Daniel Bradley Explores

Tag: dog training

  • Ways Border Collies Can Actually Make the Best Family Dogs

    Ways Border Collies Can Actually Make the Best Family Dogs

    This is Arthur.

    He’s an adopted Border Collie from the county animal shelter. I rescued him in 2019 on National Dog Day when he was 10 months old. I didn’t know it was National Dog Day, but the coincidence was convenient because the shelter waived a whole bunch of fees and I could actually afford him. Let me tell you, don’t be fooled by what you read online, Border Collies like Arthur make the best family dogs.

    Not all dogs are the same, even within a breed, so you should evaluate each dog you meet individually. I’ll just tell you about Arthur.

    Great with kids

    I don’t know if you knew it, but raised properly Border Collies can be fantastic, protective, and loyal to children. They’ve even been known to want to heard them together like sheep in their care. When he was first adopted, Arthur would get nervous when kids would touch him, but after playing fetch with my nephews, he learned that kids were even more fun than adults because they’d play fetch for as long as he wanted to, or even longer, which is insane if you know the endurance of Border Collies.

    Built for Adventure

    Border Collies are made for the outdoor lifestyle. They love open fields and long hiking trails. Being very obedient dogs, you can take them with you off-leash (where it’s allowed, of course.) They’ll love to go with you almost any place you can imagine. Go ahead and read my article about off-leash hiking for more information. In addition, as herding dogs, they’ll likely see children as sheep they need to keep together, so they’ll help make sure the family stays accounted for on long expeditions.

    Well Behaved in the House

    As natural working dogs, many people have the misconception that Border Collies are bad house/apartment dogs. My dog Arthur had a hard time settling down at first indoors, but he’s since learned to be very comfortable. We’ve lived in both houses and apartments together, and he knows how to behave. I would recommend crate training, at least for young Border Collies at first because they tend to get extra bored when you’re not around. They’re little smart escape artists and food finders.

    Border Collies are extremely attached to their families, so they want to be wherever you are. If you are in the house, they want to be in the house. If they want to be outside, they’ll want you outside with them.

    They Love to Cuddle

    The heading speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

    Photo by Undine Tackmann on Unsplash

    Get Down to the Shelter and Adopt

    Of course raising a dog from puppy on up is a wonderful experience, but remember to consider adopting from your local shelter. Border Collies are often left in rescues by their owners who don’t understand what kind of amazing companions they can become. Adopting Arthur was the best decision I ever made. So, if you’re on the fence, head down to the shelter and take a Border Collie mix into the playroom. I bet you’ll like what you find.

  • When It’s Okay to Take Your Dog Hiking Without a Leash

    When It’s Okay to Take Your Dog Hiking Without a Leash

    You’re out in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful trail into hills of paradise and you decide it’s time. You lean down, your dog smiles up at you. You take off the leash. Your pooch leaps up in delight and runs circles around you, smelling every bush and loving its little life. I love that feeling. My dog and I experience this all the time.

    So, is it okay to hike with my dog off-leash? It’s a very common internet question. Sometimes, although we don’t want it to be, the answer is no. Let’s talk about when it’s fine to explore without a leash, and when it’s best to keep it on. You have to think about your dog’s training, personality, and the risks and rules of the trail.

    Your Dog’s Behavior

    The longer you’re around dogs, the more you realize that each animal is unique. The first thing you should consider when thinking about taking the leash off on a hike is how well your pup is capable of listening to you. Don’t consider the breed, consider your actual dog, its personality and training.

    What kind of personality does it have? Is it friendly? Independent? If the dog will make you chase it to get the leash back on or bother other people and animals on the trail, its best if you keep your little friend tethered to your person. That way, you can best control your dog in any situation you may encounter.

    Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

    The wilderness is an unpredictable place. Let me tell you a story.

    One time my dog Arthur and I were hiking up Maple Canyon in Utah. Not even a mile from the campground, a large cat came out of the bushes about thirty feet or so in front of us, some kind of lynx or bobcat that was the same size as Arthur. At first I thought it was a cougar. Before I could call Arthur back, he shot after the cat like it was his new best friend and the two of them tore into the bushes. I was freaked out, but I firmly and calmly called to my dog to come back. He did, happy and unhurt.

    I was glad in that moment that I trained my dog to come back when called, or that situation could have escalated into something that I really don’t want to think about.

    Keep your dog trained for off-leash activities and you should be fine, but don’t forget that there are always risks.

    Risks of the Trail

    We’ve started to cover wildlife by talking about my lynx story. Out on the trail, you and your pup can find all kinds of animals. Many of these can view your dog as a threat. Rabies is another thing to think about. If you feel the wildlife risk is too much, what should you use?

    The leash! You have a leash. There’s nothing wrong with keeping it on.

    Another risk to consider is the terrain of the trail. You and your dog have different capabilities when it comes to climbing up and down rocks or walking next to cliffs. You’ll have to be the judge.

    Photo by photo nic on Unsplash

    Another story.

    One time Arthur ran past me really fast next to a very steep hill, one of those that’s practically a cliff. He didn’t mean to, but he ran into the back of my leg while I was standing on loose dirt and gravel and knocked me off the side. Luckily, I was able to stop myself a short ways down and climb back up, but not without a scare.

    These days, I make sure he’s always in front of me on steep hills. If the trail is too risky we go back to the leash life. That way, he still enjoys the hike and I don’t get knocked into a bottom slide toward oblivion.

    Rules of the Trail and Good Manners

    Contrary to what you may want, you and your dog aren’t alone on the trail. There are hikes close to me that I love where the way is often too crowded. I have to think about other users of the trail when I think about taking Arthur off his leash.

    You see, not everyone likes dogs. They might be afraid or they might have allergies. If the trail is too crowded, you should leash your dog. It’s good manners. Going back to behavior, no one wants the liability of their dog knocking over some poor person they decided to jump on or scaring a cyclist into a tree. Those are just some examples of what could go wrong.

    The internet is a great tool to find out the rules of almost any trail. I’ve found close to my house that if a trail is through a National Forest or Bureau of Land Management or something similar, leashes are required in campgrounds or parking lots but dogs can be released once out of those areas. You should check each trail online before you go and follow any posted signs along the way just to be safe. Safe is cool.

    Summed Up

    Off-leash hiking can be a wonderful experience for you and your dog. However, you should consider the precautions I’ve listed in this article before taking the big step of letting your dog roam free.

    1. Is the dog’s behavior suited for the activity?
    2. Is the trail good for free roaming dogs? (Minimal wildlife encounters, good terrain, etc.)
    3. Are you following the official rules of the trail and considering other people?

    If you can answer yes to those three questions, you’re in for some good fun with your best friend. Just make sure you stay alert and responsible. Happy hiking!

    Photo by Chewy on Unsplash

    If you like articles like this, buy this book! It can help you train any dog and learn the in’s and out’s of dog ownership without getting too complicated.