Importance of the "stop" command or Gavin meets a porcupine or DH has a sore throat

[BG and Gavin]

DH was walking Gavin off leash at the cottage when a porcupine waddled across the road 20 feet in front of them. Gavin made his move...DH screamed STOP and Gavin did -less than 5 feet from the porkie. He waited til DH leashed him up before regaining interest in the chase.

I taught stop early on, during walks. I would change pace and randomly yell stop and stop dead. Reward when he stopped and looked at me.  My trainer taught it by calling the dog to you and lunging forward with palms outstretched and one knee down to the ground yelling stop.  

I do not practice it anymore and only use in extreme circumstances to keep the element of surprise. Happy it still works!  DH yelled so loud he hurt his throat. Lol.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Wow a porcupine of all things! Great job teaching the command and  high five to Gavin for being so smart!

[BG and Gavin]

Darn losing replies again.  We do have a large animal vet in our little cottage community. They say he keeps a quill removal kit handy at his cottage, but I hope to never find out!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Gavin is so smart( and so are his mom and dad). I have to confess that I started training 'stop' but kind of fell down on the job. This is a good reminder to start again. So glad this was a happy ending. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wow!  I am so proud of Gavin and so impressed!  My dogs would be full of porcupine quills - all three of them.