Roxy is always worried about what’s going on around her. The best thing we can do is to have a totally relaxed and confident attitude. Instead of wondering what she should be doing on walks, we give her a job – drill commands back to back – sit, down, wait, come – so that she falls into a habit of looking to you for direction. This mentally exercises her so that she becomes relaxed and happy, focusing on the handler instead of distractions. Having her hold a down or a sit for longer helps her concentrate on the command. Sometimes I walk away, sometimes I walk behind her while she’s in a down, but no matter what I’m doing, she stays put. Having another relaxed dog come along helps, and since Roxy is athletic, she can jump up and sit on benches throughout the park as well!
