I need help with walking my dog

[HelenePA]

2 days ago we got a new dog.. His name is Charlie. He is 5 yrs old and an English Springer Spaniel. He is a VERY good dog inside my house and yard but put him on a leash and oh boy your in for a work out. Now I've watched the dog whisperer for many many years. I thought I would know how to make him walk nicely maybe I'm expecting too much in 2 days? Anyone want to give me pointers? The previous owners had to rehome him because they have 2 other dogs. He was just too hyper for the other dogs and the owners to handle. As a one dog family he is a perfect dog none of the stuff they warned me about is true! They said he knew how to walk on a leash.. well they lied or he just doesn't do it nicely with me.

 

[crz4mm2]

Choke collar. Do you know basic obedience? If not, sign up for a class.
It will be the BEST money you ever spend.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

2 days ago we got a new dog.. His name is Charlie. He is 5 yrs old and an English Springer Spaniel. He is a VERY good dog inside my house and yard but put him on a leash and oh boy your in for a work out. Now I've watched the dog whisperer for many many years. I thought I would know how to make him walk nicely maybe I'm expecting too much in 2 days? Anyone want to give me pointers? The previous owners had to rehome him because they have 2 other dogs. He was just too hyper for the other dogs and the owners to handle. As a one dog family he is a perfect dog none of the stuff they warned me about is true! They said he knew how to walk on a leash.. well they lied or he just doesn't do it nicely with me.

I'd sign up for a dog class, but be sure they use positive methods, not the old-fashioned dominance ones. Maybe a Halti collar? Or try working with Charlie in the backyard on the leash with tiny little nibbles of treats, letting him know he gets rewarded for staying with you (treats and walking) but you freeze (no walking and no treats, don't even say anything) when he starts to pull. It may take a lot of start-and-stopping, but he'll get the picture that the fun stops as soon as he pulls and the party starts when he's walking like a good boy.

Good luck and enjoy your new pal!

 

[SandrA9810]

my dog was a natural puller, spitz line, so choke collar did NOTHING. Waste of money for me. What I did find was a Halti collar. People always think you have a muzzle or something on them, even when her tongue is hanging out.
It's a head collar, and prevents them from pulling. I've seen another version, with just two straps, and had to use it. What i found was, it would slide around on the muzzle cause a rub burn and loss of fur. The halti has more straps, so it doesn't slide around the muzzle and less irratating.
Found mine on ebay for 5 bucks brand new. Its sold in stores for over 20. And it comes in different sizes.

 

[Luvchefmic]

my dog was a natural puller, spitz line, so choke collar did NOTHING. Waste of money for me. What I did find was a Halti collar. People always think you have a muzzle or something on them, even when her tongue is hanging out.
It's a head collar, and prevents them from pulling. I've seen another version, with just two straps, and had to use it. What i found was, it would slide around on the muzzle cause a rub burn and loss of fur. The halti has more straps, so it doesn't slide around the muzzle and less irratating.
Found mine on ebay for 5 bucks brand new. Its sold in stores for over 20. And it comes in different sizes.

BIG advocate of the Dog Whisperer as you can tell (& with 8 dogs) he is "Uncle Cesar" in this house.
Remember don't let him get past you at the threshold or back he goes. Takes a LOT of work & patience. Congrats on your new baby. If you can't get the type of leash that Cesar uses (& its not cheap) than I totally agree with the Halti ...does work. Choke collar IMHO no bashing here I hate them....also English Springer Spaniel..hunting dog ..we have Pointers here takes a lot to wear both these breeds out. I starting to use the treadmill with them lately its really working if you can do that..

Oh one other thing http://www.cesarsway.com/

monthly newsletter costs nothing I learn a LOT on there

 

[HelenePA]

I live in no where PA. I'll have to look for classes which might have to wait til the kids are back in school. He is a AKC dog.. his former owners tried to make him a hunting dog so when he sees a rabbitt you better be holding on to him tight! They did an obediance class with him before they gave him to me to try and fix what was wrong.. it seems it was the other dogs and not him. I dont know if they worked on the walking or not.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I live in no where PA. I'll have to look for classes which might have to wait til the kids are back in school. He is a AKC dog.. his former owners tried to make him a hunting dog so when he sees a rabbitt you better be holding on to him tight! They did an obediance class with him before they gave him to me to try and fix what was wrong.. it seems it was the other dogs and not him. I dont know if they worked on the walking or not.

