There are a few things to keep in mind when preparing for your trip to Fido’s Forest!
Recommended supplies
Leash– To take your dog from your vehicle into the park. You might also like a long line (30′ ) to practice recalls before letting your dog off leash. For your dog’s safety, choke, prong/pinch, and shock collars are not allowed on the property. And because of the risk of burns and breakage, flexi-leashes are not recommended.
Water and water dish– There is no water source at Fido’s and your pup is going to be thirsty!
High value treats- Chicken, beef, liver, hot dogs, cheese, and braunschweiger are great options. You might need these foods to teach your dog to recall to you or to practice general cues.
Poop bags– And be prepared to take them with you. For sanitation, to avoid attracting wildlife, and to comply with county codes, we will not have a trash receptacle on the property.
Mosquito spray– Depending on the time of year (May through October).
Rags– If you are concerned about a muddy car after your visit. There are some wet areas on the property and if your dog chooses to explore them, they might get a bit dirty, while having a ball!
Neon bandana– If you are concerned about seeing your dog in the woods, a local bandana creator (Pooh Bear Pawtique) is offering neon Fido’s Forest dog bandanas that you can purchase for use at the park! Check them out!
Tips for reliable recall
Concerned about your dog being off leash in a 5 acre property? Use these tips to ensure a successful and stress-free visit! And if your dog is very high energy, it might be best to use a long line while practicing recalls or reserve a 2 hour time slot the first time as a buffer!
BE SOMEONE YOUR DOG WANTS TO COME TO. Ever have a boss you didn’t care for? How did you feel when they called you into their office? If you don’t have a great relationship with your dog, your recalls will probably suffer. Be someone your dog WANTS to come to by fostering a loving, trusting relationship. Avoid the use of prong, shock, or choke collars. These tools cause dogs pain and work on the premise of fear and anxiety, and your dogs will associate them with you. Also be sure to never call your dog to end a fun experience, without providing an alternative fun experience (play a game of tug inside after coming in from an outdoor play session). Don’t call your dog for a nail trip or to scold them. Keep your relationship fun and positive and your dog will be coming to you in no time!
DON’T OVERUSE THEIR NAME. If your dog is not responding to their name, and you have had your dog for more than a few weeks and they have no hearing issues, they have learned to ignore their name. It might be time for a new nickname! Start fresh, making sure to only say their name once, followed by an intriguing sound (motherese or a kissy noise), followed by a high value treat when they do come to you.
REINFORCE THE GENERAL RECALL. Have a few treats in your pocket throughout the day. Anytime your dog approaches you, give them a treat! It’s that simple. You can even use basic kibble if they aren’t too picky about their food!
DON’T CALL YOUR DOG WHEN YOU KNOW THEY WON’T COME. You want your dog to get into the habit of quickly responding anytime you call. Don’t set them up to practice ignoring you. You know it’s a lost cause if they are chasing a squirrel up a tree or focused on the mail carrier, so let it go and work up to those more challenging situations.
TRAIN AN EMERGENCY RECALL. Pick a unique word that your dog would never hear. When your dog is already headed your direction, say your special word, and when your dog approaches you, give them a LONG treat cycle. I’m talking 20 pieces of pea-sized, high value treats in a row. Practice 2-3 times every day (just one repetition). Remember to only do this exercise when you KNOW your dog will come. Gradually increase the difficulty, adding distractions and working in new environments. This exercise will not only improve your general recall, but will also train your dog to respond to an emergency recall cue. Once Fido is recalling like a champ, maintain the behavior by practicing your emergency recall once a week, but don’t overuse it! Be sure to adjust your dog’s typical meal amount to accommodate for the extra treat calories.
PREPARE FOR YOUR EXIT. 15 minutes before your time is up, start preparing to leave the property. Your dog will probably be slowing down anyway, so put them on leash and be ready to make your exit on time. Even if no one is waiting on the hour to enter the park, please respect your reserved time slot.
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. If you haven’t been so great at practicing the above suggestions, and you didn’t start leashing your dog until way too late-but your dog is off leash and headed toward the back of the property and you have 5 minutes until the end of your hour! What do you do? Call your dog, and then start running in the opposite direction! Hopefully this is enough for Fido to do an about-face and be sure to treat when they come to you! You can also try lying down and making some unusual noises. It’s very odd for a human to lay on the ground, especially outside, so this might be enough to draw them to you. Sit and be calm. Sometimes playing hard to get will be intriguing to our dogs and they will approach to see what’s up. You can also head to your car and the sound of you opening the door and potentially leaving them (but please DON’T leave them) might draw them in. If all else fails, make sure that the sign on the Fido’s gate is marked “STOP-do not enter” and you can inform any incoming parties that you will need a bit more time to collect your dog.