Keep an eye on your dog at all times

IWAS walking my dog Del in the park this morning. It was wet and windy but the park was full of dog walkers which says an awful lot for their dedication.

Del and I were strolling along, pushed by the wind when I flung her ball for her to retrieve.

The dogs in the vicinity were all busy with their own games so it seemed safe to let her run.

Given the park had so many dogs playing at that precise time, I chose my spot carefully then threw her ball about half the distance I normally would.

Del shot off after the ball, but a dog playing with its own ball spotted her and charged at her.

I blasted my whistle and Del stopped in her tracks and I ran over and shooed the other dog away and all was well. Had Del been much farther away I don’t know how that incident would have played out.

Fortunately, I was able to calm Del while I dealt with the situation and no harm was done, but just imagine what could have happened had I not been paying attention.

Whenever you are out with your dog it pays to give it your full attention.

I have seen some awful dog fights where the damage is done before the owners know what’s going on.

If your dog is injured on your watch your leadership status is seriously damaged.

No dog is going to follow a leader that allowed him to get hurt.

It’s all about trust and in the dog world everything is black and white. There are no excuses.

Consequently, I am very careful where I throw my dog’s ball and always scan the dogs around before I send her for it.

This time I was close at hand, but had I been much farther away it may not have played out the way it did.

Having a dog you can stop on command is a huge help.

Excited dogs do not want to attack non moving targets, they want agitated screaming dogs running away.

Keep calm and try not to add to the commotion.

In this situation calm assertiveness is your best tactic.

If you would like to learn how this is achieved join one of my weekly training classes.

●●A group of men in and alongside a horse-drawn carriage set out on an outing from The Joiners Arms, Paradise Street, Macclesfield, pictured in the 1900s.

●●

Below right, Fleetbank Farm, Poynton, pictured in the 1960s, located just off Dickens Lane.

●»Stay alert with your dog at all times

●●All photos and information on these pages are kindly provided by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies. If you have additional information about the photos you’d like to share, or corrections about the image information, you can contact Cheshire Image Bank via their website at: www. cheshireimagebank.org.uk and click on the ‘Tell Us More’ link on the image page. Alternatively, you can send an email to: recordoffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk

A view of London Road South, Poynton, shown in the 1940s (left). ●●A repair car from Morris dealer John James Cookson in Waters Green, Macclesfield, shown in the 1930s (below left). ●●This black-and-white photograph captured in 1940, depicts Chester Road, Poynton (bottom left).