Ronald Reagan being dragged by his Bouvier puppy
This might well be the most infamous photograph ever taken of a Bouvier.
Ronald Reagan being dragged accross the White House lawn by his Bouvier puppy "Lucky".
(I considered him even worse as President than he was as dog walker.)
Is this how you want to go for a walk with your dog ? If not, keep reading.
getting leashes on the dogs
putting leashes on
leashs on, minute of calm
waiting with leashes on
waiting at closed door
waiting at closed door
waiting at open door
waiting at open door
I begin my walks by requiring all dogs to be very calm during leashing up. I sit in my rocking chair with leashes in my lap. At first all the dogs are excited, because they are very eager to go for a walk. That is normal and understandable, but I require them to calm down. If they are slow to calm down, I will pick up a book and start reading. My dogs already know, from long experience, that once I start reading I am likely to continue for some time, thus they might as well calm down. You may find your dogs have learned some different calming signal. If not, then teach them one. A good calming signal, because it calms you as well, is the yoga breathing exercise called "alternate nostril breathing" or you might just sit there breathing in and out very very slowly.
Once the leashes are on, I usually wait a bit more while all the dogs remain calm. You can see in the photo that some of them are sitting or lying down.
Then we proceed to the door leading from my kitchen to the enclosed back porch. With door closed, I require all dogs to be calm. The younger ones are required to sit, while the older and calmer ones may stand.
When I open the door, the dogs are required to remain calm.
At the door from the enclosed back porch to the outdoor world, the same rules apply. When I open the door to the outside, I usually step out first , but in any case I require the dogs to just slither out very sedately.
Our walk will then begin with all dogs on leash, all leashes loose. I don't want dogs pulling forward nor hanging back and dragging against my arm. I don't really care if they are walking at one side or the other, a bit in front or somewhat behind, so long as the leashes remain slack. Often they will change positions during the walk.
Because I live in a rural area surrounded by many acres of row crop land and far from paved roads, later in the walk those dogs who are sufficiently reliable about keeping within a reasonable distance of me and who are absolutely reliable about coming when called will get to be off leash. The off leash dogs get to run forward then run back to me and they get to examine interesting scents, wade in the creek, and other doggy activities. Thus the more active dogs may cover many times the mileage that I and the on leash dogs cover, thus arriving home properly tired out.
These photos were taken in November of 2006. Since then, one of these precious dogs has passed away and another has been adopted. But at the moment, August of 2008, I am still walking 5 dogs together : four of my own and a foster dog. One of mine now rides in a jogger-cart for most of the way, because she is not able to walk very far on her own but she still loves being part of the group and getting to see the sights and smell the breezes.

me and my dogs heading down the road
walking down the road, all on loose leashes

 
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site author Pam Green copyright 2003
created 8/20/08 revised 8/20/08
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