Week 16 - Quella's first free run

Quella enjoying running down the forest path
Quella sniffing the forest floor
Quella sat on the edge of a paddling pool

Now Quella is fully vaccinated and the vaccine has taken effect, she can walk on soft ground. So this week we have been for a free run off lead in the woods near where I live. She had the time of her life I don't think her nose left the ground, sniffing all the wonderful scents left by the wildlife that frequent the woods. Quella was a really good girl and didn't stray far away from me. I do like to play games with my puppies and hide behind trees from them, I find it teaches them to focus on me, and then usually keep me in their sight. We didn't meet any other dogs on her free run, if we had it may have been a different story. I do need to free run her around other dogs, as she has to learn to return to me with distractions about her. Next time I will take her to a different place, where I know there will be other dogs free running, which is away from the road, it is actually a disused landfill site, that has been grassed over with a tarmac path around the perimeter, and doggy bins peppered around the area.
I am finding that Quella is quite sensitive to loud noises. She is fine around traffic, but does not like the vacuum cleaner or the lawn mower. Maya is vertually bomb proof, noises do not bother her. If she is outside when I put the vacuum cleaner on, she will soon come in and follow me about while I use it. I did think Quella would gain the same confidence from watching Maya. I have a C.D. containing lots of noises, including fireworks, vacuum cleaner, helicopters, all the emergency service vehicles, and lots more, which I play to her. I start off with the volume quite low and as she becomes more confident with the sounds I will slowly increase the volume. Hopefully this will build her confidence until she is happy around most sounds.

Comments

Lynne, 1:21pm Mon 15 Aug 2011:

Hi Liz

Thank you for the lovely updates you give. I too have a guide dog pup. Matty (my first gd pup but not my first dog) is just 5 months old today and I am particularly interested in the free running and pulling on the lead. Matty is very easily distracted -a lively girl to say the least and although I have never lost her (I too play hide and seek) she won't leave any distractions whether they are people or other dogs, when called on a free run. Also her excitement levels when she is distracted on the lead is causing a lot of pain in my hands. I do have a supportive supervisor but when my girl behaves badly on a visit from the supervisor, I feel it must be me! Any tips from a veteran puppy walker would be gratefully appreciated.

Elizabeth, 7:39am Tue 25 Oct 2011:

Hi Lynn,sorry for delay in reply,only just read your post. I hope by now sweet Matty has settled down,on a free fun with distraction, do you use the whistle? as whistle means food,it is always a good idea to 'perfect' this in your garden first. There are dangers of choking giving treats on a free run,when pup returns to the whistle, I always hold on to the collar until the treat has been devoured completely, and always give the treat below the puppys head, preferably near to the ground,as tilting their head when eating can cause an obstruction. Hope this helps, good luck with her. Liz

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