You can access the reserve from past the playground at Seatoun Beach (Churchill Park). From there you can walk along the coast track to Breaker Bay at low tide or you can take one of the tracks up onto the ridge which offers fantastic views of the harbor entrance.
Once on the ridge you can explore the gun emplacements at Fort Dorset, and take a track to the Pass of Branda which links onto the Eastern Walkway or you can take a track down to Breaker Bay beach.
It can be quite exposed on the ridgeline, to both wind and sun, so be prepared with sunblock, a windbreaker and warm clothing - depending on the conditions.
The tracks and Breaker Bay are on lead areas but you will find lots of dogs off-lead. Nearby off-lead exercise areas include Seatoun Beach and Worser Bay (during winter and off-peak hours in Summer).
]]>Nestled on one of our favourite streets in Wellington is Smack Bang the ultimate stop for pet related products and home wares including a dog bakery! From our own range of Wolves of Wellington products, to other great New Zealand and overseas brands, Amelia has scoured the globe for the coolest, on-trend, high quality products and the store is an absolute delight to visit, not to mention pet-friendly!
Smack Bang opened its doors in Wellington in October, 2017 and launched online in November the same year. Two years later they packed up and moved just up the road to their new home on College Street, next to the likes of Moore Wilsons, Caffe l'affare and Kowtow - you can make a day of it!
In addition to the full range of Wolves of Wellington products, some other great products on offer at Smack Bang which we love include Pyropet candles, Growlees name tags, For me by Dee prints, and Mr Soft Top apparel.
A fairly recent addition to Smack Bang is their Dog Bakery including birthday cakes, personalised dog bone biscuits and a rotation of delicious treats such as pupcakes, puparons, bliss balls and iced cookies! All made with human grade ingredients, they are all-natural meat and baked treats free from any artificial ingredients and preservatives. Doggy bliss!
Smack Bang was one of our first stockists after supporting our Kickstarter in 2017 and we love Amelia and the team - go give them some support! You can find Smack Bang at 23 College Street, Wellington or online at www.smackbang.co.nz.
]]>This walk is 12km one way and you should allow at least 5 hours. Dogs must be on-lead.
]]>On a clear days you can catch views of the Kaikoura ranges, the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington city and harbour, and the Tararua and Orongorongo ranges.
The walkway runs along the ridgeline between Old Coach Road in Johnsonville and Makara Saddle in Karori, going over Mount Kaukau, and is 12kms one way. We've done the walk a number of times ranging from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours but to be safe you should allow 5 hours.
There are multiple routes onto the track but we suggest starting at Carmichael Street in Johnsonville which is a gradual track onto the ridgeline. If you're planning on doing the whole walk then you'll want to have a car at either end of the track, one at Carmichael Street and the other at Karori Park or Makara Saddle.
It can be very exposed on the ridgeline, to both wind and sun, so be prepared with sunblock, a windbreaker and warm clothing. To make the most of the adventure, take a packed lunch and find a scenic picnic spot.
Bring plenty of water for the pups and make sure they are on lead at all times, especially as there are sheep, cows and plenty of rabbits around!
]]>As part of Wellington's Northern Walkway the off-lead track follows the ridge line for a reasonably gentle stroll. There are also a number of tracks which go down the hill into the bush, but these tracks are on lead only.
]]>If you're into scenic spots then Te Ahumairangi Hill is for you!
As part of the Northern Walkway the off-lead track follows the ridge line for a reasonably gentle stroll. There are also a number of tracks which go down the hill into the bush, but these tracks are on lead only.
The main entrances are off Orangi Kaupapa Road where you can drive and park at the lookout, or off Weld Street in Wadestown which is usually where we go because of the spectacular views of the harbor.
Take a look at what's on offer!
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The history of breed discrimination
Throughout history a number of different breeds, from German Shepards to Rottweilers, have been labelled as dangerous or menacing, but no breed discrimination has been as long-lasting than that against Pitbulls.
Pitbulls originally we nicknamed “America’s dog” and were favored for their remarkable loyalty and affability. Their affinity and gentleness toward children inspired a second nickname: “the nanny dog.”
However everything changed in the 1980s when dogfighting resurged and Pitbulls were exploited for this purpose. Hyped up media coverage and inaccurate information led to misconceptions and the label of dangerous.
This is despite Pitbulls being near the top of the results in the American Temperament Test Society's 2010-2011 study with a pass rating above 121 other breeds of dogs, including Golden Retrievers!
