You may be thinking, what training or work practice could possibly be done at a horse farm? You'd be surprised. It takes some creative thinking and a lot of using found objects, but I've found taking Robbie to spend a few hours at a horse farm every now and then to be full of opportunities. There's the usual, long downs, exposure to horses, watching my husband do various farm activities as part of his job, and ignoring the farm dogs, but each time we visit it can be a creative chance for me to proof what we know and test both our confidences in new situations and each other. Earlier this month, we spent the afternoon at the horse farm. In this post, I'll share the learning opportunities we found and how we used what we had to give Robbie a stimulating and purposeful adventure. Socialization & ExposureOn a horse farm, there are a lot of sounds, smells, animals, and exercises to expose your dog to, and if done correctly, your dog can learn to remain focused on you and relaxed in this strange environment. Being at the barn is nothing new for Robbie. During his basic obedience training, we did lots of work at the horse farm to socialize him to the environment. We accomplished this two ways: 1, by having him work on known commands to give him a way to experience the environment while giving his brain something to chew on and 2, by asking him to remain in a Down for long periods of time, to teach him how to settle down in this environment and watch the world around him. Rules for Safety:
Common Experiences Robbie is Either Exposed to or Interacts with at the Horse Farm:
Confidence BuildingEnding the Day Off-DutyField Walk - We went for a one mile walk with a 15ft long line dragging through the grass. This allowed him to wander freely, but gave me control to adjust our course and remind him to pay attention to me without verbal cues.
Gallop Time - Post walk, I un-clipped the leash to let him gallop and sniff in the field for about 20 minutes. It was amazing to watch him stretch out and extended himself fully into his massive strides. Ending the day this way gave him a reward for all his hard work during the day, and worked in exercise time, all in one.
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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