Walking in a Parade
September 6th, 2010 | By: Denise Stringfellow
Local pet parades offer great training experience.
4th of July parade
If you’ve always enjoyed parades, why not consider participating in one? The opportunity to walk your pet in a parade is one of the best and easiest ways to acclimate your dog to crowds.
Did you know that from June through October there are nearly a dozen community parade events in the Issaquah and Snoqualmie valleys alone?
Most of us who get a new puppy or dog think that because dogs are social creatures that live in packs they will naturally be good with new people, large crowds, and public places. This is not necessarily true, however, since pack dynamics revolve primarily around familiar individuals, inside relatively small groups, living in a defined area. So, outside familiar territory and without guidance, many breeds of dogs are naturally uncomfortable with strangers, especially if they look unusual (e.g., clowns), carry “weapons” (think parade pirates), and make excruciating noises (such as fire truck sirens).
Because there is nothing natural about a crowd for a dog, nearly all dogs need communication, training, and guidance from their owners to help them adapt to the unusual sights and sounds of a crowd. This is especially important for a young or teenage dog that needs more life experience.
Most dogs find a parade crowd easier to mingle with than many other kind of gatherings, mostly because a parade moves in one direction. This helps keep a dog from becoming overwhelmed, because the dog has something to do (focus on walking) and others in the crowd aren’t paying too much attention to the dog.
Some things to think about when joining a parade:
- Bring only a happy, social dog; a parade environment can easily overstimulate and frustrate aggressive or extremely shy dogs.
- Make sure your dog already knows how to walk next to you on a loose leash.
- Don’t just walk your dog; train during the entire parade.
- Keep your dog a bit hungry, and use treats along the route to reward your pet for attention and good manners.
- Should a strange noise go off, avoid soothing or trying to comfort your dog; instead, employ a “jolly routine” by smiling, ignoring the noise, and playing with a toy or giving a treat instead.
- Should your dog become apprehensive of an unusually dressed parade participant, again use your “jolly routine,” together with a brisk “Heel” away until your dog is at a distance where he is no longer concerned. In other words, change the subject.
All dogs need good crowd training. Even well-trained, experienced dogs enjoy a fun, invigorating walk in a parade, with its smorgasbord of extravagant sights and smells. Local parades are full of happy people, nice dogs, patriotic costumes, music, balloons—all things you should enjoy with your pet in a positive manner. So, consider joining a parade in your community. It’s good training and great fun!
