Doggie Depression

The Dog Daily tells me it exists. It also tells me that one way to counteract or reverse it is to replace lost canine companionship (in this case, Bruno) with a new playmate - a compelling but less than feasible option for me right now. Instead, I have decided to let Eska off-leash for part of our walks when in a controlled (if not confined) area and in the presence of other dogs.

Today was experimentation part 1, and we were met with relative success. Before unleashing Eska in the park on Keswick and 33rd, I told my neighbour, who was there with his two dogs, that my girl was a little frisky but mostly friendly, and that I was experimenting with her and hoped things wouldn't go terribly awry.

He was patient and friendly, and his dogs were, too.

Eska ran around a little bit, occasionally glancing back at me to make sure I was still there, retreated to the woods and sniffed around there, but eventually stood still long enough for me to re-leash her.

I'll take it.

Eventually, I will have her walking off-leash in the woods without any canine company, and without worrying whether or not she will come back to me. For now, though, baby steps encourage me.

The next time B-more Charming School for Dogs offers a drop-in class on off-leash walking, I'm signing up. I'm hoping, that way, both to learn training tricks (now that Eska is temperate enough for professional training) and to permit Eska to make new doggy friends and secure doggy playdates.

I'm kind of excited ...