Walks

One reason I was looking forward to getting a dog was the excuse to get outside of our house and walk more. Working from home and having an exercise bike here meant I would go 3 or 4 days without leaving our front door (I'd even let Jamal get the mail and bring it in).


I thought that walking was something that just came naturally to dogs and pups. I was so wrong. I will put his harness and leash on and he will lay down on his side and refuse to budge from the living room.


Here is a map of our usual walking route. I have noticed that taking the same route every time we walk has increased his willingness to follow me. I have graduated the tints from Red, Yellow to Green for how willing he is during the walk. It is as if he has an internal compass and doesn't want to go away from our house.

I can't get the picture better, I'm sorry

I used to have to carry him the entire red route and then drag-stop-plead-pull down the yellow portion. Things have improved to the point where he puts the brakes on about 4 times during the red part and only twice during the yellow. When we turn the second corner he picks up and trots along beside me. Watch out when we turn that last corner! He sprints full out race speed to get home. I try to slow him up for the two steps along this path because he has mistimed the step and just plowed into it with his chest or chin.


I hear there is a dog park for small dogs in the city park adjacent to our neighborhood. One day we need to get our walk tolerance up to the level that he can handle the 1/2 mile stroll there and back. He needs his rabies vaccination first (per park rules), so we do have a few more weeks to 'train'.