Big Mama: Tod, that Copper is going to come back a hunting dog, a real killer.
Young Tod: Oh no, not my friend Copper. He won't ever change.
~ The Fox and the Hound, Walt Disney Pictures (1981)
Some days I think Tod was right: He won't ever change but then he does.
Training Copper has been, shall we say, challenging. Like any good hound he's got a very thick head when it comes to training. Previous experience with hounds tells me that when they finally decide to come around to your way of thinking they make wonderful pets. It's just waiting for that to happen that will just about kill ya.
All that being said, we are making some progress...today was Copper's first day off a leash in our yard with just his IF collar on. He did GREAT!!! I don't think I've seen him this happy and carefree since we brought him home. He romped around the yard, climbed halfway up every tree within the fencing, and did lap after lap at full tilt. He was a happy dog. We went out several times together since I'm not quite ready to let him go solo yet and I think each time it was mostly so he could just run around and enjoy the experience. Let's hope it continues to go so well.
In the meantime, we start another round of obedience classes tomorrow evening. Keep your fingers crossed for us! (We need all the help we can get!)
