Owner’s Perspective

I had been so proud of Bella. We’d been working on her leash training, and it was finally paying off. After a six-week dog training course, she was finally walking beside me instead of trying to pull my arm out of its socket (or half a mile ahead while I tried to jog to keep up, let’s be honest).

So when we arrived at the park and she saw that bright, open field, I had a thought. A terrible, innocent thought. I decided to reward her good behavior. I boldly unclasped the leash.

“At least,” I rationalized to myself, “if she does misbehave, it’s better for this to happen here in the friendly atmosphere of the park than on our walk near the main road. She’d just run to a nearby tree or sniff around a bush.”

That was the plan. It seemed simple, straightforward — even foolproof. Except, it wasn’t. Because when I unclasped that leash, Bella gave me a look. A look that said, “OH. IT’S ON,” then she bolted.

She orchestrated the great chase of her life, running faster than a greyhound with me huffing and puffing behind her. It was not the rewarding outdoor adventure I had in mind.

Bella Bemoans:

I WAS FREE. The wind in my ears, the grass under my paws, the vast expanse of THE PARK — It was GLORIOUS. I dived headfirst into the bushes, pranced around the trees, having the TIME OF MY LIFE. So who could blame me when I couldn’t hear my owner calling me back?

Sure, I knew “sit” and “stay” and even “shake hands.” But “COME BACK, BELLA?” That was a new one. And honestly? It just didn’t have the same RING to it.

I didn’t WANT to go back on the leash. I mean, have you FELT the joy of galloping across a field with your tail streaming behind you like a flag of independence? Well, let me tell you, once you taste freedom, you don’t want to go back into a confined existence. It’s a RULE. Katy Perry wrote a SONG about it.

The Happy Ending

I finally caught Bella. My clothes were stained with grass and dirt, my cheeks flushed, and I’m pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my back. Bella, of course, didn’t seem to notice or care. She was gloriously triumphant.

I felt the crushing guilt of parental failure — her bounding joy versus my breathless pursuit. I made a promise the moment I finally got her leash back on. No more unleashed freedom until she had better recall.

I got home and ordered a remote training collar immediately. The trainer at The Hungry Puppy had recommended the Dogtra 1900S series. It had multiple training modes, a wide range, and was completely waterproof. She said it was the right tool for reliable recall without causing any discomfort or harm. A quick charge and we’d be ready for more secure, controlled park visits.

I’m happy to report the training collar worked a treat. The next time we visited the park, Bella ran two meters, heard the beep from the collar, and came trotting straight back to me.

Crisis averted. Park visits salvaged. Dog no longer hates me (although she’s still somewhat disappointed about losing her runner’s high).

Visit The Hungry Puppy to explore your training options. Make your park visits enjoyable and safe with our range of training tools including the Dogtra 1900S. Free local delivery available!

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