Quiet morning at Citrus State park

We have plenty of recent trips over the last year that deserve a proper blog post, but there’s no better day to start than today.

Yesterday, Vader and I visited our local state park, California Citrus State Historic Park, spending some time walking through the orange groves and enjoying the late-winter conditions. The visit marked the beginning of his off-leash training in a more open environment. California accounts for 79% of US Citrus production, and Riverside is at the heart of that.

We focused on recall, check-ins, and maintaining awareness while moving through the park. For the most part, Vader did well and handled the added freedom appropriately. There were a few moments where distractions got the better of him, including running off briefly to greet people we encountered along the way. Luckily, a 20 lb Mini Poodle is not very intimidating, but we have work to do.

The park offers expansive views of Riverside and clear views of the San Bernardino Mountains. Overall, it was a productive outing and a good starting point for future off-leash work.