieces where man has said that the dog is not easy to handle for some reason. And each dog has certainly had its peculiarities, but not one of them has been a problem.
That i have learned me by Floki on our first day together is that while leadership is extremely important, are the gear one use also very important. Not because it's really a new lesson – I have learned the same thing from Ella, But it became so incredibly clear this time.
By the way I believe that someday I will write a post about things I have learned from different dogs. Ella is the one who has taught me the most, for obvious reasons. Ten years with her has undoubtedly gave me invaluable knowledge and insights.