Do Kyung's
Lucky

S I L E N T  ᛫  W A L K I N G

I tried silent dog walking this evening. Everything I commanded, I did with my body language. I think what truly helped is simply just setting in my head that I was the leader of the pack and that gave me confidence, set the right expectations as I remained focus. It's a relief to not utter NOs that seem to go unheard. Patience seemed easier as I breathed in and out deeply while emanating a sense of calm and control.

Most satisfying was being able to get Lucky to walk towards the direction I wanted him to go this time. Being easily afraid from other animals, loud noises, and heavy traffic, Lucky has been a challenge to take on regular walks. I have had walks as short as a couple of feet from the front gate before he would surrender to the outside world and wished to return to the comfort of his four walls. He would crouch down, his eyes would dart terrifyingly around, if all else fails he'd sit in resolution.

The first couple of days, I yielded to his demands, not entirely knowing first hand his walking behaviour anyway, I allowed it as observation rounds. He's the biggest dog I have handled weighing a feat that wouldn't win me a tug war. Yesterday, he seemed to do much better walking together with the girls. I like to think the sense of a pack gave him some level of motivation he has not been able to summon on his own. The usual fear that would cloud his head in such circumstances seemed to disappear seeing as his peers had no reservations at all.

A quick read on an article from Cesar Milan on having control on your energy was worth the shot. As Lucky resisted and pulled me backwards, I insisted he turn to the front by standing my ground in his way. It took several tries but he eventually bounded to a pace in the direction we were headed.