I was edited while you were posting...I personally think if you wait until Sept you are going to have a bigger problem on your hands...you can do this...everyone said it wasn't possible but I can now feed 6 of the 8 at one time...no problems...we're getting there with the other 2 little food thieves

 

[Northstar]

English Springers tend to be both hyper and love sponges. For our dearly-departed Springer, that meant:

1. He was impossible on a leash when he hadn't gotten enough exercise for a day or two. He was so eager to jump around, getting a hard jerk or a choke just went right over his head at the beginning of a walk. By the end of a good walk, he was much calmer and more in tune with the person at the other end of the leash. And if he got lots of exercise every day, that meant he was better even at the beginning of the walk.

2. He was eager to please the people he loved. Once he'd got the ya-yas out as mentioned above, you could work on leash training, heeling, etc. A constant stream of happy chat (not too excited, or he'd start jumping and playing) was the best training reinforcement for him. He actually loved training sessions because it meant you were interacting with him and he could make you pleased with him.

So yeah, I think you're expecting too much for two days. He hasn't settled down and he probably isn't too focused on pleasing you yet... you're nice and all, but not yet the center of his world.

But make sure he gets lots of exercise, even if it means you're getting your arms pulled off right now!

 

[kacaju]

where in *no where* PA do you live?? How far from NJ are you? I have a friend who owns an Obed school on Rt 12 in Flemington, also I do know of a few obed schools in the NE PA area

 

[snarlingcoyote]

What worked for me and the GSD was treating and a harness.

The harness is the type where the leash clips on under my GSD's chest - the kind that clip on on top of her chest don't work as well. She can't jump up or tug very well in this type of harness.

As for treating. . .I used to put a treat bag on my hip, opposite her. I kept her on a short leash. We walked around the house to start. When she was at my heel, she got treats (itsy little bits of cheese). Anywhere else and no treats. It didn't take her long to figure out the rules of the game. I gradually could let the leash out and she'd stay right there at my heel. I gave less and less treats, but occasionally still treat her for heeling. I also make sure I praise her to high heaven. She's a GSD and LOVES being praised (feeds into her whole "I'm a GOOD girl!" thing).

It took a while, but she's a good walker for me.

 

[HelenePA]

I was edited while you were posting...I personally think if you wait until Sept you are going to have a bigger problem on your hands...you can do this...everyone said it wasn't possible but I can now feed 6 of the 8 at one time...no problems...we're getting there with the other 2 little food thieves

Ah I wish I could do it sooner but Dh works 2 job (kids are expensive ) and is gone til 10:30 most nights (like tonight!) and baby sitters are expensive when you got 4.. soooo my options are limited. And yes he is a bundle of energy! We go for 1hour walks a day and the kids take him out VERY often in the yard and play ball with him which he LOVES! The former owners both worked and kept him in a crate for up to 8 hours a day and then over night so when he got out all he wanted to do is run run run.. I stay home so I have all the time in the world to work with him. He is also very very stinky! WHEEEEEEEEEE he is letting them rip tonight he's on blue buffalo canned and dry.

 

[HelenePA]

where in *no where* PA do you live?? How far from NJ are you? I have a friend who owns an Obed school on Rt 12 in Flemington, also I do know of a few obed schools in the NE PA area

I am in Schuylkill Co so NJ is 2 hours give or take. The closest "city" to me is Reading which is an hour away..

 

[doxdogy]

Do as others have stated try using a halter on him. If possible during quiet times (with no kids around), put some treats in your pocket and take him outside. Put him the sit position right next to your legs. You may have to teach him to sit. When he does sit, give him a treat and praise. Then tell him to heel and start walking, if he pulls forward tell him to sit. Again you may have to force him to sit and stop. You will just have to do this with him over and over and over again. Start out with just about 10 minutes a day and then gradually increase the amount of time you work on it. Just remember when he does it right give him a treat and sing his praises. If he jumps on people use the off command. Because if you teach him the down command it may confuse him.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Ah I wish I could do it sooner but Dh works 2 job (kids are expensive ) and is gone til 10:30 most nights (like tonight!) and baby sitters are expensive when you got 4.. soooo my options are limited. And yes he is a bundle of energy! We go for 1hour walks a day and the kids take him out VERY often in the yard and play ball with him which he LOVES! The former owners both worked and kept him in a crate for up to 8 hours a day and then over night so when he got out all he wanted to do is run run run.. I stay home so I have all the time in the world to work with him. He is also very very stinky! WHEEEEEEEEEE he is letting them rip tonight he's on blue buffalo canned and dry.

