The time has come.....

To get serious about Lexie's yard training. Now that the weather is warm and we're outside more, we really need to get serious about yard training Lexie. This fact is even more proven by her running away last Thursday afternoon. She was gone almost 30 minutes and it made me want to cry! Fortunately she ran to the neighbors BBQ (she's a people dog!) and they saw her and tied her to a tree. We had never met those neighbors but I am so greatful that they kept her out harms way!

So we went to Cabela's yesterday afternoon and Lexie is all fitted for a Maine summer. The full package includes:

Whistle - to train her to come back to us

Bell - so we can hear her if she runs off again

and drum roll please......

A Shock collar. It's one of those manual ones so we can give her one quick zap if she takes off after Rocky and Bulwinkle in the Maine woods.

We took her out in the yard today with a 40 foot rope, the collar, bell and whistle. She did very well it was almost like she knew what would happen if she messed up. We walked the perimter of the yard 3 times and threw the ball for her. If she didn't listen, first we gave her the beep from the collar. That surprised her the first few times but quickly she lost interest. Then if we called her and she didn't come, we'd blow the whistle. That worked GREAT. So well, that we didn't even have to shock her...... yet. :)