[ajbrown]

Just when I was beginning to think I knew what I was doing with Z an event happens that reminds you things are never easy and require more effort…

Z and I were down the Polo Field again like many days, parked on the driveway furthest from Buena Vista by the horses.

I go there to do off leash training with Z. We stay off the polo field, between the driveway and horse fence. It is a place that there are no cars, I can ensure there is no other people and there is no danger for her.

She was doing her exercise, walk/trotting next to the cart off leash. She is off leash so that at the end of the exercise I speed up and she falls behind and begins to sprint. This time she was exercising off leash ‘cart heeling’ when out of the Polo field comes a dog with no human. I knew I was in trouble as Z is just in the 4th grade when it comes to off leash work and other dogs. As soon as I saw the dog I stopped the cart and it was too late; the chase was on. I could not break Z’s mindset, At the top of my lungs I yelled her name, come and stop (a command I have not taught her). I was just trying to break her attention with any sound I could.

As I run after her my brain flashes odd thoughts, the first is Z is going to eat this dog and it is my fault, followed by should I contact TOTV person angiefox about a lost dog, what kind of dog is it I ponder. The things the brain considers under stress are pretty humorous (after the fact). The whole chase only went about 50 – 60 feet. My worst fears were not realized. Z, with hair on back raised caught the other dog and they stood next to each other facing in opposite directions (head to tail). I was about 20 feet away and approaching making lots of noise; hardly calm assertive…

The silver lining is that Z did not attack the other dog, she just loved the chase. I suspect the other dog was submissive. My wife has seen this behavior at the SPCA when Z goes to visit other dogs.

After 5 to 10 seconds the other dog headed away towards the poop bucket and Z wanted to follow. I was fortunate she finally heard me, not sure if it was my clapping or my yelling, but she stopped and I was able to get her to come. If I was 20 years old I would have whacked her upside the head (relax, it is just an expression), but after many dogs and life experiences it was clear to me that if anyone should be whacked upside the head it would be me.

It looked to me like the dog found its handler in a car down by the poop bucket. The incident happened about half way down the polo field.

So… instead of admonishing anyone, I collected myself and Z and I completed her ‘cart heel’ exercise (on leash) and worked on sit, stay, come off leash. I need to get her non distracted commands much better, and then slowly start with distracted commands. For example sit/stay and have a dog walk by… we are not ready.