Perfectly understand your family situation...easy for me to advise with no 2 legged kiddos at home anymore ...you said alot in this post that makes sense...he's used to a totally different environment all cooped up (and mine are all in their seperate crates when I was working) and then bam the former owners cam home & this little fur ball took off like shot out of a cannon to releas all the energy that was pent up. So he never really had a "pack leader" and he's 5 years old. He's only been with you 2 days and the fact that you said he is good in the house & the yard in my book are very good signs...he's not racing around in your house like a tazmanian devil. Under the situation I would be practicing the walk right in your own backyard & get him under control there. Maybe due the backpack thing for him....he's a hunter he needs a job...that can be walking with you. Little by little he'll learn (still give him off leash free time) Was he on that same food at the other place?

 

[WDWorBUST]

The teacher of our obedience class recommended a prong collar. Although it looks really mean to me it has helped a lot with the pulling. This one is still a baby and learning....but it seems to help.

 

[kacaju]

http://www.tristatedogobedienceclub.org/index.shtml

http://www.ddtc.org/

http://wbdogtraining.com/default.aspx

http://www.berksdogtraining.org/

Here are a few training schools I found

 

[WDWorBUST]

The teacher of our obedience class recommended a prong collar. Although it looks really mean to me it has helped a lot with the pulling. This one is still a baby and learning....but it seems to help.

 

[DISdreamin']

+1 for the prong collar. The might look evil, but take one and put it around your wrist and give it a tug - the ends of the prongs are smooth. It just keeps them from leaning on it and choking themselves!

We used a choke on our GSD for a long time, and she was forever pulling and choking and pulling some more. Walks were awful. We put the prong collar on her, corrected her a couple times when she was pulling (a sharp "pop"/tug - not hard, but you'll know when they notice) and otherwise a very loose leash and man...she was a totally different dog.

Definitely get thee to a trainer, though, if you have any doubt about how to correctly use the prong collar if you decide to go that route. You don't want to hurt your dog. Same story for the Halti - if you give those a sharp pull or let your dog get a running start and hit the end of the leash, you can injure your pup too, so be cautious.

ETA: It goes without saying to never leave a choke or prong collar (or a halter either, I would guess) on your dog unsupervised. Personally, we don't even have our dogs wear collars of any kind at home. Sadly, we had dog-walking friends who lost a dog that way.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

+1 for the prong collar. The might look evil, but take one and put it around your wrist and give it a tug - the ends of the prongs are smooth. It just keeps them from leaning on it and choking themselves!

We used a choke on our GSD for a long time, and she was forever pulling and choking and pulling some more. Walks were awful. We put the prong collar on her, corrected her a couple times when she was pulling (a sharp "pop"/tug - not hard, but you'll know when they notice) and otherwise a very loose leash and man...she was a totally different dog.

Definitely get thee to a trainer, though, if you have any doubt about how to correctly use the prong collar if you decide to go that route. You don't want to hurt your dog. Same story for the Halti - if you give those a sharp pull or let your dog get a running start and hit the end of the leash, you can injure your pup too, so be cautious.

When our GSD went through her "talk to the paw because I'm not listening" phase as an adolescent, her trainer and breeder taught us how to use one of these. It was only used for training, and when used correctly doesn't hurt the dog. I'm all for these during training and when taught how to use them. Idjuts who choke their dogs with them and leave them on the dog 24/7 because they think the dog looks tough in them, or because they can't control their dog any other way. . .well. that's a different kettle of fish entirely.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My dog was a huge puller when he came home -- he'd be choking and gasping and it wouldn't stop him at all. He was small enough (28 lbs) that although it sucked all the joy out of walking him it wasn't a safety issue.

In the end what worked was turning around and walking the other way every time he pulled. It became "Oh, you want that? Then cut it out". In the beginning we'd walk a few steps, he'd go after a nice smelly spot, and then we'd turn around, walk 2 steps the opposite direction then just as he passed me we'd turn around again and head to the smelly spot - he started to pull and we'd turn around again. In the beginning we'd end up turning 3 or 4 times per smelly spot, but it clicked in. Now if he gets to the end of the leash I quietly call his name and he comes back, checks in and goes ahead again without pulling.