After months on the long line and lead, today we let Henry off the lead on our morning walk in the woods and fields. He hasn't roamed entirely free since he was about six months old, when his recall suddenly disappeared. Today there were three of us, not just boring old me and his recall at home and in small parks has been perfect recently, so we decided we'd test him in more challenging surroundings.
Well, he was BRILLIANT. In the woods he disappeared along the tiny side tracks and into the undergrowth, but came straight back on the whistle. He came back from following other dogs, and when we got out into the open fields he came bounding back out of the long grass. He ran ahead or alongside but never hared off into the far distance, which he was doing a lot before we started the strict training.
Now. I'm aware there was novelty for him today that might have made him stay close - he didn't seem to want to go too far from us, like he was testing himself. I'm not expecting perfection going forwards and I'll carry on with the longline when there is open ground AND other dogs, which is his recall nemesis. But I'm sitting here with a glow of satisfaction knowing he CAN do it. Seeing him bouncing up and down in the meadow, ears flapping, was just lovely.
