Keeping your dog safe at home, where you’re able to control most things, can be relatively simple. While it’s impossible to minimize risk altogether, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure your pup remains healthy and happy.
When you’re out in public with your dog and they’re on one of the best dog leashes, however, things might be different. You can’t control other people and dogs, and there are lots of potential dangers out there.
It’s more than likely that you won’t run into any major issues when you walk your dog, but it’s easy to reduce this risk further still – and there’s one simple cue that could come in extremely useful. Expert trainer Carolyn Martell, the founder of Good Dog Training, has explained what we need to know in a new Instagram post.
“‘Close’ is becoming truly one of my most versatile commands that I’ve taught Olive,” Martell begins. “And one thing I use it a lot for is when she’s on a longer line like this and we’re out at the cemetery where cars drive.”
She explains that, when she sees a car approaching, she’ll use the ‘close’ cue. Olive will come back to Martell and they’ll remain to the side while the vehicle drives past. Then, she’ll release Olive again to let her explore and continue their walk.
“So, it’s a nice way to quickly bring her into me and keep her out of the road,” Martell continues, “And she loves it.”
Cars are difficult to avoid when we’re out walking our dogs, even in quieter areas, so putting a plan in place for what to do when one’s approaching is definitely worth it. Hopefully, you won’t need to use the cue too often on your walk, but it’s great to have it in your locker for when it’s required.
When walking your dog on a long line, it’s vital that their recall is strong, so you know they’ll come back to you if they need to. Take a look at these three reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t reliable (and what you can do about it) for more information about training recall in dogs.
If you’re finding that your pup always pulls on the leash or loves to chase things, why not brush up on the most common loose leash walking mistakes (and how to fix them), too? They’re easier to rectify than you might think.
