Our obedience school has been closed over the summer so a few of us have caught up for a group walk on a couple of occasions. I've been really pleased to join in as I think the controlled socialising is good for Ella. there's generally about 4-5 like minded people with reasonably well trained dogs. We allow them to all say hi on lead (Ella is always the over the top nutter of course ) but then we keep them all on lead while we walk. This has been great for Ella as she's definitely the most social out of the dogs so when we start walking, the other dogs don't tend to pay her much attention so she has been learning to walk semi-calmly as well. Here's the issue: The other dogs are all small dogs and a couple of the owners have health issues so the walks tend to be very slow (yep, I'm 37 weeks pregnant and I find them to be slow!). Ella seems to get a little frustrated and either starts pulling a bit or gets a bit bouncy and silly when we stop for breaks so I end up taking her for an extra walk at the end when everyone leaves. Given my very limited experience, I'm not sure if it would be seen as beneficial to persist with the walks as I could use them as a training exercise to teach Ella a bit of patience. Or, do you think it's mean to put her in a frustrating situation that causes her to act out?
I think that your dog has to learn to walk at whatever pace you are walking at - I do not walk very fast, I'm slower than my OH and my dog walker. But that's tough luck, I can never walk as fast as Charlie would like to go, which is a very fast trot indeed. So Charlie has to learn that when he is on lead with me, or indeed off lead with me if I call him to walk at heel, he has to walk much slower than he would like. I'd say stick with it, and it will be good for her. By the way, if your dog is a nutter saying hello on lead, it's better not to say hello on lead - why give your dog the opportunity to rehearse being a nutter? It's no good having a dog that "is ok once s/he has said hello" because you'll never be ok to work with people who don't want your dog to say hello.
Thanks Julie, great advice as always ☺ I'll persist with the walking and will work on getting her to be more patient. I just didn't want to be seen as mean! I'll also let the group know before next week that I'm not going to let Ella say hi unless she's calm. One of the good things about walking with a group from training is that we all have something (or many things in my case!) that we're working on with our dogs so everyone tends to be really helpful so hopefully it will be the perfect opportunity to work on it.
It's really helpful to have a group like that! If Ella always gets to say hello, she will never be calm until that happens...she's got to be calm, give it up, and then later she can say hello. It seems a bit like giving up smoking to me! You've got to give it up for so long before you can ever be trusted with it!
I've never been a smoker so I'll take your word for it! Great, I'm looking forward to working on it ☺. Ella's going to think I'm the meanest person ever when I take her for a slow walk and she's not even allowed to say hi to the other dogs haha!
When I gave up smoking (20 years ago now) I said to myself that I'd smoke again when I was 70. Anyway, I smoked again about 10 years ago, for an evening. Then didn't want to smoke again the next day. About 5 years ago, I had a cigarette, quite enjoyed it, but didn't have trouble not having another. I reckon it's a bit like that with Labradors saying hello (life span adjusted time appropriate!). If she is struggling being asked to do something new (walk slowly) then like anything, try to give her a break and not ask her to do something difficult for too long, but make it longer and longer - whatever might work for her. Go to the side and give her a run, or a few minutes of free sniffing, or walk ahead and back etc. I don't know your dog, so don't know what would work or what gets her excited so she can't calm down so you'll have to judge that. At training, when Charlie is asked to sit still and watch stuff (VERY difficult for Charlie) I ask him to sit still for a few minutes, then take him away for a few minutes and give him a game of tug, then walk round, then a settle, then ask him to sit and watch exciting stuff again... Anyway, hope helpful.
I was just wondering why the walk is all on lead. Is there somewhere you could meet as a group that would allow off lead running around. I know in France all our group dog walks were planned where the dogs could get maximum off lead walk/play/socialisation. Wish I could have given up smoking as easy as Julie T. I couldn't not smoke and then smoke for an evening or one cigarette. All or nothing with me. Finally cracked it 6 years ago with hypnotherapy
Eeek! It was the hardest thing EVER! I have never done anything harder than giving up smoking! But yes, after 10 years, I could have a cigarette then not smoke the next day. Only once though....not like I'd do it on a regular basis...but as a special treat, yes, I can have a cigarette every half decade or so*.... *Edited to add - after giving up for 10 years....
Have to admit giving up with the hypnotherapy was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Just wish it hadn't taken me so many years to get to that point but had tried all other methods with little success. Hypnotherapy though you walk in as a smoker and walk out a non-smoker
Not everyone is able to be hypnotised. Some people are 'susceptible' to it and others not. But even those who can be hypnotised can't be made to do something under hypnosis that they really don't want to do. Anyway, with the walk.... I'd keep going too, and use it as a chance to teach Ella a bit of self-control at greeting times. Soon you will be walking with a stroller and stopping and starting, so she will have to get used to that too, even though it's not necessarily her perfect idea of a walk.
My hypnotherapy had no element of any aversive to stop smoking but was built on all my reasons to stop. Also totally aware at all times of what is happening around you. I remember wondering if I was actually 'hypnotised' or not.
