Buddy and Lexi cornered a very large groundhog today barking ferociously at this animal in their yard. But both being obedience trained ...were told LEAVE IT and put on a DOWN STAY while my brother tried to get the critter to take off. Unsuccessful with that...we opened the gate and I released them from the stay and called them to come....they both walked past the groundhog quietly no barking and down the driveway and up the steps and into the house OFF LEASH.... This is the reason you train your dogs to come when called no matter what. This is why you need to train your dogs to listen ...leave it and down and stay are so important for a service dog but really good for all dogs to know. I was so proud they left the critter alone when told; and my brother, Peter S Demaree was impressed with both dogs obedience. Sadly, Buddy did have some blood on his paw so we are not sure if before we got there the groundhog bit him. So he will be going for a rabies (booster) shot tomorrow morning. My brother has been putting chicken wire and cinder blocks around the shed and dog house to keep the dogs from digging under trying to get to the groundhog. This also makes it tough on the critter to dart back into his burrow since there is only one access point now. But he can climb trees to get away from the dogs. I am now going to have to look into relocating the groundhogs to a more amicable location. It is so crucial that a service dog suppresses his prey drive. I would hate for this dog to drag his boy on the ground by his leash as he takes off after a squirrel or bird. Especially now when the child has not yet grown to be bigger than his dog.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 23:52:09 +0000
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