This afternoon I had a small scare. For the last dozen or so years, since we got Qila, I have walked dogs. Three times, five times, or more per day. Since we began the addition to the house back in June and we’ve had no backyard, I’ve walked three dogs between three and five times a day each, a total of between five and eight miles per day over all.
Well, I was walking Nola after a small snowfall, just enough to cover the walks, not really enough to shovel, and I fell.
I have no fear of falling. Decades of judo mean that I have fallen tens of thousands of times. I know how to fall and falling is as natural to me as walking and nearly as unconscious as breathing. Part of my automatic response to falling is to let go of whatever is in my hands.
I dropped the lead.
Samoyeds are notoriously horizon dogs—when released they instinctively head for the horizon and I had visions of a mad chase after her. I quickly rose to my knees and called, firmly, “Nola, come!” in my best obedience trainer’s voice, making the appropriate AKC hand signal.
And she came.
I rewarded her profusely.
I am so proud of my little girl. All of our hard work has paid off.
The greatest gift you can give your dog is instilling a reliable recall. It can save your dog’s life.
