Unleashed service dog saves the day!
This just in from KK, parent of a child with a 4 Paws for Ability service dog:
My husband couldn’t be home to meet Kira’s school bus, so my Mom came over, got Shenandoah out of her crate, and met Kira at the bus and watch her until I got home from work.
My Mom seemed to think that Kira no longer needed a death grip, so did not hold her hand once she got off the bus. Kira took off.
My mom is over 70, and can’t run as fast as Kira. We hadn’t trained my Mom to track, nor did she know that the flexileash was in the backpack. So, she just opened the door, and told Shenandoah to go find Kira (no leash) and followed at a slower pace. Shenandoah obliged, and took off straight to Kira. She was able to distract Kira enough to slow her down so my mom could catch up to both of them.
All were safe, and Shenandoah got her hot dogs, but I wouldn’t want my mom to do it that way again - both Kira and Shenandaoh crossed the street, albeit a quiet side street, and Shenandoah didn’t have her collar with her tags on.
So, I guess we need to train my Mom to do tracking, and make sure she knows where to find the flexileash and harness and collar.
I am so thankful to the 4 Paws Staff and I’m glad we did our practice tracks so that Shenandoah was so well trained that she didn’t run off after a squirrel, but went straight to Kira and stayed with her.
Note: I highly endorse 4 Paws for Ability as a source for extremely well-trained service dogs. The organization is sound and its goals exceptional. Judy Vorfeld.