Breed specific legislation in New Zealand
Currently New Zealand law bans the importation of breeds including Brazilian Fila, American Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Presa Canario, and requires these dogs be muzzled while out in public and microchipped.
In 2016 the Government announced that it was considering introducing more extensive dog control legislation which would target specific breeds.
Breed specific legislation is generally a response to overblown media attention paid to unfortunate dog-bite incidents and stereotypical view that certain breeds of dog are more prone to dog aggression.
While it may be an attempt to improve public safety there are numerous studies which show that breed specific legislation is ineffective and it undoubtedly ignores the fact that there are a multitude of factors that may contribute to dog-bite incidents such as a lack of training or socialisation, and whether the dog is de-sexed.
All dogs have the potential to bite and it seems that the issue is more with the dog owners as opposed to the actual dogs.
The issue we have with breed discrimination is that it can lead to the death of beautiful innocent dogs and it tends to taint the public's opinion about specific breeds without even giving those dogs a chance to prove themselves.
We've actually had the pleasure of meeting HUHA's two Dogo Argentino (a breed banned in New Zealand), Casper and China, and can say that they were far from menacing or dangerous, and were beautiful dogs to spend time with.
Being Husky owners we are far removed from the every day effects of this sort of discrimination so we thought we'd get in touch with one of New Zealand's lead advocates for Pitbulls - Hazel!
Hazel was rescued as a puppy from Waikato SPCA in 2013. Her owner, Alanna, specifically wanted a Pitbull and it's lucky she came along as otherwise Hazel may have been euthanised like so many other Pitbulls or mix-breeds that find themselves in dog shelters or pounds across New Zealand.
Despite her loud snoring, Hazel is Alanna's best friend and its Hazel's unconditional love and gentleness that reaffirms that adopting her was the best decision Alanna could have made.
However, Alanna was well aware of how Pitbulls like Hazel were stereotyped and she was determined from the very beginning to work hard to show people that they can be great pets.
From this started Hazel's Facebook which now has nearly 14,000 followers from across the globe. Alanna uses this platform to educate about breed discrimination and advocate for positive Pitbull awareness.
We are very passionate about teaching people that they should not judge a dog by its breed and rather, each individual dog should be judged on its own temperament.
To continue educating the public on positive Pitbull awareness Alanna released their first children's book in 2015 called ‘Hazel The Pitbull goes to the Vet’, and in 2016 ‘Hazel The Pitbull – Adventure to the Beach’ was published. These books are great educational resources and are available to purchase on Hazel's website with all proceeds going back to Hazel's charity.
A third book focusing on the work Hazel does as a Pitbull advocate, 'Hazel The Pitbull - Diary of A Dog Ambassador', is due to be released in April 2017.
The advocate work Hazel and Alanna do is endless! They attend events across the country so people can have the chance to meet Hazel and they regularly visit a local rest-home where Hazel works as a therapy dog.
In addition Hazel is the inspiration behind The Hazel The Pitbull Foundation, a registered charity which raises money to aid other rescue organisations and runs a foster programme.
Through the foster programme Alanna takes on one or two young puppies at a time to spend time with Hazel who Alanna says mothers puppies as if they were her own. The foster puppies are cared for and are introduced to as much socialisation as possible to help them find their forever permanent home. You can check in and follow the foster puppies' progress on Hazel's Facebook.
There's no doubt that Hazel is sweet and gentle but Alanna says she still regularly faces breed discrimination. Often this sort of judgment comes from people who have never owned or even met a Pitbull and Alanna encourages people to meet Hazel or other dogs before judging them on inaccurate sertotypes.
As for Alanna's views on breed specific legislation she says the law should focus on irresponsible owners of all dog breeds and not target specific breed due to the way they look.
Any dog can be dangerous and its up to the owner to train and socialise their dog. Owning a dog is a privilege not a right. I hope that one day the law will change and innocent dogs will not die due to the fear of humans.
We're well aware that some people will have differing opinions to us, and that's fine. These opinions may be based on experience or just on the information portrayed in the media. Either way, there is no denying that Pitbulls like Hazel are beautiful pets.
Ultimately the responsibility for preventing dog aggression lies with the owners. As dog owners we have the duty to ensure we train our dogs, that know them well enough to be aware of what may trigger certain behaviour, and that we supervise them accordingly.
Every dog deserves the chance to prove themselves.
If any of you need more convincing we recommend taking a look at Hazel's Facebook and “The Champions” documentary.
