I need help with walking my dog

[yoopermom]

Do you have a 4-H club nearby? A child old enough to join? I led a 4-H dog project for year "out in the middle of nowhere", and had the parent come with the child for awhile, so you could learn too.

And another yes for the prong collar, properly fit and used. I have hounds that can see a cat or rabbit across the yard but with a prong collar on will NOT rip the leash out of my hand, they know better (and NOTHING else would ever stop them ). Never leave it on them, use it right behind the ears, and learn to "pop" it.

Do you have a treadmill? Teach him to use it!

Good for you for taking him in and good luck!

Terri

 

[HelenePA]

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.

I tried the turn around when he pulls thing but he just finds something "fun" in the other direction! He's a riot! Last night we went to see fireworks a few towns away. It was the first time he was home alone... (It was less than 2.5 hours) Dh got home before we did. He had my living room curtains pulled down. At least nothing was chewed up like I was warned about

Here is a pic of the boys... (Anthony 1, Aidan 5, Charlie the dog who is also 5) the kids changed a setting on my camera and then the batteries died so this will have to do for now

I will keep working with him. When I can... if I can't get him walking nicely by the end of the summer we will go to some doggy classes! Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll go look up the other collars now...

 

[walden]

I have to disagree with the previous posters on the choke and prong collars.

Please don't spend money on them without looking into the subject in much more depth. They are a very old-fashioned aversion-based method, although still recommended by some old-school trainers. Of course, they work, because your dog eventually learns that pulling hurts and chokes. Sadly, they can be dangerous and you risk seriously injuring your dog's neck. A Halti collar or a "Gentle Leader" is far more humane and effective. The dog may take a short time to get used to the strap around his nose.

I also recommend basic obedience training as soon as possible. It can be a fun family activity if you involve the children too. For dog trainers on TV -- I recommend Victoria Stillwell (Animal Planet). Her training methods are primarily positive and reward-based and you should be able to get her books and videos from the library. I'm a big fan of clicker training too. This is as useful website. www.clickersolutions.com. TrulyDogFriendly.com is another excellent site and maintains a list of reward-based trainers in many states.

In the short-term, only adults should walk him at the moment, but you know that. If he pulls, turn, if he pulls in that direction - turn again and walk in the other direction, repeat, repeat and repeat. Click and reward anytime the leash is loose. Yes, it does mean that you look like an idiot and perhaps only progress a few feet in any direction before turning, but most dogs "get it" after a couple of sessions.

He sounds like a very cute dog and still an enthusiastic puppy. Best of luck with him!

 

[SandrA9810]

The gentle leader, that's the other one I was thinking of. It's design just isn't good for a dog's muzzle. It works the same as a Halti, it just rubs the fur right off. And I'm sure it's probably not comfortable for the dog either.

Another benefit is the kids can use it too without needing proper training. As the oldest gets bigger, I'm sure you're gonna ask more help from him. And having this will allow him to do so. For now, you can practice in the house or in the back yard.
With the Halti on, I could barely feel a tug at the end of the leash before she backed up a bit. Dogs hate their mouth being forced shut.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Here is a pic of the boys... (Anthony 1, Aidan 5, Charlie the dog who is also 5) the kids changed a setting on my camera and then the batteries died so this will have to do for now

Your now 3 sons are simply adorable !

 

[flipturngirl]

I have to disagree with the previous posters on the choke and prong collars.

Please don't spend money on them without looking into the subject in much more depth. They are a very old-fashioned aversion-based method, although still recommended by some old-school trainers. Of course, they work, because your dog eventually learns that pulling hurts and chokes. Sadly, they can be dangerous and you risk seriously injuring your dog's neck. A Halti collar or a "Gentle Leader" is far more humane and effective. The dog may take a short time to get used to the strap around his nose.

I would like to point out that when using a choke collar correctly they will not hurt the dogs neck.

What is the correct way to place a slip collar on a dog?
A.

The proper way to put on a choke collar is to put it in front of the dog so it looks like a horizontal 'P.' The leash is attached to the ring that does not have the collar sliding through it. From the leash then, the collar runs over the TOP of the dog's neck and then around to the other ring. When placed on your dog in this manner, pulling on the leash will cause the collar to tighten. When you relax the leash, the collar loosens.

If placed on your dog incorrectly, the links of the collar go from the leash through the other ring and then UNDER the dog's neck. If placed on your dog incorrectly, the collar will often not automatically loosen when you pull on the leash.
It is best to receive training from a dog handler or trainer on the proper use of a choke collar. Injuries to dogs have occurred when the collars were incorrectly placed on the dog or used improperly. If your dog is very small or has a respiratory problem, choke chains are not recommended. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2098&aid=1117

Also reward training might not be the best solution for you. I know that many people do this, but if you are in the yard or in traffic when you need to get the dog to listen it won't because it is only used to knowing commands with the treat attached to it.

Hope your new addition to the family is wonderful!

 

[mhawk4]

We have a half English Bulldog/half Rhodesian Ridgeback who weighs about 80 pounds and is as strong as can be. He is okay with walking on a regular leash, but if he sees something or run he will pull me right over. It is the only leash I will let my girls use to walk him. The trainer suggested the Easy Walk harness (http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Easy-...1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1277771297&sr=8-1) which has been a big help. I have arthritis in my thumbs so it also helps the tugging on my hands.

 

[dimimi]

I walk both of our dogs using a choker collar. They don't get walked often and then it is like starting over. If the dogs start pulling I stop and make them sit. Keep in mind I am walking 2 80 pound dogs at a time.

After a couple nights of me walking and stopping and making them sit, they catch on and all is well. Of course the first few nights, it is a lot of work, but it will pay off.

 

[JerseyJanice]

When I took Max to obedience class, he was six months old. We had given up on walking him at that point because he was just too rambunctious. He calmed down a tiny bit after we had him neutered, but he still wasn't walkable until we started using a Halti.

At obedience class, the teachers had us try all different collars on our dogs to see what each dog responded best to. They had a variety of choke collars, Gentle Leaders, and I don't know what else. Since Max appeared to be "head shy" (according to them), the Halti wound up being the best thing for him. They believed that dogs are individual when it comes to collars, and what works best for one canine may not be the best for another.

Our teachers were very big on walking dogs on a lead. They told us it is one of the best ways to bond with your dog. They were totally against retractable leashes and recommended using a 6-foot woven leash for most walking situations or a 30-foot woven leash if you take your dog to beaches and parks. The bigger your dog, the wider the leash you choose.

They also told us that choke collars are not cruel because a dog's neck muscles are very powerful. There were dogs in our class who they recommended the choke collars for, but Max is a Halti kind of guy. Which is good because I felt bad about the idea of choking him.

The dog is gorgeous, and I hope you get him under control. If you know of a good pet store that sells dog stuff, perhaps they'll let you try out some collars to see what might work for him. Good luck!

 

[HelenePA]

Today is day 5 of him being home... He is doing MUCH better on walks. I'm gonna say he's down to pulling about 30% of the time... The first walk was about 110% of the time Which was horrible while pushing a stroller at the same time! Seriously I was sweating it was very much a workout! We also have to work on him stealing the kids food. I'm working on him going into the other room while we eat. It seems he had little to no boundries at his other house. We'll get there.. He's home to stay. All the neighbors love him (thank god because he went under my fence into my neighbors yard yesterday there is about a 1/2" gap between the bottom of the fence and the ground I have NO idea how he fit!)