So we were walking along. . .

[Krislady]

. . . minding our own business this morning.

I've been working extra-hard with The Jar during our morning walks on heeling - he still sort of resists sometimes, but that's mostly toward the end of the walk - he's tired and just doesn't wanna, I think.

But for the most part, as long as I keep my voice CHEERY and ENTICING, he's very good about it.

Jarly Heel! Smiles! Excitement! Joy! Fun!

So we were heading home, when he started peering across the street - and there, just on the other side of the street, was a CAT. He looked at he cat, I did my "hey Jar" and he looked at me, got a big old "good boy" and a treat, and we kept going.

Obviously the cat was there for the show.

Somehow, while my attention was on that cat, and on distracting Jar from said cat, the guy in the house we were walking past let his ridiculously reactive dog out! On a REALLY LONG lead!

One minute, it was all love and affection and no-kitty-chasing, and the next it was OFF THE HOOK CRAZY. I don't even know what exactly that means, but just that that OTHER dog started losing its furry little mind, the guy is trying to reel him in and CAN'T - dog is lunging, guy is yelling, Jar is all "hey, who do you think you're talking to" and I still couldn't cross the street because that FREAKING CAT was SITTING there watching.

He may have even had popcorn - I'm not really sure.

So I did my "emergency escape" from Feisty Class (see, I was paying attention!) and we RAN down the street until Jar stopped trying to look back.

He got a "good boy" AND a treat, and then we heeled a bit more, just to let him know we were back to normal now. Crisis averted.

[Connie Lea]

Way to go Kris. Good boy Jar.

[Saralaya]

Wow! Way to GO both of you....... well done!

[Krislady]

thanks, guys.

We are getting there, slowly but surely.

[K9 Owned]

A great outcome for a heart pounding incident! You did well to stay calm and think quickly. You know that all these classes were really about you don't you?

Great job!

[Krislady]

Thanks - and yes, I've always known that it's not about teaching JAR how to behave, it's about teaching ME how to manage him.

[K9 Owned]

Kris, even now the hardest thing for me to do when I see a potential 'situation' is to keep a loose leash and breath. I think I make it around 70% of the time .