The Magic Steamroller
Or 'How to
prevent your puppy from becoming one'
How to teach your puppy to walk on a loose lead
Your job is to move a gigantic magic steamroller from points
A to B with a single piece of rope attached to the machine.
You take the rope, wrap it around your wrist (and, once its
on you can’t take it off again). You tug and pull in all
directions, but this thing does not budge one inch, not even
a millimeter. Hmm.
You pause and scratch your head. What is the magic trick?
You turn and face the machine and walk up to it for a closer
look. The rope slackens, the steamroller blows its whistle
and begins to roll forward! You’re certain that you can use
its momentum to keep it rolling. You surge ahead, you pull
hard. But alas, the moment the rope is taut the steamroller
comes to an instant halt, no matter how hard you pull
forward or sideways.
The rope around your wrist is tighter now and is beginning
to annoy you. What is happening? You wonder, you pause; you
walk back to the machine. You make the first step towards
it, and it blows its whistle once again, and starts moving!
Great! You’re sure you can outsmart it now. You’ll keep it
rolling by jumping forward and using all of your bodyweight.
Think again! The rope tightens, the steamroller stops. You
walk back to it…. And the same thing happens again; the
moment the pressure is off the rope, you hear the whistle go
and this big heavy machine miraculously begins to roll …..
But this time ---- HELP! ----- It’s rolling away from you.
Quick! Follow it, don’t let it roll too far, remember, the
rope is fixed around your wrist. Okay, if it doesn’t want to
roll forward you might be able to pull it the other way
first and then turn it around somehow. Wrong again. You
overtake the machine, the rope tightens again, the machine
stops. You’re really puzzled. You realise that this does not
get you anywhere and approach the machine once again. And
again, the whistle blows as soon as the rope is slack and
the machine begins to roll.
Aha! It is your own magic that makes the steamroller move,
the whistle blow and release the pressure of the rope around
your wrist. As the machine rolls you move forward, careful
to avoid pulling too hard. As long as the rope is slack, the
steamroller faithfully follows you or even rolls beside you.
Great, you’ve got it! You reach your destination without
further stop-and-go episodes… And when you get there, the
steamroller’s cabin door opens and the Steamroller Fairy
climbs down and gives you a big hug and a big kiss and big
praise for being such a smart human, unties the rope and
sends you off to play J
Imagine you are the steamroller and your puppy is you – and
apply what you have just learnt. Take a lead that is at
least 4 ft long and attach it to his collar or use a slip
lead to slip over his head. (But please, don’t use a choke
chain!)You don’t have to blow a whistle; you can mark the
crucial moment (when the pup turns around and the lead
slackens) with a friendly and cheerful high pitch “Yesssss”
or “Good boyeee” or “Good Girl” or a treat. But remember:
the steamroller was totally indifferent, it did not utter a
sound of disapproval, nor did it jerk you around; it just
whistled when the rope got slack again, and rolled as long
as it remained so.
Don’t attempt to teach your puppy if you are in a hurry or
need to get places. Sometimes it takes a long time to cover
just a few yards, so be patient, give yourself and your
puppy time, do several short sessions per day, rather than
one long one. Your puppy’s attention span is not great. As
soon as your pup gets downright frustrated and absolutely
uncooperative try to end the session on a high note. Wait
until the lead is loose, reward with treat and a cheery
word, take off the lead and send your puppy off to play.
Happy Steamrolling!
©Ika
Peiler 2002