As with all our posts - we're not experts but just offering some food for thought!
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As a Brit, I was used to being able to take my family dog EVERYWHERE with me. Whether it was out for a stroll on any public beach or next to the fire in the pub on a rainy day, it was just the norm. So, last year, when we got our own pooch here in New Zealand, I had to adjust my thinking towards dog-walking.
Luckily the place we call home, Hamilton, has some great dog parks and onlead walks which I am sharing here for fellow Hamiltonians or visitors to the Tron.
Resthills Park has to be my favourite dog park in Hamilton. Not only is it huge with differing landscapes, but it's also super close to my house. If you don't live in the Glenview area it's well worth the drive!
My wolf enjoys mad runs across the grassy fields, but there's also wood/ bush areas too to sniff and explore. Large puddles make an appearance on rainy days, which only adds to the fun.
There are three separate large areas that are off-leash dog areas most of the time. You just have to make sure there aren't baseball or rugby games going on in the sports section - if not, free reign for doggo, if so, the gates will be closed and half the park is still off-leash. These games are usually just one weekend day.
Depending on the time of day you go, you could meet a few other pups, or - especially on a rainy day - you might have the park entirely to yourself. It's definitely well-used by locals (we have a local pack that our pup joins on weekday afternoons), but other dog-owners that I've spoken to often aren't aware of its existence, which is such a shame.
Access points include John Webb Drive (which has a car parking area right next to the park), Sunnyhills Avenue and Macmurdo Avenue.
If you're a dog owner in Hamilton then you probably already know about the fantastic place that is Day's Park. For newbies to the city or out of towners, this is the place if your pup wants to party.
Admittedly, I have only ever been able to make it to Day's Park of a weekend, but whenever we have gone it has been full of dogs wanting to play. There's a large grassy area with pathways to walk along, as well as access to the Waikato River for your dogs to have a splash around.
Access is off River Road, and there's a small car park opposite Perindale Drive as well as lots of on-road parking.
You know a dog park is good when it's #16 of things to do in Hamilton on Trip Advisor. I promise that's an indication of how much everyone loves this park as opposed to a poor indicator for the city!
SO. MUCH. FUN.
Innes Common is smaller off-leash option than the above two (which, to be quite honest, do spoil us), but a good spot for your wolf to have a run around before going for an on-lead mosey around the beautiful Hamilton Lake.
Make sure you don't let your doggo drink from the lake as it has been potentially linked to some illnesses - there are signs up around the lake with more information.
Also, if you venture to this area be sure to remember that dogs aren't allowed in the massive children's play area (but you can walk the entirety of the lake's path).
There are car parking areas all around the lake, including a car park next to Innes Common and one next to the children's play area and cafe, which will happily provide fido with a bowl of water whilst you sit on the deck with your coffee.
Braithwaite Park is at the Pukete end of town and is another smaller but beautifully located dog park.
It's part of the Te Awa - the Great NZ River Ride, which will eventually reach from Ngaruawahia to Horahora. Much of this is open for use already; see here for more details if you would like to go cycling with your wolf (ours did a section through Hamilton with us, but his little legs wouldn't want to do much further).
Braithwaite Park is a good option for a run around with access, again, to the river. It's a great area if you are in the northern end of the city, or want to incorporate it into a larger on-leash river walk.
You can drive up to this area and park on Totara Drive or access the river walk elsewhere.
Till's Lookout is an off-leash park which has some beautiful views, especially at sunrise or sunset.
You can combine this with a 30 minute walk to Taitua Arboretum which is also dog-friendly, although pups need to be onlead.
Warning: the arboretum is beautiful - but full of ducks and chickens! Very exciting for my bird-crazy dog (but it tormented him too, being on a lead and surrounded/ followed by these incredibly tame birds).
Access to the Till's Lookout Reserve is via Melva Street.
If you're looking for a day trip or a bit of a tramp, check out the Te Aroha Domain, the Raglan beaches or Lake Ngaroto.
So far, these are my favourite dog parks and walks in Hamilton out of those I have visited. There are a couple that I haven't been to yet, so let me know in the comments if there's one I must visit.
You can follow me @charlotte.wj if you want to see which dog parks I visit next and download this brochure from the city council for more information on where you can take your dog - as you can see, there are a lot of plans to open up more dog exercise areas too, which I am sure that me and my wolf, Marty, will be visiting when they do.
