Hello everyone, I haven't posted in quite a while (mostly because I forgot my password and couldn't figure out how to get back in!) but I felt like I need some advice today after what is possibly the worst walk Dexter and I have ever had. Dexter is now 9 months old and certainly well into his adolescence phase. okay, so here's my problem with a bit of backstory: Walking on the lead up and down the street Dexter has learnt very quickly that we will not go anywhere until the lead is slack and we have now progressed that to not moving until he is stood by my left side, id say we are 90% compliant with this. If we see another dog across the road I manage to keep his attention with 'look at me' and LOTs of C&T. If we pass another dog on the same side of the road - less likely to keep his attention, LOTS of pulling, LOTS of jumping, LOTS of dragging me along the road but once we have passed his attention is straight back at me which it never used to be... so question one is that I can see he is lost in a frenzy of excitement - what do I do?? I cant keep saying look at me, I know he wont? Now its the Easter holidays and the weather is perking up, everyone is hitting the woods and the park for a picnic - our lovely walking sanctuary is lost to tourists, here is my biggest problem. Dexter on a lead walk in the woods is fine if he's tired but he needs to run around first before he really behaves because he's so excited to be there but with everyone around he cant be off the lead (his recall is perfect with no distractions but only 50/50 with distractions and generally he will only come back from other dogs if he's been told off by that dog other wise I chase him around like a loon - seems like a problem for another post) so today iv come home with blisters all over my hand and a lot of elbow and shoulder pain from being jerked around so much. We did a lot of stopping as soon as he pulled but this pup is strong he managed to drag me before we came to a stop every time, he sort of sits down and launches himself up and forwards from that position then he does sit and wait for me to walk next to him but as soon as im two steps forward he's launched himself up and forwards again, plus with dogs in front and behind us we couldn't go forwards and we couldn't go backwards - honestly i'm dreading tomorrows walk any advice would seriously help me out. We made a huge mistake on bank holiday Monday too, we took Dexter to a big common but they were having an activity day - cue my stupidity I figured we would walk him past the crowds and to a quieter spot - well, there was no quieter spot and we lasted 10 minutes before getting back in the car as the pulling and jumping to the point where he was landing on his back was ridiculous!! We wanted to go to a doggy beach on Saturday for my birthday but I think its not a good idea how long before you guys could go to unfamiliar places? Someone suggested taking Dexter to a car boot sale each week to get used to other dogs and crowds on walk - I feel like this is a bad idea
You have my sympathy, Ripple, at 10 months is very much the same - I'm continually working to try and keep his attention. Also off lead runs have become more difficult to achieve with the Easter holidays and (dare I say it) fair-weather dog walkers. I use a harness for walking in the most crowded areas but even this does not give me full control once he is at frenzy point. Personally I wouldn't be brave enough to attempt walking through a boot fair at the moment, we do visit the farmers market once a month and then it takes me the rest of the month to get over it. . We also try to do some walks which end at a dog friendly cafe where we can sit out of the way people watching. Hopefully someone will come along with some good ideas, otherwise I think it's just practise, practise, practise.
I guess ideally you would practise walking at heel passed one boring stationary dog and progress gradually to a moving dog and then several dogs - group classes could help (Similar progression with recall) I have an 11 month old puppy and she is starting to improve (maybe a little bit she says hopefully!) but she has a threshold distance. Fortunately she has more of a stop n stare n wag tail than a lunge, but within her threshold all restraint is gone. If I can't avoid the crowds then I put a really tasty treat on her nose (in her mouth) and move away as fast as I can. So yes its practise and maturity, but also being realistic as to what your puppy can manage.
We do use a harness but it mayaswel be a shoe string, he is such a strong pup once he's set his mind on something! I think I will try and find a dog friendly cafe so he can sit and watch the world in a calm manner and maybe familiarise himself with it all a little bit, he has got much better with people and especially children no longer jumping and pulling for them, but guaranteed to go insane if another dog passes @FoxyLady with the treat in front of the nose does that work once she is already in a frenzy or do you pre-empt it? I tried with chicken and found it quite difficult to get to the front of Dexters nose while he's jumping around and pulling like a maniac
Earlier this year I had Juno lunging towards other dogs wanting to get to say hello and it was something we hadn't had with her before. I had a 121 session which confirmed my own thoughts but we came up a plan to work on it, trying to keep other dogs at her threshold limit. Getting her to sit and then just waiting for her to look away from the other dog and then click and treat. She quickly started looking from the dog to me and now will walk past other dogs reasonably well by looking at me and getting a treat. I don't use the clicker any more just tell her she's good and treat. Come to that it's the only training I've used a clicker for . You need to start some where reasonably quiet to begin with so you can focus on your dog.
Hello there, this does sound, frustrating - I know, I've really been there If you have a calm dog, one that's not difficult to train (cheer yourself up by telling yourself you learn so much more with difficult dogs ) maybe there does just 'come a time' when you can go to new places. It wasn't like that with my dog though. He is an excitable dog, made a thousand times worse because he was isolated from other dogs and busy places between 8 months and 16 months (long story) and was, honestly, a crazy Tasmanian Devil when he eventually got to go places again. So I'd say definitely do not stop going to new places (although make sure you have the behaviour you need, eg walking on a lead, in familiar places first!). You have to take it step by step. Gradually up the excitement, work on getting a bit of calm, don't spend too long on it. Repeat - same place, look for a bit more calm. If you get it, try for a bit more time. And so on. You have to work out what works for your individual dog. I learned the level of excitement that we could 'work through' and I can wait it out, and the level at which I have to do a few minutes at a time. It was slow at first, it took months to be able to walk into the park alongside the tennis courts. I worked first getting to the gate without pulling or going mad, then a sniff inside, then 2 m, then to the bench, then to the swing, and so on. Now, he trots round that park, off lead, at heel if I ask, as good as gold. What I did not do, and it's pointless, is to put yourself and your dog in the position of your dog being so unable to cope he tows you round like a deadweight - this doesn't do anything for your dog, or you. It just makes everything worse and reinforces your dog for pulling. I think I still am working on new places, really. My dog is 3 years old. He is mostly ok, but can be a bit silly sometimes and start messing around and pulling on his lead. He usually calms down quite quickly these days though.
I pre-empt, so she's nibbling on a treat and doesn't even realise what we are going passed - its not training, just short term management.
@FoxyLady is quite right - sticking sardines (or whatever) on your dog's nose while he is 'jumping round and pulling like a maniac' is management. Sometimes needed. But try to avoid being in the situation where you have to do that, so you can train instead!
I am currently going through the same problem with my 6 month old lab. Advice here has been really helpful, will certainly up the reward and try a sardine on our walks! What harnesses do people use? I have been using a simple web harness where the lead clips on the back. She's nearly grown out of her harness so i'd like to buy her a new one. Can anyone recommend a non aversive harness that I can use alongside training that might help give me a little more control as she is starting to get really strong! Thanks.
Hi, I switched to the Happy at Heel harness in March from a back fastening harness. It was the best decision I made. I could stop if Dexter pulled, he was 9 months old and too strong for me if he pulled on the walk. He improved so much that since two weeks ago I now walk him on a limited slip lead. I highly recommend the Happy at Heel harness.
I hope you get success with it too Be consistent with stopping with every pull from your dog, it still is all about training. Lots of changes of direction both right and left.
