Lily, our three year old English Setter, has come such a long way. When we picked her up at Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut on August 1, 2010, Lily had had little formal training. Once here with us at Bridgvale Farm, training became an on-going thing. Training for us is not done in isolation, but is integrated throughout the day. Lily was slow to catch on. She eventually realized, though, that training was part of the program here – and she really did like it here with us on the farm with a large fenced-in hayfield and woods to play around in. Things started to click, slowly but surely.
Now, sixteen months later, our sweet Lily is a certified Bright Spot therapy dog and is part of the Canine Reading Buddy Program at the Westhampton Elementary School in Westhampton, Massachusetts. Lily listens attentively as first graders, followed by second graders, read stories to her. Lily’s behavior is perfect, a product of regular daily training at home and group dog training classes. I’m very proud of her progress.
Our work is not over yet, though. Her training continues, as it does for all of our dogs (of all ages). My biggest goal right now has been to move Lily from our controlled heeling walks in the morning to pleasure walks, as I call them. The difference: the heeling walk consists of the dog walking right at my side the entire way, loose lead, no pulling; the pleasure walk consists of the dog walking out almost the full length of the 6′ lead – perhaps off to the side or out in front of the handler, but always in step with the handler and never tightening the lead. For me, this is pure pleasure. This is the way James and I walk in the morning. The way Annabelle now walks with me (this was a hard-earned accomplishment with Annie who was out to smell everything on the ground or in the air, not caring about my commands).
This morning… Lily did it! Lily and I had our first pleasure walk together. What joy I felt, truly. Before today, Lily couldn’t get much beyond our house without going crazy over a chipmunk chirping in the woods, a bird flying overhead, a flock of wild turkeys pecking for grain in the cornfield, or the ten barn cats hanging around the barn down the road. Our walks are usually fraught with stops and starts, and commands. Oft times aborted when meeting up with too many of these obstacles at the start of the walk. Nonetheless, Lily and I have worked together, day after day, so that she, too, could enjoy the fun of a pleasure walk. And, today was the day. I remember when it first clicked in with Annie. I held my breath, hoping it would continue. I’m feeling a bit the same way with Lily – but I know it will happen.
Training is so worth the effort. Both handler and dog are rewarded in the end. A truly happy dog, is a well-trained dog. I have James and Annie walking as a brace now. Nice to walk them together. Not yet – but Lily will move to this step someday, too, once her pleasure walking is perfected. One step at a time. Dog training is lots of FUN.