It's Going to the Dogs

One month, four days.

Yes, it's been one month, four days since we introduced ourselves to Luke and Leia. We found them at the shelter. The staff stated that they were picked up in our town about a week before. No tags, nobody called about them, so no information. Sad, but true.

They have fit into our family nicely, except for one thing: our morning walks.

I don't know if it's because they were my birthday present, if it's because I'm the morning person, or if it's because I'm the "mom", but I'm in charge of the morning routine. They wake us promptly at 6:00 am each and every morning. I get out of bed, get dressed, and let the furry alarm clocks out to the backyard. I then prepare their breakfast, let them in to eat, and take them for their morning walk. Troy goes back to sleep.

We are usually out the door for the walk at about 6:30/6:40. Little did I know that this is precisely the time that every other person in our neighborhood takes their wonderfully well-behaved dogs on their morning walk. However, in the eyes of Luke and Leia, these aforementioned dogs are ferocious, dangerous, animals, which must be attacked at all costs! Unfortunately, my precious, loving canines are now the bane of my dog-walking neighbors' existence. We haven't actually had any attacks, but the barking that occurs whenever we encounter another dog is uncontrollable (and not well received).

The other problem we have with our morning walk is their energetic search for smells. A.K.A. they drag me rather than walking with me. These two problematic behaviors have made me despise our morning walks.

I went to Petsmart looking for answers, and walked out with the schedule for obedience classes. (We can't afford the $200 it would cost to put them both in class at this time.) I've read a book written by the Monks of New Skete who are world renown for training German Shepherds from cover to cover. (Evidently, it's much easier to train when starting with a puppy.) So here I am, frustrated.

I've made the decision this morning to do some internet research on loose-leash training (walking without dragging the human). I am then going to work each morning individually with each dog.

My post is titled "It's Going to the Dogs" because I decided to keep notes here about how the training was going. In the short time I've known them, I have learned to love Luke and Leia. They are precious, loving, companions who will in the end teach me more than I could ever teach them.

Come along for the journey. I'm sure there will be laughter and tears along the way. Wow, it's the birthday present that keeps on giving!