If you're interested in being a guest contributor flick us an email at wolvesofwellington@gmail.com.
]]>As a Husky owner I tend to get tagged in various articles, photos, and videos about Huskies (I am not a crazy dog lady!), and last year when I was tagged in a post about the Husky Cafe I decided to visit during a trip to Thailand.
The Husky Cafe is located in a nice suburb in Bangkok and it was interesting to see the majority of visitors there were local Thai people who seemed more interested in the food and drinks than the dogs.
I'm always a bit hesitant about animal tourism so I ummed and ahhed about going but I'm happy to say the dogs at the Husky Cafe are extremely well looked after!
There is little interaction between visitors and the dogs and a number of procedures in place to ensure the pups are safe and happy.
During opening hours dogs come into a fenced exercise area where visitors can watch them but it is only one hour at the end of the day where people can enter the exercise area and interact with the dogs. I liked that interaction was restricted like this as it means the dogs do not get overwhelmed or over-handled.
All visitors have to sit through an information video and are required to wear plastic shoe covers and sanitise their hands to reduce the risk of introducing bugs to the pups. No food is allowed to be fed to the pups and there are a number of staff members who supervise all interactions.
The facilities were clean and well air conditioned and the exercise area had plenty of shade and even had several fans running to keep the dogs cool.
The highlight of the experience was watching all the dogs make a mad rush for dinner at the end!
Now to try to convince someone to start one of these cafe's in New Zealand!
]]>The park covers 2860 hectares in the foothills of the Tararua Ranges and is a truly spectacular area. The steep bush-clad hills and clear river makes it the perfect get away from the city.
The large campground is spread over flat grassy areas, next to the Pakuratahi River. It's open 365 days a year, and is accessible from the Waterworks Road off SH2 12km north of Upper Hutt.
Dogs are welcomed at the camp ground but must be kept under control and preferably on a lead. We find it's best to avoid the camp ground at the peak of summer and during long weekends as it's much nicer when it's less busy and your pup can be offlead without intruding on other's camping areas.
Camping fees are $6 per adult and $3 per child per night. There are great facilities including treated drinking water, sinks, covered seating and power sockets for charging cell phones and using the toasters or kettles. There are also six electric barbeques provided at no charge.
Campfires are even permitted on the river bed.
While you're at the park you can enjoy a swim in the tranquil river pools or explore the walking tracks through the bush including a stop in at the set used for Rivendell in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
There are lots of more private spots along the river bed if you don't mind a bit of scrambling upstream from the two main swimming areas. We love finding our own spots where the dogs can swim without getting in other people's space. We also always pack a long line or ropes so the pups can have more freedom.
]]>Mount Kaukau is situated above Khandallah and is part of the Northern Walkway. It offers amazing panoramic views of Wellington, from the Harbour to around over Makara and to the South Island.
There are a number of tracks which lead through bush and to the summit lookout 445 metres above sea level, most taking between 40 minute to an hour and steep in places. But don’t worry the hike is well worth it and there are rest spots along the way if the climb is too much.
The entry points to Mount Kaukau begin at Woodmancote Road and Simla Crescent in Khandallah, Sirsi Terrace in Broadmeadows, and Truscott Avenue in Johnsonville.
Make sure to be cautious at the summit as there is farmland which may be occupied at times by lambs or other livestock so pups should be onlead. There is an offlead trial going up from Sirsi Terrace in Broadmeadows.
Tip: We highly recommend sunset walks in this spot as the light, golden grass and views are supreme in the last light of the day.
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We've only recently discovered this fantastic park and have been going there at least once a week ever since. Located in a valley away from roads, Seton Nossiter Park is a safe spot for offlead and onlead fun.
The park is massive and has lots of different areas to explore with a mixture of onlead and offlead areas. As the park is used for many purposes including as an educational reserve for neighboring schools, it is important to abide by the onlead rules so that everyone can enjoy the park.
The offlead site is at the start of the park from the Mark Avenue entrance down to the second bridge (you can check the map here). The area has nice grass clearings and there's a fresh water stream which runs right through the park for cooling off in.
From the second bridge, once you put your pup on lead, you can continue on to a picnic area. From there you go right and up along a bush track or go further up the valley, through the tussock grass, and to a little waterfall.
The park lies between Grenada Village and Horokiwi to the north, Woodridge to the east and Newlands and Paparangi to the south, and the entry points are from Mark Avenue in Grenada Village, and Colchester Crescent in Newlands (we enter from Mark Avenue where there is a big carpark).
