English Setter Learning

Nobunaga learned about the joy of paddling from Claire, and now it's his turn to teach Sherlock...who dislikes getting his feet wet, jumping blithely across the stream rather than jumping in, ignoring the blissful opportunity to cool down and have a wee drink.

A learning opportunity!

...So first of all, the two of us showed him it's safe and fun: come on, join us in the stream, it's okay...but he still couldn't decide to follow suit...

so I got back up on the ledge to encourage him from the safety of dry land, and act as a bridge to the new experience: back legs are safe, belly on Mummy's lap, and front feet gently placed in the stream. Praising and talking to Nobu there for a while, who is engaging in the process and peer teaching too, to give Sherlock a little time to get used to the feel of water and understand it's okay :) 

This is fun, he begins to realize....as Nobu wanders around and off to show him the aim of the whole exercise...

Now he feels comfy, I gently put his back legs in too...

Again, soothing and calming so he gets used to the feel...then it's time for me to take off my shoes, he's ready to wait in the water, and off we go paddling together...this, to my mind, is the true meaning of doggie training: learning by experience in a safe and warm, welcoming environment of peer example and positive teacher guidance...taking your time to integrate experience and confidently put it to use. Just like humans, of course...after all, we are all just animals on mother earth, nothing so special about us humans...

Photos by KyouSK at Yadoriki Fureai Dog Run.