Our field trip to Bass Pro Shop occurred on March 27, 2010. This was a fantastic outing for all the dogs that were able to attend. Of course, there are tons of clothing racks which is always good practice for the dogs but the array of animal statues inside the store is spectacular. Did you know that there are 25 stuffed bears inside Bass Pro Shop?
Real animal hides can be a little scary for dogs because their excellent sense of smell alerts them to the fact that the statues are no longer living . So while we were there we encouraged each of the dogs to to walk up and investigate the statues. This exercise helps to desensitize the dogs to the smell of death and encourages them to trust that their handlers will not put them in harms way. I find that when working with Jasper he is always willing to investigate something new the first time, however, he often hesitates the second time he sees the same thing. Therefore I always try to repeat the same training exercise several times on each outing.
We also had the opportunity to practice walking across two different types of bridges. The first bridge went across running water which caused Jasper to show a small amount of hesitation, but with a little reassurance he walked right over it. The second bridge was on the second floor and allowed the dogs to see below to the floor beneath them. Jasper and I have practiced walking over these types of bridges so many times that he just walks right across them like a pro.
So next time your looking for a great training opportunity for your service dog stop by Bass Pro Shop you won’t be disappointed!
