I'm so glad lucky is ok. that was a close one. :yikes
last weekend, i went to my daughter's home in another city to help out after she had surgery, and over three days, i walked Zack and her cavalier Belle numerous times, as they don't have a backyard. I rarely experience walking two because i only have one, and the only times i've walked two was when Belle visited here a couple of months ago. It is quite a challenge. I always use a 26 foot flexi leash with Zack, i use it because i can let him run and frolic, while still having control. If i used a non-flexi long leash (i have a 30 foot one for training) then it would be too hard because it would not retract when he got closer, or if i needed to control him when another person or dog approached. I've never had any trouble holding on to the handle, for me it's very well designed and comfortable and stable, easy to grip. For us, it's a wonderful invention. Strangely enough, when i've dropped it on occasion, Zack stops in place. He thinks if it's on the ground, that means he has to wait. But it rarely happens. Belle has a regular 6 foot leather leash, so i just tried to juggle them when we walked, it was a challenge and if i was doing it on a regular basis, i'd love to get one of those double leashes with the swivel. Where we were walking was on the grounds of a large apartment complex which is off and away from the street. It was just challenging because they'd change sides and i'd have to do all kinds of maneuvers to keep things from getting tangled.
The scary thing for me about the flexi leash is that it can break. The tape one which is less vulnerable does not come in the long length. I'm on my second one now. the first one suddenly broke without warning when we were out walking. I have a little pack with pockets that fits over the flexi leash handle for storing poop pickup bags, and i keep a regular leash in there now as a back up.
About training for recall, I learned about a special class from a couple at the dog park, the class is called Come When Called and is very intensive and is only three sessions, making use of very high value treats and sound effects, some special techniques that i don't know, something to do with the particular way of calling them--when i met them, they had just had the second of three sessions and had come to the park to practice with distractions. They had a big goofy exuberant six month old mixed lab puppy who loved playing with the other dogs and was very involved in play. the owners allowed the dog to play for a while, he was playing with Zack and the owners were telling me about the class. Then, they wanted to practice so the man walked a long distance away from the pup who was engrossed in playing with several dogs, rolling around and play fighting, havign a ball. The man called the dog rather softly. I was amazed to see that dog's head shoot straight up from the gang of dogs, his ears were pricked high, and he turned his head this way and that, looking for the man, and then when he saw him, he ran to him. His reaction to being called one time was instantaneous. After only two sessions. I was like, WOW. Then they allowed him to play some more. And then the man practiced it again, same situation, same thing happened. I got the name of the training school, it's a local parks/nonprofit and not expensive ($35 for the whole course, i think). The couple could not speak highly enough of the trainer, how she knows dogs, how skillfully she interacts with them. They said that this method works best with dogs that are highy food motivated as their dog is. I'm afraid Zack is not highly food motivated, although he is moderately food motivated, he likes treats. But last night, I gave him a zucchini slice while i was cooking which he ate right up. Then, i came into the living room and brought him another slice. I tossed it onto the floor and rather than eating it, he brought it to me to throw again. :?
anyway, the couple said that the purpose of the Come When Called class is safety, it's all about the seriousness of the need for a dog to instantly come when called, it can save their life, and the trainer says that even though giving treats will be intermittent, for the sake of safety, they should probably be used most of the time, to insure the dog will take the command very seriously every time no matter what.
Here is a link to a description of the class.
http://www.wlaotc.com/comewhencalled.htm
I signed up but am waiting for them to schedule one. I guess they're waiting for enough people to sign up. If it doesn't happen soon, i will contact the trainer and see if she will do private lessons. It's such an urgent safety matter. Zack has been trained in recall, and for the past two or three months, he has consistently come when i've called him, both inside and outside (he used to be more resistent inside). so i was very confident in him.. When i arrived at Lisa's on Thursday, i wanted to show off how well Zack heels off lead so i foolishly unclipped his leash, and before i could say "heel," he had taken off running and when i called him, he acted like i didn't exist. as i said, it's on the grounds of a large complex that is far away from any street. Since he had come so consistently previously, i wasn't expecting it at all. He ran far away, right into the arms of a strange man who picked him up and carried him back to me. Poor little guy had just gotten out of the car after a two hour drive and needed to run and play. Dumb mommy.
It was a good wake up call, showing me that for one thing i need to practice more with the 30 foot leash using treats, and also, i want to take that class for sure. I spoke to Zack's trainer about the incident and he said partly it's because Zack is still a puppy mentally, and you can't always expect them to act mature at this age but that he will continue to get more reliable as he gets older--but that will be gradual. What i saw that puppy do at the park appeared very reliable, especially considering there had only been two sessions, and they are twice a week, so that is a very short time to learn such a good skill. With ongoing practice, i think a puppy trained with that method, whatever it is, will be reliable on recall. Maybe intensive come when called classes are available elsewhere as well.
I've also used two leads hooked together like Lucy's mum.
