DogStar's DogBiz Blog

Based on what happened to me!

A  picture is worth a thousand words:

Click on picture for larger image.

How NOT to be a Pro Dog Trainer:

Eric make s a fool of himself
at a preferred local area park, in front of MANY people at some distance from the action

This late morning I was doing a lesson at a local park with a young couple and their 1+ year old female Great Dane.

We were going to start off leash (but I have dog on long line) come commands with a sit as the dog gets to owner.

About 20 feet apart I have dog on a 48 foot long line at appx the 25 foot point. Owner calls the dogs to "come", the Dane takes off at full sprinting flying gallop, the owner is WAY late with the sit for the speed this dog is moving (and the dog ignored it anyway) and it did catch me a bit (to say the least) off guard.

I went absolutely horizontal and hit the dirt full force face first. Why I am not about 15 years younger than I am? (REAL glad it wasn't in the parking lot.) As I am airborne I am swearing to myself and saying don't let go of the dog (long line). I did not, and I am big enough even with her size and momentum, I was not pulled on the ground so she pretty much hit the end of 25 feet like it was tied to an oak tree.

It was 100% my own fault for not being 100% on my toes and aware etc, any smaller (even a big dog) but smaller and not nearly so light of foot for the size it would not have taken me down. No real harm done, we continued the lesson did lots of "comes" etc and made real improvement.

Oh well, I sort of wish a picture was taken in mid air because I was immediately 100% horizontal (I did seem to float for a brief moment a bit slow motion like, life passing by) and a bit over 4 feet off the ground then gravity took over.

Think Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner stuff.

I could put the picture on my blog as a lesson of,
Eric demonstrates: What NOT to do.
(Better yet a video would be seriously viral on You Tube!)

I then had two more sessions almost back to back, I rarely schedule that tightly.

When I got home I did realize I sprained or at least sort of wrenched my left hand when I hit Terra Firm. The line was held in my right hand. Laugh (at me) while you can...

Later,
Eric/DogStar