Maria was working at the food Co-Op in Cambridge today, I decided to take the dogs for a walk on the road this afternoon. I have been working hard with Frieda on this country road, getting her to walk alongside me off-leash. This would not have been possible a few years ago, Frieda was explosive, she would have taken off after deer, chipmunks, but I am going into my fifth year of training with her and we are still progressing, if slowly.

I am careful with Frieda off leash I don’t want to see her run off in the deep woods near us, there is so much trouble for her to get into, so many things to chase. I have her “heel” walk alongside my left leg, I do not let her stop and if she looks around I slap my leg, call her to “heel” praise her for moving with me. Walking with humans is a new idea for Frieda, her head is always swiveling away, when she looks away I bump her with my leg or body and force her attention back to me. She walked with me a quarter of a mile down this country road, she posed for me with the dogs off leash. We are always making progress with Frieda, one step at a time. We are getting there.