When Foster Dog Meets Freedom: The Cat Chase Story

Once upon a time at Train Walk Poop, we had a foster dog named Nico, a pit bull lab mix. 

Nico was a sweet dog but had some resource guarding issues and aggression towards other dogs, making it challenging to find him a forever home. I decided to work with him and train him on e-collar training to improve his adoptability.

One day, I took Nico to a big open field, allowing him to drag a 30-foot long leash. It was just the two of us, and he was doing exceptionally well, responding to my commands. Feeling confident, I decided to drop the leash for the first time to let him enjoy some off-leash time.

However, fate had other plans for us that day. Out of nowhere, a cat ran across the field, triggering Nico’s intense prey drive. He took off after the cat, and before I could react, he was out of my reach, and the leash was gone.

I panicked, worried that I had lost the foster dog and would have to face the consequences of the Foster group, cause.org, that we worked with. 

Nico was relentless in his pursuit of the cat, and I had to use the e-collar to correct him multiple times.

Thankfully, he eventually started paying attention to me and considering coming back. I used positive reinforcement and praise to encourage him, and after several attempts, I finally got him back under control.

From that incident, I learned that Nico had a strong urge to chase cats, something we couldn’t have known until that moment. 

It was a humbling experience as even as a dog trainer, I made a mistake in assuming he was ready for off-leash training.

It’s crucial to control as many factors as possible during training, but when out in the field, unexpected things can happen. The e-collar provided me with a tool to regain control and keep Nico safe during this cat chase incident.

Foster dogs like Nico often face frustrations and uncertainties, so giving them some freedom to run and explore is essential for their mental well-being. 

While training has its challenges, dogs are forgiving, and with patience and the right approach, we can work through any mistakes and help them become better companions.

Remember, no dog is perfect, and as dog owners, we all have moments when things don’t go as planned. What’s important is to learn from these experiences and grow together with our dogs. 

So, let’s keep striving to be the best dog owners we can be and give our dogs the love and training they need to thrive.

And so, the cat chase story taught me a valuable lesson, and Nico went on to find a loving forever home with a family who understood and embraced his quirks. We continued to help many more dogs in need, one step at a time.