10/16/2026
After working the board and trains today, I needed to take Sissy on a controlled walk to get her injured leg moving a little. I put her e-collar on because she hasn’t been off-leash on our road in a while. I needed to keep her from wandering off and potentially stepping in a hole or slipping in the wet grass.
Could I have used a leash? Of course. But my goal was to avoid anything that could put unnecessary pressure on her or cause her to move in a way that might aggravate her injury, especially if she wanted to pull or even if she got it caught under her leg or stepped on. This is one reason why I train my dogs on e-collars. She’s wearing a leash. Technically, it’s just invisible lol!
I use the beep function for recall/keep my dogs close to me, but Sissy did not wander away from me, so I took her e-collar off since she did not need it. I did not put her in a “heel”. I gave her a choice to make her own decisions and what you see in the video is what she chose to do. She walks with me, she stops with me, she continues to connect with me. This kind of freedom comes from the bond and communication we’ve built together.
I’m doing everything I can to keep her safe while allowing her to move comfortably. She’s still getting used to her mobility harness, which is new and a little strange for her since it fits around both of her back legs. My plan is to use it on the days following physical therapy, when she may be feeling sore and need a little extra support.
I’m just trying to listen to her, work with her, and make the best choices I can for her recovery. She deserves nothing less!!❤️❤️
