Dog literature and inspiration

The last few weeks have been typical January weather. I believe it may have snowed every day for as long as I can remember, and my dog Rocky’s agility equipment is buried beneath that volume of white powder. Rocky doesn’t seem to mind the cold and snow. He’s happy to run through the deep pasture, sniffing and finding frozen specimens to tunnel after.
As a human, I prefer to spend my time huddled next to the wood stove in my Bear Den with a good book. Training may have to wait until spring, but it hasn’t been forgotten.
Recently, I’ve delved into literature that has kept the fire of dog training alive thanks to Cisco, Peck and Slugger.
I started with “Smoky Mountain Tracks” by Donna Ball. In this novel, the heroine is part of a search and rescue team with her dog Cisco. Cisco and his handler are on the tracks of a kidnapped child in the mountain wilderness. Cisco is new to the game, though he proves to be under-rated by his owner. Cisco knows the little girl is hidden under the floor boards of the mountain cabin, but his owner can’t seem to understand his barks, so he turns to licking out a discarded can of beans instead. True to all good novels, dog finds child in the end, all are safe and happy.
From there, I went to “Search” by Nora Roberts. Roberts is well-known for her romance novels, so I was surprised at the depth of knowledge displayed in this story of a woman who survived abduction from a serial killer only to find the killer’s apprentice has her in his sights. The story begins with our heroine, who is a search and rescue dog trainer. She and her dog, Peck, are out on a search and rescue for a three-year-old boy who wandered away from home, now lost in the woods. Roberts’ description of the bond between dog and handler, and the terror of the little boy brought tears to my eyes.
Not only was it a good story, it gave me training tips along the way.
Could my dog Rocky be a search and rescue dog? He has the nose for it. He has the energy for it. He is trainable and loves people, treats and attention. Sounds like a good candidate, except ... he needs to come when called.
All the search and rescue dogs in these books are excellent at come when called, sit and stay, and keeping focus with distractions. Rocky is good at sit and stay, sometimes even with distractions. But come when called is still our sticking point.
I tried to explain to Rocky, “I know you like your freedom, but if you can learn come when called, it will allow you more freedom, not less. You won’t have to always be on a leash. You can run free in the yard without supervision if we know you will stay home and come when called.”
Rocky focuses his deep, brown eyes on me, as if to say, “Huh?”
So much for search and rescue.
My next book was “A Dog Named Slugger” by Leigh Brill. This is a personal account of the author’s journey with Slugger, her service dog. Brill has cerebral palsy and relies on Slugger to help her with balance, pick up dropped things, close or open doors, and keep her safe and secure in all situations. Who wouldn’t like to have a dog with that kind of training?
Even though I am not disabled, and don’t plan to become disabled, I’d love to have a dog with those talents.
“Rocky, bring me my socks. Whole, please.”
“Rocky, can you open the door for me.” (while I carry groceries in from the car).
“Rocky, is the person at the door friend or foe?”
There’s one problem. Slugger comes when called.
Perhaps Rocky could be a therapy dog, sitting quietly while small children read to him and elderly residents stroke his silky hair. He’d be like the therapy dog Pooka, whose picture has been in The County Journal, visiting local schools and libraries.
But, Pooka probably comes when called.
So for now, I remain by the woodstove, devouring books about well-behaved dogs doing great things, while Rocky dreams of running free and rolling in things that smell.
When the warm winds blow again, I’ll be ready.