Hi all. Albert is now 7 months and is a fantastic dog, responds well to recall (most of the time) and also "leave it". He's loving, gentle, very playful and full of energy and is really a joy........except for one thing he's just started. After a walk, swim, play whatever we choose to do, when we put him back on the lead to go home he goes a bit bonkers. He jumps around like a mad thing, but mainly just tugs on the lead. He is so strong that I can barely hold on to him. I give the sit command and try not to move until he does this. Because he's so strong, I can't turn my back on him, as he's pulling me everywhere. If OH has him he's got a bit more control, and the sit comes quicker. I don't speak to him, or make eye contact if I can help it, but it's very difficult when he's tugging so hard. After he's sat we move, and sometimes it starts over again, so we go through the same performance. He does know nothing is going to happen until he sits, we use it often. It's like he doesn't want to go home and is trying to tell us who's boss. This doesn't happen on a lead walk, nor if we put him back on the lead mid walk for any reason, only when it's time to go home and not every time. He understands and responds to' heel', but ignores us when he's in mad mode, and we also have a 'walk close' command where I want him to walk closer to me, and this too he ignores. Any suggestions would be most welcome, as I need to stop this if I can before he gets any bigger. Is it just an adolescence thing? Thanks. Jan
Re: Tug of war with the lead. Huge sympathy from me, as I have been dealing with this for some time. My Molly is just coming up for a year. My observations are. It most frequently happens on the last walk of the day when she is tired. Think of a tired hyper active toddler and you are intheright area. I never could find out what triggered it, it seems to come out of nowhere. I truely don't think it is aggression, although it certainly looks and feels like it. I think it is a massive burst of energy with nowhere to go. If they are off the lead they run round like a mad thing for a short while and that's it. We don't even notice. When they are in full flood nothing seems to work, and it is not for want of trying on my part. This a very common moan from owners of teenage Labs. If you look at the thread "Unacceptable Behaviour" I started a few weeks ago you will see that many people have the same experience. Which is a comfort because you start wondering what you have done wrong. Again, massive sympathy from me. Been there, done that and didn't enjoy it one little bit.
Re: Tug of war with the lead. I also think it is tiredness, like a fractious toddler, they don't know what to do with themselves. Mine used to come home and scratch up his bed and the carpet and go mad.
Re: Tug of war with the lead. How does he know is time to go home ? Do you always say/do the same thing ?
Re: Tug of war with the lead. [quote author=Jen link=topic=7799.msg109200#msg109200 date=1410623059] How does he know is time to go home ? Do you always say/do the same thing ? [/quote] He doesn't "know" but seems to have a sixth sense. It's only ever when I put the lead on for the "last time" I don't say a word just whistle him back to me, and clip his lead on. I do this during our walks too, when I'm not going home and it doesn't happen. Jan
Re: Tug of war with the lead. Thanks Tina. I'll have a look at the other threads. He's not really aggressive when he does it, and I'm never concerned he'll bite me, it's his brute strength when pulling that worries me. Nice to know it's not just Albert!! Jan
Re: Tug of war with the lead. Do you always play for roughly the same amount of time ? Have you tried putting his lead on after only 5 minutes play walk around a bit then let loose again ? Repeat it every 5 minutes or so and see if he works out which is the last time. ;D