The dog beach at Petone Beach is located east of Petone Wharf. There are two car parks, one right at the wharf and the other at the far end of the beach (added bonus – Free parking!)
This beach provides ample space to gallop about and is a popular spot so is great for socialising! There are plenty of sticks to play fetch with but beware of the stinky seaweed if your pup likes to swim!
At the car park at the opposite end of the beach to the wharf there is a grassy area and creek where you can clean all the sand and other debris off your pup.
On a good day this spot is stunning as it provides beautiful views of Wellington city and harbour. We particularly enjoy sunset visits.
There is a main road not far from the beach so make sure you’re careful if your pup is a runner.
Mount Victoria's Charles Plimmer Park is another spot we frequent with Indy. It's a nice grassy area not too close to the road but watch your pup as sometimes they can be tempted to go into the backyards of the properties which back onto the park.
The park overlooks the city and is a great spot to enjoy the afternoon sun. There are a number of walking tracks which lead from the park so you can continue on a walk up or around Mount Vic.
Access to the park is at the top of Majoribanks Street or Palliser Road.
The beach down at Lyall Bay was the first dog beach we ever went to and remains a favourite.
The dog beach stretches from the far end of Lyall Bay beach near the airport to just before Maranui Cafe, making it a good distance for a walk. There used to be decent sized sand dunes between the road and the beach but high tides and storms have eaten away the dunes making the road much more accessible for the dogs so keep an eye on your pup.
The beach is very popular. On a good day there is an abundance of dogs from big to small, but at any time your likely to run into at least one or two.
There is parking at the far end of the beach by the airport and a dog water bowl fountain too. Across the road you’ll fine Spruce Goose a great stop for a coffee post dog walk/play and they also have a number of dog bowls in the outdoor seating areas.
Cog Park is Wellington's original fully fenced park and while it isn't as large as Ian Galloway it is less damp and has the added bonus of sea views!
The park is located around Evans Bay and there is plenty of free parking about. There are two gate entries into the park but you need to be careful that no pup slips past when you open the gate.
This park can get very hot in the middle of the day and as there is limited shade it is a good idea to go in the morning or evening.
Ian Galloway Dog Park is Wellington's largest fully fenced dog park and is a great place to socialise your pup. Normally there is at least one or two dogs at the park and in peak times they can be up to 30.
We often go here early morning with Willow and Indy as the park is in between our two houses so it makes a good meeting point. The park is safe and secure, and the double gate entries mean your pup can't escape when someone new enters the park.
The only downside of this park is that it gets extremely boggy in winter but that's nothing a spray with the hose can't fix!
Being located in the city we were stoked when dog access was approved for Oriental Bay!
This is Wellington's most popular and iconic beach. It's right in the center of the action and a great place to let your pup have a swim in the midst of a walk.
There is ample parking along Oriental Parade and the majority of it is free. Dogs can easily access the footpath and road from the beach so it's important to keep an eye on your pup and make sure they are kept safe.
Dogs are only permitted access during winter hours so read the signs before accessing this beach.
Houghton Bay is one of the smaller dog beaches but we love it because it's often less busy than Lyall Bay or Petone Beach, and you can watch surfers try they're luck at catching a wave.
This may not be the best spot if your pup likes to swim as it is exposed to big southerly swells that can cause a dangerous undertow.
There is free car parking at the access point to the beach.
This is one of Indy's local dog parks and is a secret spot not too many people know about. Nestled above Aro Valley, Tanera Park offers views over Wellington Harbour and is a great picturesque spot for a morning run about.
We normally incorporate this park in our morning walk which continues through Central Park, another great dog walking area.
The park is not fenced but is lined with shrubs and is not immediately adjacent to the road. There is also a community garden nearby.
Access to the park is from Ohiro Road, Epuni Street or Tanera Crescent.
Let us know your favourite spots in the comment section below!
]]>There are a number of different walks and tracks you can do in the area. We did a 7.5km loop starting at Signallers Grove that went through some bush track, to the Ataturk Memorial, down to Tarakena Bay, along to Breaker Bay and the back up to Signallers Grove through the Pass of Brenda (you can find a map here).
The route we took had a number of stairs and steep parts but wasn't too bad overall. On a hot day you'll need plenty of water as you'll be under the sun for a lot of the walk but you can always cool off at Breaker Bay (beware of the nudists!).
