A big thank you for the helpful advice and encouragement when my lead walking went downhill last week. I thought I'd give an update of the progress we've made over the last 5 days. My problems were Charlie lagging behind, not keen to walk forwards, and him digging his heels in and refusing to leave interesting smells on roads and pavements - when we'd previously done our clicker trained walking nicely off and on lead on beaches and fields part way through an off lead walk. I used to use a back fastening harness, which he has always hated with a passion that I find hard to understand. The first thing that helped, massively, was the streets being cleaned after the annual regatta. This reduced the summer seaside town road kill distractions of squashed chips, dropped crisps and ice cream significantly. I taught a "here" command which means press up against my leg and stick your nose into my cupped hand for a bit of roast beef! This gets his nose up out of any remaining seaside road kill better than waving a treat or my "leave it" command which has always been a bit rubbish. I'll obviously have to develop this into something less roast beef dependent long term. I took a deep breath and left the harness at home, and walked him on his slip lead - crouching down ready to restrain his body with my hands if I thought he wouldn't stay in a sit and was going to lunge to say hello to another person or dog (this is not a long term walking strategy obviously but worked fine). Yesterday, we did the whole walk with the slip lead hanging vertically down between us - I could have held it with my little finger. Today, I put his flat collar on him (only needed a small bribe of a single sea biscuit) with little fuss, and again, completely loose lead walk. Fleece lined, expensive, imported from Canada, harness anyone? Going cheap.... Thanks again for all the help!
Re: Good news on the lead walking well done julie sounds like a result how do you find the slip lead ?
Re: Good news on the lead walking Congratulations,congratulations!respect,respect......I'd be interested in your harness if it wasn't fleece lined ....can you remove it?and does it fasten at the front.the back fastening ones may as well just be a collar and lead to my steam engine dog!its not all bad......he doesn't pull all the time ...just a lot of time time!
Re: Good news on the lead walking Thanks all! I have to say I'm pretty thrilled. Really looking forward to our town walk now, and trying not to feel too smug as my pretty puppy trots along on his loose lead good as gold (because that is just asking for trouble, I know now my next challenge is just around the corner... Eg doing it without using so much roast beef for a start!). Just out of interest, I'm not going to use the slip lead on a regular basis - I'll try to stick with a flat collar now - but is there a right and a wrong way to put a slip lead on? I think the right way must be so the ring slips down the rope, or doesn't it matter? Angela, the fleece doesn't come off the walkeez, no, and it's back fastening. Although, I think a company called dog games does a front fastening one.
Re: Good news on the lead walking That's really fab Julie, well done! When you look at people walking their dogs, so few of them actually have a dog that walks to heel! Most are being dragged along... I know; I used to be one of those... :
Re: Good news on the lead walking if the harness is not right for angela i have p m you, i would be interested
Re: Good news on the lead walking Julie that is just fantastic, and well done Charlie what a good puppy you are. When you tell us all the work you have done with Charlie and what he has achieved it's easy to forget this lovely chocolate yummy boy is just 6 months old Helen X
Re: Good news on the lead walking Lynne it wouldn't be any good for me,but thanks Julie for the description,I know it was a good one you'd researched x
