Cushing is one of my favorite places to take the dogs for training. It is popular enough that you'll find people walking at any time of day, but big enough that you can get enough distance to train your dog effectively. I go here at least once a week with dogs to train confidence building, commands in a distracted environment, and leash walking.
With its big open lawn, playground, and walking path, Cushing is a great spot to walk your dog. It was originally a military hospital site, later acquired to provide geriatric care and research, and now is a beautiful open area for everyone to in the community to enjoy. It is a wonderful place to walk, have a picnic, or swing on the playground, and of course hang out with your dog!
Practice walking by distractions
This park is a favorite in the community, so you'll definitely get to see how lively this place gets, especially in the coming warmer months. With such a busy environment, comes with a lot of distractions for your furry friend. You can always use a harness with a front clip to help your dog redirect his attention back to you and not all the exciting puppies walking by. To work on some training, you can walk around the park and practice "with me" when you pass a person, dog, or kid on a scooter. Even in the winter months, there is usually a fair amount of people at the park, so you can get some good practice in. You'll find there are different areas where your dog will walk well and others that are challenging.
All dogs are different! One dog might be really nervous walking by the playground full of children while another dog is super excited. One dog might get to chill out during the stretch past the living facility, while another dog pulls to eat every acorn on the path. I encourage you to do a combination of work and play - work in the areas that are challenging, and explore other areas of the park where your dog is calmer and more obedient. Not only is this a great opportunity to have your dog explore new places, but it is also a good opportunity for you the owner to get to know your dog better in different environments.
Play on the playground
Getting your dog to climb on new textures and interact with moving objects is a great way to build confidence and explore new territory. This playground is fun for dogs because it is nature inspired and a lot of the apparatuses are stumps and wooden. This makes it a little easier for dogs to approach and more likely to conquer new fears. It is so fun watching your dog reach new heights, literally!
Practice commands from a distance
There is a big open area in the middle of the park which is perfect for long leash training. With a long leash you can practice commands like "come" from varying distances. This is a great way to start working on your recall for your dog, and an important skill for them to learn. Also always remember to have some high value treats on you to reward your dog, or manage any unwanted behaviors.
For nervous dogs, the middle is a great way to add distance from the things that might scare them on the path, such as a dog or bike. See how far you have to be away from the path before your dog starts to listen to you. Then let them sniff and explore on the long leash so he can do "dog" things even with the scary things in the distance.
No matter what kind of dog you're working with, Cushing could be a great place to begin some training, socialization, and have fun with your pet! At any season, this can be a really great place to begin working with your dog, and getting them used to a different environment with more people and other dogs. Whether it's rolling around in the grass, or relaxing under a shady tree, there is something here for everyone, and every pup!
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