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Advice on exercise for your dog. Esp. useful hints on case where the dog has some physical limitations or when the handler does
Walking the dog: Strolling (Kay Laurence) in Word document
Let's Go for a Walk-Together! No Pulling Please!
Rambles on loose lease walking Interesting ramble and thoughts about walking without a leash to teach how to walk nicely beside you.
No control over your dog when you take a walk? One dog owner bought a slip lead the one that goes under one leg and around her chest.
For the first time in a year, she is just home from taking her for a walk! "This lead gives me so much more control and when I pull back, she takes a step back to me!!"
Go to IQDogToys in New Zealand to find your front harness.
Loose leash walking
Teach Your Dog to Walk on a Loose Leash
Walking Nicely On The Lead - Action Plan A comprehensive article to help you have a pleasant walk with your dog. Lots of helpful hints.
Walking on the lead: Taking the lead. Another article about using a prong collar.
"Halters cause problems, since backs can be damaged if a dog is wearing one while running and then hits the end of the leash. There is also a tendency to over-control your dog (simply because you now can) by dragging him away from anything that he wants to investigate, or anyone that he wants to meet. " Stanley Coren article |
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| Webmaster's note |
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Webmaster's note: I have included sites about prong collars as I know that some people have a problem with walking their dogs without pulling. I have never ever seen a prong collar, they look horrible, but I also know that choke collar are worse.
Suzanne Clothier is a well-reknown dog trainer, and feel that her article is worth a read. All knowledge is good. However, "These collars can be misused and can increase aggression in already aggressive dogs and increase the fearfulness in submissive dogs. A popular replacement for pinch and choke collars is the head halter" according to Stanley Coren
Suzanne Clothier uses prong collars to help with walking a dog without getting your arms pulled out of its socket. She discusses the problems with the gentle leader as well.
Pls note: to access this page, you need to login into her website abnd click on ARTICLES. No charge. While you are on her website, read her articles!! Very informative |
| Another method that works |
At the beginning, I started in my yard with no distractions. I put
his leash on, had him sit/stay (which he knew) and moved forward a few
feet. Then I said ok which is his release word, so he could start
following me. The second I saw his nose come up near my leg I
requested a sit/stay again and moved forward a few feet. I repeated
this a few times until he started anticipating the sit/stay by slowing
down just before he got to my leg.
Once I saw that he was slowing down in anticipation I introduced the
new cue, behind. If he has behind me I would say behind and calmly
praise him for staying in position. If he came up I would repeat the
sit/stay and start over. It only took a few sessions for him to get
the meaning of behind and what I was after.
I reinforced the behind cue by using it when going outside. For
example, if he wanted to go outside, I would open the door, say behind
and have him follow me out. Then I would release him to go play or
potty. That way I was getting in more "sessions" with the cue by
using it in day to day life, not just leash training.
In addition, when I was in the yard and he wanted to cruise along with
me I would occasionally say the cue to make sure that he "got it". We
have neighbors not too far off with hunting dogs that will bark like
maniacs if they see us. Usually, my dog would work with me in the
yard fine until they came out and then he would bolt to the fence.
But after working on this a bit, I noticed that I could recall him and
if I said behind, he would fall in behind me instead of immediately
bolt back to the fence. So I knew something was happening.
I practiced in the yard for about two weeks so that I was 100% percent
certain that he understood me. Then we progressed to out in the big
world but in non-distracting environments. I worked there for about
another few weeks and then slowly progressed to busy streets where we
would encounter other dogs.
What amazed me is that there wasn't a relapse, and no "going back to kindergarden". The first time we came upon a dog, I just said behind
and he fell back and passed without incident. It has been smooth
sailing ever since!
Hope I made sense!
Corine
Graham
in Sunny Southern France |
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| Google Sniff & Fetch |
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| On/Off Leash Walking |
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A story about how Sue got her dog to walk calmly with her dog.
Suzanne Clothier said: If you're feeling your dog's weight, you're restraining, not training. Minds & cooperation weighs nothing. You may need some equipment at first to help you reconnect with your dog, though your goal should be the lovely lightness of connection that is not dependent on the lead/collar/harness/halter.
You can work on this at home, off leash. I'd suggest Dr. Dunbar's videos on Training the Companion Dog to give you some good ideas on how to work with your dog off leash - that then translates nicely into on leash situations, whereas the opposite is not often true.
Another of Suzanne's Clothier's post about prong collars, etc
"If you don't like a piece of equipment, be careful dismissing it unless you have skill in using it. I'm extremely opinionated about what methods & equipment I'll use, and those strong opinions spring from experience, not just what I "think" about something. "
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