I took the puppies on a jaunt around the farm. While they go out in our 3/4 acre fenced backyard every day for exercise, this amount of freedom to explore turned out to be exceptionally fun for them!
It’s important for puppies to learn to follow their human – not the other way around. So many people think it’s their job to control the pup. It’s the human’s job to teach the puppy to follow. Taking a puppy out to an unknown place when it is young and where you can briefly get out of her sight is a great way for a pup to learn to track back to her person. Of course it needs to be in a safe place. It’s prudent to schedule this lesson while a pup is still young enough to have that bit of fear of getting lost.
Patiently allow the puppy get distracted, and then hide behind a tree (or if necessary lay prone on the ground.) When he realizes he’s lost sight of you, a pup is likely to put his nose on the ground and follow his trail back to you! If he shows signs of running off in the wrong direction, step into his sight and say, “Here I Am!” in a cheerful voice and get down to his level and receive him with lots of love.
All that was a bit more challenging with a little pack like I have and when the puppies have each other to rely on. But I was on a golf cart and could catch up to them, and more importantly get enough distance from the little pack that they they all felt obligated to check back in with me after a short journey out of sight. Several puppies actually climbed into the golf cart with me to make real, physical contact.
There’s nothing more beautiful than watching dogs have the freedom to run and explore – but only when you have the confidence that he is motivated to follow his leader. This was a very good early lesson.
INTENTION CANINE 
Leave a comment