Many people feel that taking the time to train their puppyor dog isn't worth the effort. What with ... else wehave to do these days in our busy lives, whose got the ... was just like
Many people feel that taking the time to train their puppy
or dog isn't worth the effort. What with everything else we
have to do these days in our busy lives, whose got the time?
Kimberley was just like that. She'd never bothered training
Jack…but then, one day…
Kimberly and Jack ran excitedly up to the top of the
escarpment and gazed out over the deep blue ocean waves as
they rolled in from the east. The sun was just appearing
over the horizon, the cool sea breeze on her face made her
feel completely alive, and Kimberley was as contented as she
had ever been.
The time she spent with Jack, the 3 year old German shepherd
she had rescued from the animal shelter a few months
earlier, was the most precious part of her life. He seemed
to know just what she was thinking and was devoted to Kim to
the point of being a fanatic.
He wouldn't leave her side…unlike most of the other male
companions she had previously had in her life.
Jack was the perfect companion.
He gave her unconditional love, he was always there for her
when she needed to talk to someone, he lavished his
undivided attention on her, he never spoke back, and was
always waiting patiently for her when she came home from her
work at the pharmacy.
The early morning walks they shared helped her forget the
many troubles in her life, and allowed her just enjoy
herself.
This morning was special.
She was on the first day of her annual two-week vacation,
and had plans to take Jack up to the mountains hiking and
camping for a few days later in the week.
The thought of getting away from the pressures of daily life
made her feel a rush of adrenaline and Jack could sense her
excitement, yelping and barking playfully as they frolicked
in the grass at the top of the ridge.
They played for over half an hour, then turned to head for
home to have something to eat.
Maybe it was the excitement of it all, but for whatever
reason, Kimberly wasn't thinking straight as she undid
Jack's leash to let him run on his own through the grassy
fields as they descended the hill towards the township
below.
It happened in an instant.
Jack caught sight of a rabbit hiding in the grass and took
off after the animal in a frenzied rush of excitement and
playful enthusiasm.
Kimberley called him back, but he was totally focused on
catching the rabbit and heard nothing but the creature's
cries for help as it raced towards the safety of its
borough.
Jack was a beautiful sight to behold as he chased the rabbit
in full flight across the grassy field. Every second he
gained on the small creature, until he was only 10 feet
behind it and closing fast.
But Kim was looking on in horror.
The rabbit had built its borough close to the edge of the
cliff, and Jack was running at full speed towards the huge
drop down to the ocean below.
Kim could feel the fear welling up inside her and she
frantically called him back as she ran towards the cliff top
herself. "Stop Jack!", she cried, but he paid no attention
to her commands as he chased the rabbit towards the cliff
top.
Just 6 feet short of the cliff's edge, the rabbit dropped
into the safety of it's home below ground.
Jack didn't see where the animal went, and in the few
seconds it took for him to realize that the rabbit had
escaped, his momentum carried him off the cliff and over the
edge.
Kimberley screamed as she saw her beloved companion
disappear out of sight. "No!" she cried as she ran headlong
towards the jagged cliff top.
She peered over the edge with tears streaming down her
cheeks, fearing that her best friend had fallen all the way
to the rocks below.
She moved closer to the edge screaming out to Jack, praying
that by some miracle, he had survived.
As she lay down to look over the edge, she saw Jack wedged
precariously next to a tree stump on a small outcrop about
20 feet below, injured, but alive.
If he had gone off the cliff just 3 feet either side of
where he did, he would have fallen hundreds of feet to the
rocks below. His life had been spared, at least at the
moment, by the narrowest of margins.
A huge feeling of relief welled up through Kimberley's body
as she saw that Jack was still alive.
She pulled out her mobile phone and called the police.
She quickly explained what had happened to the officer on
the line and a team of rescue workers were dispatched to the
cliff top to rescue Jack.
Kimberley watched on with trepidation as the rescue team
carefully winched her beloved Jack to safety from the
outcrop that had saved his life.
He had broken his left rear leg and had some cuts and
abrasions, but on the whole, he was a very lucky dog that
day…and Kimberley knew it.
She looked towards the sky and gave thanks that her best
friend had been spared.
She promised herself that as soon as Jack was back on four
legs, she would start to train him to obey her commands so
that something like this could never happen again.
She felt guilty that her neglect at not training him
properly from the start could have cost this beautiful
animal his life. She felt sad but also happy that she had
been given another chance with Jack, and she wasn't about to
waste it.
3 Months Later…
Kimberley and Jack are again able to take their early
morning walks, but now, Jack's lead is an option.
He obeys Kimberley's every command, and they have a deep,
new found respect for each other's abilities that goes far
beyond their roles of dog and master. They are truly great
friends.
Maybe you don't take your shepherd for off leash walks near
cliff tops, but there are lots of hazards just as dangerous
around your home that can cause your favourite pet to hurt
himself…or worse.
Running into moving traffic, drinking something poisonous
around your home, jumping the fence and getting into fights
with other dogs…these are all situations that proper
training can severely restrict or eliminate.
Think for a moment of how you would feel if your wonderful
dog was injured or killed by a car right in front of you
because he ran out onto the road despite your calls for him
to come back.
Training is vital for every pet so that they know what is
expected of them and they stay safe in an increasingly
dangerous world. And properly training your pet is your
responsibility.
Please, take the time to train your dog. If you don't know
where to start, there are plenty of good books around to
help.
Another option is to take him to obedience classes in your
local area.
This is the most focused training you can give him (and
yourself…) but it's also the most time consuming and
expensive.
If you have the time and financial resources, it's usually
the best way (if you can find a good trainer), but if you
don't, then reading a good training book and following it's
instructions will give you a solid grounding on how to train
your dog properly.
Train him well, and he will reward you for it in so many
ways that you can't imagine.
