Tempest WAITS!

My right arm is a collection of bruises, mostly gained in the process of unloading Tempest from the truck. You see, she is compelled to leap, dash, climb over and under other dogs and things to get out the door first. This meant that, at least once this week, I had to grab her by the scruff of the neck as she flew by because I couldn’t get a handle on her harness. A few other times my hand or arm got jammed up against the door when I blocked her flight.

It’s not nothing to be 75 and able to prevent a 50-pound sled dog from doing what habit and nature tell her to do, so I am proud of that, even if not getting bowled over has been mostly a matter of luck and the ability to throw my weight in the way. My mom shopped in the Husky section when I was a kid and now it’s paying off.

We can’t risk her getting loose. Oh, she would probably stay nearby but there’s no guarantee. If she was afraid, she would start searching for Alaska and she runs very fast.

So, we are working on the concept of WAIT! I’ve used WAIT! to get Swirl to stop at cross streets and to stand still while we put on his harness. I’ve started using it more consistently with Tempest when we’re not loading and unloading and praising her like crazy when she waits patiently – for me to open the gate, cross the street, come in the house.

Today was the breakthrough in unloading Tempest from the truck. WAIT! worked. She stopped her forward motion and looked me right in the eye. WAIT! And she relaxed. “Good girl to WAIT!” I said and she wagged her tail.

It was beautiful to watch.

I am a dog genius.