Widgeon is now 10 months and although his training seems to be sinking in fairly well (heel, recall, retrieve etc) he has a few 'grey' areas. After reading a few recent posts I have decided to focus on his walking to avoid further problems later. He will generally walk nicely on 'known' walks but does have a habit of lunging at things now and again. I have been guilty of getting caught up in my own thoughts and letting him amuse himself on the lead (obviously not a good idea when a small dog is concerned it as a previous poster said "busy life's etc") I have re read Pippa's artical on no forward progress if the dog is in front. 1. Although he tends to have a slack lead I was shocked how often he was on front of me 2. I do feel slightly silly standing still in the road with a small dog 2 feet in front of me!!! I have found as he gets in front, if I stop he keeps going until the lead goes tight, we stand still for a while then he sits and waits for me to get level then falls into step. Does the sit constitute as the 'punishment' or do I need to push for him to return to me? If so what's the best way to do this without hauling on the lead?
Re: Positive slack lead training I know just how you feel. One feels such a prat just standing there while you wait for your dog to stop pulling. But I regularly watch people walk past my house leaning backwards at nearly 45 degrees with a dead straight lead going to their dog. I am DETERMINED not to join their ranks. I have found it very easy to become complacent about her training, saying she's good for her age (6 months), well it is the easy option. But shoulders back."Good enough" will not do. I want the best from her. Are other members finding their dogs distracted by all the Spring smells and sights.
Re: Positive slack lead training Dogs pull on lead because they are excited and want to get on as quickly as possible , maybe anticipating an off lead run so in this case , employing the Sit is enforcing your rules , that pulling will not get them there any quicker, in fact it will slow them down Talking of feeling like a prat , when Sam was really bad at pulling , I not only stopped, but would turn and walk in another direction or even walk backwards so that he was walking towards me and not pulling. It isnt a quick fix and , being the enthusiastic dogs that they are , it takes time but the penny does drop eventually, honestly
Re: Positive slack lead training I do a lot of stop, start, change direction with murphy to get him walking on a slack lead and must look ridiculous to the neighbours! Sometimes if he is particularly excited and i change direction a lot i end up dizzy and have to stand still and wait for my head to stop spinning! To be honest though I feel just as silly when he is lunging around as i feel that people are probably looking at me thinking "she cant control her dog!".
Re: Positive slack lead training Thanks. Molly, I have been doing the same, around the village he walks 'nicely' so I try up scaling slightly and he's a nightmare. I'm left trying to reassure people "honestly you see him tomorrow at 6am, he's really good"! I had been thinking maybe "it's his age and he'll grow out of it" so I tried stopping and turning. I think what's happening is he is walking at the same speed, in the same direction at the same time as me. Giving the impression of slack lead which then falls apart as soon as he sees or smells something interesting. I wanted to make sure his sitting to get me to move forward would be as good as him returning to my side? He will only move when I draw level so I think he knows what is required of him. As he has started to do this off his own back it seems a shame to change him if it will work!!
Re: Positive slack lead training My take on walking on a slack lead, is that the pup should be along side on the slack lead? If the pup walks ahead and the lead goes tight you stop, there will no movement forward until the pup returns to your side. The best way I have found is to wait until the pup looks at you and then turn away, you will find the pup will follow continue for a few yards and then do an about turn and continue. If he goes ahead and sits, still do the above. Do not walk up to him? You are teaching him to walk ahead, you lead the way and he should follow. Do plenty of turns and about turns, stops and sits along side, try to get the pup to look at you. The last couple of pups we have had the Clicker has been used to great effect, they get C&T when in the correct position on the move, if we stop the pup sits C&T. The clicker is on a lanyard around your neck and hangs down to the midriff, this is where the lead and clicker are held in the right hand and treats in the left hand if the pup is on the left. Yes, we all look complete idiots when walking with the pup, but the rewards are worth it. 8)
Re: Positive slack lead training I agree with Sue (Indy) Walking up to the dog is a bad idea. Lure him back to heel a few times with a treat and feed him in the heel position. Then bring him back into heel using your hand in the same way, but without the lure and feed him in the heel position. If you want to try a clicker, you can click and place a treat on the ground at your heel. As he eats the treat, you can set off and click him again as he draws level with you. There is a good kikopup video that illustrates this technique. I'll find it.
Re: Positive slack lead training This vid is in my playlist : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgtqgiAKoQ The first bit of the demo (with a small dog, who is actually moving quite slowly) - about the treat on the ground technique - I do not find at all easy with a much bigger, much stronger, much more excitable dog. Also the advice to walk back and forwards, back and forwards in front of my house, changing direction all the time, resulted in a completely stressed out Charlie. The bit at 1.35 minute is the best technique, I think.
Re: Positive slack lead training I think this is a more realistic video of a dog who actually looks like it is learning (rather than one who is trained and being used for a demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawGibMta54 Charlie could not learn this in 4 minutes though, he is much more excitable than the dog in the vid - 30 seconds is enough before he gets too stressed.
Re: Positive slack lead training Thanks. I have tried the 'leg pat, kissy noise' from the 1st video. I think the way forward might be the turn around and walk the other way technique. This way he will naturally be behind me.
Re: Positive slack lead training Murphy is a bit "excitable" when first going out and I used to get sooooooooo frustrated at his pulling! Now, even tho` I probably look stupid if he pulls it`s a smart "about turn" and walk in the opposite direction. Sometimes it`s been known for me to only cover 200/300 metres in 20 minutes and all that within site of the house!! Don`t give up. IT WILL GET EASIER
Re: Positive slack lead training Hi just wondering what you think, Nevis went through a stage where he pulled so we got him a harness which is great. He'd walk fine at the side of me but... He likes to carry something in his mouth as he walk usually it was my house key it had one of those cork key rings the one that float if you dropped it in water. Well the other week it finally broke off so i took it off him, now he's all over the place trying to pick up things. So do i find him something else to carry? only problem i found with him carrying something was giving him treats for good work like sitting before crossing roads etc but he didn't seem to mind he was happy with the cork ball :
Re: Positive slack lead training Bruer, my opinion, for what it's worth, is if you are happy that he will always need something in his mouth, ok. But if he goes off the rails as soon as he doesn't have anything maybe retrain his heel for a mouth free walk?? Just a big thanks for your advise. I did as you suggested and he's had 3 walks since inc a cheaky one 'up the farm' and I was supprised he was at heel like a pro, a few corrections but as soon as I stop he turns and straight back into position without braking stride. He's also been retrieving to hand at a sit with his Hex bumper (another tip from you guys) He'll make a great gundog yet!! ;D ;D
