[RKDinOKC]

Most painful loss I've experience was my 1st golden that lived by my side for 17 years. Even more than any of my family members.

Remembered some of the training I used to make her the by my side dog that she was. It was called Command Performance. Any time she goes outside take her on-leash. Never drag her with or yank on the leash or holler, just wait till she stops pulling and when she starts to head back towards you enthusiastically use the "come" command and praise. Keep this up till she stops pulling on the leash.

It shouldn't take long for her to learn her limits, then start doing the "heel" training. Changing directions when she isn't paying attention so you either run into her, or she hits the end of her leash. Soon she will learn to stay right next to you and watch you so she can react to you.

Once she just heels naturally and stays by your side, put her on a long much lighter leash like a piece of cord, 20ft long. If she does well let go of the cord so she is just dragging it. When she starts to move away, just step on the cord. If she is too fast, chase after the cord not the dog and step on it. If she turns and starts heading back towards you use "Come" and praise when she does. As she ventures away less, shorten the cord. Keep it up until the cord is only inches long.

After a couple of months of all this you have a dog that stays right by your side WITHOUT A LEASH. And always gives you all her attention. That was just like my first golden.

I started this with Pepper on her 6 ft leash this evening while sitting out in the driveway waiting to watch the new vampire lights to come on. At first she pulled at the end of the leash. I said nothing and just waited for her to turn towards me, then I called her, she came and I praised her. She only went to the end of her leash 3 times, and got herself tangled up in the leash one of those three. Then she quickly settled down and sat or laid beside me in her loose leash range and watched the neighborhood. The next door neighbor was doing all kinds of stuff in his yard and driveway all the time we were out there.

It got kind of funny when the next door neighbor on the other side came out to put her trash to the curb, Pepper didn't know which one to watch. It was like she was watching a tennis match. Also a couple of three times people jogging and walking their dogs came by and Pepper just sat by me and watched them, I praised her. Normally she would have bolted for them.

When I got up and went to go in, she just naturally got up and walked right beside me in the heel position. Amazing.

Later she went out in the back yard to do her stuff, she did it then wanted right back in to be with me. Usually she wants to play outside for a while by herself before coming back in. Already more like my first dog, Penny.

Looks like the Command Performance stuff is really really good. I need to find my old VHS tapes and refresh myself. None of the other stuff I found on the internet was anything like it. By the limits not being directly associated with you yelling out commands it teaches the dog to do things you want them to do because you keep them out of trouble instead of causing it. None of this treats or clicker stuff.