The walk is fantastic as it offers stunning views of Wellington's harbour and includes some of the nicest coastline in the area. Along the way there are World War II gun batteries and observation posts as well as Māori historical sites. You could spend a whole day in the area as there are plenty of suitable picnic spots to sit and admire the view.
Bring plenty of water, sunblock and good shoes. The pups should be onlead along the tracks.
Find more about this walk here.
]]>Another way we try to help HUHA is by hosting events.
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In case you don’t know who HUHA are, they are New Zealand’s leading no-kill animal shelter.
Another way we try to help HUHA is by hosting events. We'd thought we throwback and show you the HUHA Help Out events we've thrown in the past. If you'd like to see more of these or have any ideas, we'd love to hear - simply comment below!
In 2015 we hosted an off-lead play which involved a bunch of awesome Wellington dogs and their owners, some wonderful local stall owners, a great location (thanks to Central Allbreeds Dog School) and some generous volunteers who we guilt-tripped into helping us out.
And in 2016 we hosted a walk up Wrights Hill including an off-lead area. Unfortunately the weather didn't help us out, but there were still plenty of awesome dogs and their owners who helped us raise money for HUHA's rebuild.
]]>However, I am happy to say that my experience of having an off-lead Husky has been far from the repetitive warnings given on the internet. We've had Indy off-lead from day one and, although she's not perfect, she's as good as any other breed we meet at the dog park or beach.
We're yet to have an incident where Indy has run away or onto a road. Sometimes she follows other dogs the wrong way or ignores us for a while at the dog beach, but we've kept at it and been consistent with our training. The more we work on this sort of training and the older and less over-excited she gets (she's currently 2 1/2) the more she improves, and now we've gotten to a stage where I would trust her in any new off-lead and unfenced environment.
Don't get me wrong, this has taken a lot of training, trust, and persistence, but the derpy look on Indy's face when she is running on a beach is well worth it!
The capacity to go off-lead really depends on the level of training and the personality of the particular dog, it can even depend on their particular mood on any given day! Some days with Indy I can tell she's going to be less well-behaved than normal. It's all about choosing your moments, persisting, and making sure you have the right incentives and practices in place to ensure your pup is safe.
It seems many Husky owners are reluctant to even give off-lead a go due to the information they're told about the breed. We strongly recommend Husky owners try off-lead, you might be pleasantly surprised! The number of off-lead dogs in our local Husky group has boomed and it's so great to see owners build trust with their dogs in an off-lead environment.
The key to developing off-lead skills is finding a safe environment to practice and working at a pace with which you are comfortable and confident. You need to know your pup and understand what distracts them so you can be prepared when those distractions arise.
Starting off-lead training is much easier when your pup is young. Puppies they tend to be less independent and more receptive to training. However, that's not to say you can't teach an old dog new tricks! If your dog has not had prior off-lead training you may want to begin with extra recall training in your backyard or at a fenced park, or by using a training aid like a long-line.
We're currently working on off-lead training with our 1 1/2 year old Malamute, Willow. In the past Willow has tended to get excited and a bit rebellious off-lead but that hasn't deterred us! Josh has begun working with her 10 minutes a day in the backyard on recall and we've found a safe and quiet open park to work with more distractions.
We've found that it's easier to work on this training with Willow in an open park area as opposed to along tracks where she tends to run ahead and we sometimes just drop the lead instead of unclipping her as this reduces excitement and means she is calmer when she transitions to having more freedom. It also helps to have a few other dogs around who have good recall so she can learn off the pros!
At the park we call her back every ten minutes or so, grab her collar before letting her go, reward her, and basically sing her praises so she understands recall is a positive experience. We're already seeing improvements!
We're not dog trainers or experts but we thought we would share our experience with having Indy and Willow off-lead and show that it is possible! I'm sure many Husky owners may have had different experiences and if you are considering getting a Husky there certainly is no guarantee they will be good off-lead. It all comes down to the personality of your pup and the amount of training you're willing to be put in. All we can say is it's well worth it!
Keep an eye out for our next training post with our tips for recall and off-lead training.
]]>HOW TO GET THERE:
Turn off State Highway 1 at Porirua and follow Titahi Bay Road, to Onepoto Road which you follow to the car parking by the boat houses.
You can also drive direct to Whitireia Park by following Titahi Bay Road to the end of Main Road, turning right into Bay Drive and then left into Thornley Street. Thornley St then becomes Transmitter St, and you turn left into Whitireia Road to enter the park.
You can find more out about this walk here.
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