My family owned a large wooden boat that we pulled on a trailer when I was a little girl. It was the type that had a cabin, a head and I could climb through the hatch to sit on the bow. Throughout my childhood, we boated on the Great Lakes and many rivers in the Northeast States, Canada, the East Coast, and Down South. Some of my favorite places are Flower Pot Island in Canada, the Chesapeake Bay and going through the Inter-coastal waterways.
My earliest memories of boating began when I was six years old. I loved to swim and as a safety measure my parents kept me from floating away by tying a boat rope to my life jacket. It gave them peace of mind and me the joy of swimming.
I too, use this same idea of a Life Line that I refer to as Tethering in my dog training. I have peace of mind and the training dogs get the joy of being out of their crate. The dogs have limited freedom but can move around without being in danger or harm's way.
Another thing that is similar about then and now is that my parents just didn't throw me overboard; they kept a vigil watch. When I have dogs tethered, they are under my watchful eye and ear. They may be attached to a door knob, a heavy piece of furniture or to even me. While tethered to me, I obviously know what they are doing! The bottom line is we are in the same room so I can supervise their activity.
As a tool and training aid, I like to think about my leash as a Life Line. Not only will it keep my dog safe but allow learning within that safety.
Out of the DogHouse LLC www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070
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