hi all my mum and I have a 6 month old lab puppy and we’re having some problems walking him as he is very strong. Mainly it’s when he sees another dog he pulls really badly towards them and then when we get to them he jumps all over them even if the other dog tells him off he keeps trying to jump at them. Also if he’s let off the lead and sees another dog in the field he will sprint towards them and completely blanks us out when we try calling him back and then when we catch him he still continues to want to play. For walks we do have a chest brace/harness for him but he’s still very strong Another thing I’d like to mention is that he keeps waking up at 4:30 am one of us let’s him out and then goes back to bed and we barely speak to him is it something to do with his routine? We feed him at 7am and 5pm walk him twice a day and put him to bed at 9:30 pm we used to give him a treat ball before bed but stopped that as we think it’s the problem (it’s only been one night without it so far so it’s still a test in progress) and we always let him out in the garden before bed and make sure he goes to the toilet. Or could it be that mum and I both work shift work and have to get up at 5am some days? Thanks in advance
I can answer your first question. Your puppy needs training so he learns that on lead and other dog’s walking - means no pulling. I use a variety of things - mostly Look at That (LAT). There are threads on this forum that explain this. If my puppy hasn’t got over aroused at seeing another dog, then I sometimes lure her past (treat held over her nose). Initially I would cross the road if I saw another dog walker ahead and use LAT. If it’s too late and I think she will react, then I ask for a ‘‘Middle’ - she goes between my legs and I just wait it out whilst the other dog walker goes past. My puppy has learnt that on lead does not mean playtime - I always say ‘look at that dog - it’s having a walk’ in a quiet business like way - as she directs her look to me, I treat her and say ‘good girl’. If your puppy is pulling when you walk even when other dogs are around, then that is a different training issue and there are many videos that show loose lead walking.hope this is helpful.
