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About a month and a half ago, I challenged myself and others to walk our dogs every day for 30 days. Thirty days is a reasonable amount of time to realistically do something every day. After those 30 days, it is easy for whatever I’m doing to become a habit. It’s a nice way to make a change.
So, I have come up with a new challenge, to bring my dog to a new place every day. I figured this could easily go along with walking your dog every day, so for anyone still doing the first challenge, the two could easily be combined.
The reason I came up with this challenge is because Ace has an issue with getting overly excited and pulling (OK, choking himself) in new places. As a way of training him to chill out, my goal is to expose him to as many places as possible so he learns to behave in any environment. Taking him to a new place may be as simple as walking in a new part of the neighborhood. Other examples could be driving to a different park, visiting a pet store, a friend’s house or walking in and out of a vet’s office. There are endless possibilities. I will probably be visiting a lot of parks, because that’s where he gets the most excited, especially if we drive there.
I am officially going to start the challenge tomorrow, May 1, 2008. Let me know if you’d like to participate in the challenge as well! Just take your dog to a new place every day for the next 30 days. If you already walk your dog every day, then you could simply walk to a new place every day. This will provide a mental challenge for your dog, plus it will make the walk more interesting.
During the next 30 days, my goals are to:
1. Take Ace to 30 new places.
2. Decrease his anxiousness/excitement in the car.
3. Cure Ace of his whining issue when he wants something.
4. Help Ace control his excitement in a new area or his favorite places.
5. Practice random basic obedience such as sit, stay and down in as many places as possible, so he learns to listen no matter where we are.
6. Improve Ace’s response to the heel command.
7. Work to perfect Ace’s heeling without a pinch collar or Gentle Leader.
8. Work on Ace’s off-leash heeling.
9. Continue using treats for positive reinforcement.
I plan to post where we end up going over the next month and the progress I see.
Where would be some other good places to go?
Click here to see all my 30-day challenge posts.
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April 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
ooooh what a great idea! I want to participate.
Lora’s last blog post..Wordless Wedneday
April 30th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Great, I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
April 30th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
oh man how exciting! and what a good idea to boot. Ace is a very lucky mutt!
We’re signing up Jake and Walter for doggy day care one day a week so they can play with other dogs. They both did a very good job with a dog they met on their walk yesterday. So I’m sure they’ll love the opportunity to get out of the house and socialize
May 1st, 2008 at 12:02 am
I’m sure they will! I’m glad they’re doing so well. Lucky dogs!
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:52 am
I so wish I could do this. But without a car, there’s not many new places to take Keeda in my area. I’ll be checking your blog outs for your progress, though, and accumulating tips for when I AM able to drive her around
Liza S.’s last blog post..A Distinct Scent of Weed
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 am
i gave this one some deep though but honestly in my tiny town there wouldnt be thirty places to go…but I’m cheering you on…In a few weeks im going to try the walking one again and see how I fare coming into winter…
abbey’s last blog post..Wow What a Girl!
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Yeah, just getting out and walking every day is a challenge itself.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Great idea, ours is such a dope when he gets in and out of the car. I think you have the right idea.
Woody’s last blog post..May 2008 Labrador Retriever Photo Contest