# You can still do fun things with a Reactive Dog you just have to be more creative about it... I am on a Town Forest Committee, and I can't bring Sage to hang out loose and unsupervised around a lot of people while we do trail maintenance, like some of the others do with their dogs, but today I had an opportunity to go do something helpful I coul… ## Thread In Behavior · started by Wryly Brindle · 8 replies - **Category:** [Behavior](https://nihonken.org/community/c/behavior) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## Wryly Brindle · 2009-05-13T20:55:06.000Z you just have to be more creative about it... I am on a Town Forest Committee, and I can't bring Sage to hang out loose and unsupervised around a lot of people while we do trail maintenance, like some of the others do with their dogs, but today I had an opportunity to go do something helpful I could bring him along to do. Community service- without the Community! Reilly, Sage and I went out to one of our Town Forests and installed the arrow signs along the trail today. It's nice by-yourself work. I put the backpack on Sage, filled it with arrows and a box of nails and off we went. Sage was on the short leash, and Rei was off, but Sage did not mind- he walked with me and carried the load and he sat when we stopped so I could get one of his signs and nail it up. He did not mind the noise of the hammer, and I gave him dried liver to thank him for being such a good helper. Nobody ate any horse poop, but we saw plenty, and because it was a weekday morning, there was nobody out on the trails. Usually I have Sage off leash in this forest, but today he was "working" and the fact that he does not seem to mind makes me feel so much more confident that I am not denying him anything terribly important to him by keeping him close. I think he likes it. I like this woods because we have only met anyone else in there a handful of times in 5 years. It's an unappreciated forest, or else people today find a No for every season- too cold, too ticky, too much poison ivy, too hot, and by the time all those no's are done it's hunting season) but for us it's fine- we'll comb off a few ticks, wear our hunter orange vests and bells if it means we can be alone. We can all relax...although putting up the trail signs may eventually bring more people, but selfishly I hope there will still be enough empty time for us. ## okiron · 2009-05-13T21:13:30.000Z Aww sounds so relaxing. ## cmmookie · 2009-05-13T21:41:43.000Z That sounds like so much fun. It's great that you found a good job for Sage and that he liked it so much. So many people would just give up on ever going out or doing anything with a reactive dog. Kudos to you!! ## _dlroberts · 2009-05-13T23:10:51.000Z That's great! He looks perfectly content to be a helper. :-) ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2009-05-14T00:25:31.000Z Having a moderately reactive dog myself, I applaud your efforts to still get out there with Sage. Great job! ## baanton · 2009-05-14T00:46:54.000Z Sage looks so happy to be helping out... I can see his pride in the picture! What a great service you are doing, both with Sage, and finding ways to help your community. I know you have not had him in your life for very long, but I predict with the wonderful "reconditioning" he is getting with your care he just maybe able to have a bit more freedom as time goes on. And if not, it seems he is very contented to be near, and tethered to you! Love the description of the woods trail and the work you did together! Thanks for sharing! ## lindsayt · 2009-05-14T02:47:48.000Z Wow, good work. Sounds very peacefull and productive. ## KFontaine04 · 2009-05-14T11:20:50.000Z Way to go Sage! He is adorable and looks like he really loves to work! ## Saya · 2009-05-14T16:03:34.000Z Good job Sage I bet you made your owner proud! =) It looks like he had a good time with you also he's such a pretty dog and helpful too. --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)