What are your camping goals? (Photo: black and white Cocker Spaniel sits calmly in a green boat on the water)
You love camping and you want to bring your dog along but you’re worried about how she reacts:
-on the leash
-when she’s tied up outside your trailer
-in the car
-around children
-around strangers
-and around other dogs
You imagine her swimming, playing fetch, and then having her space invaded by a well-meaning child…and you imagine the bite, the crying, and the furious parents.
You imagine all of this even though your dog has never bitten anyone in the past.
Help is on the way!
You can achieve your camping goals. All you need to do is start small. (Photo: a woman and her dog sit calmly in a tent overlooking the water and mountains)
The first thing that will help you is to envision success. Imagine the swimming, the fetch, great recall, and hanging out at your campfire with your dog.
Now, you need to set little goals to help achieve your camping dreams.
Step One:
Write down your vision. Do you want to do stand up paddle boarding? Canoe with your dog? Would you like her to be able to lay down and be chill at the campsite without defending it (and you) the entire time? Would you like her to relax in your canoe?
Write them all down. The big goals. The small goals.
Don’t forget to add:
-calm in the car
-walk with you without pulling and reacting to dogs and people
Those two things matter because they revolve around teaching your dog to have a calm state of mind which is how you’ll achieve any goal with her.
All set?
Cheers to you reaching your goals with your dog (Photo: a couple cheers with wine glasses at a campsite. Their dog is lying calmly on the ground)
Step Two:
Choose one small goal. Anything off the list that you can work on today.
PRO TIP: Pick something that you can practice inside your home. A dog who doesn’t listen to you inside your home will not listen to you outside the home. It’s that simple.
The biggest hurdle dog lovers have is getting started. Taking that first step. Because all those goals look like a mountain-worth of work. But guess what? Everything in life worth having takes hard work and dedication. Start small and we’ll get you there.
Step Three:
Commit to practicing this small goal three times today. Five minute sessions. That’s 15 minutes. You can make time for that.
It doesn’t matter where you start. It matters that you’re brave enough to start. Be brave.
Let me know what you’re working on in the comments below.
Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders.
Alyssa
Photos by: John Cameron @john_cameron (black and white Cocker Spaniel sits calmly in a green boat on the water,) Patrick Hendry @worldsbetweenlines (a woman and her dog sit calmly in a tent overlooking the water and mountains,) Jimmy Conover @jimmy_conover (a couple cheers with wine glasses at a campsite. Their dog is lying calmly on the ground,)