Cats!!! Heel!! No!!!

[petluvr01]

Ok, I live right next door to a lady who feeds the wild cats in our town, and to go up to the post office I have to walk past her house. I can't get him to heel and listen to me when he sees a cat. he always wants to go to it. Well, he doesn't heel well in the first place, so is there any suggestions to get him to walk better with me?? I have tried using a harness b/c I felt bad when he would pull onto the leasha nd keep choking himself, and I have started (gently) using a choke chain. I have only used it a couple of times, but I was wondering if there was any secret to getting him to heel. Just to make it clear he doesn't do the whole stand by my left leg with a treat and walk with me! Thanks for any help!!

 

[sheltie_love]

Hi,
I don't know if this will help with the cat problem, but i think it might teach your dog to walk better with you.
The "coke can" method- get an empty soda can and fill it with small pebbles to create a rattling noise. when your dog starts to run ahead of you, throw the pebble can just ahead of your dog. the surpise of the noise will startle the dog and should stop him. he'll learn that whenever he pulls ahead too much a startling noise will occur, which doesn't have to do with his owner who is holding the leash. repeat as often as you need to.
hope this helps!

Caroline & sheltie Amber

 

[tehluhlah]

Smoke used to be a terrible leash puller until we bought him an EZ Walk harness, which eliminated the pulling instantly. To teach him to heel, I used a clicker and treats -- whenever he started to go out ahead of me I would stop, and when he returned to my side I would click+treat. Now he stays right by my side waiting for that treat.

I've also heard that a target stick works wonders for training a heel, but I've never tried that.

 

[sheltt]

The Target Stick

The Target Stick is what is used in "TTOUCH" I have tried that but it is hard trying to handle the dog and the stick and treats. The Harness and treats are best, if you find your dog is pulling or walking to far in front simple turn and go in the other direction, this will put them back at your side and show them that unless they are beside you they don't get to go where they are wanting to go.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

I know this is a pretty old thread but I thought I'd make a suggestion for anyone having trouble with certain distractions on walks.

Sadie is pretty good most of the time, her big problem is her excitement when seeing other dogs and the occasional loud car or truck passing.

I taught her the look command and giver her praise and some really yummy treats. When she see's something that distracts her, I say "Sadie Look" and instantly have her attention back on me.

At first it may only be for a few seconds but after some practise after saying "Look" you should be able to maintain the dog's attention long enough to get by the distraction, assuming you're consistant and give your dog really yummy treats every time. Eventually you won't have to give treats all the time, but going back and giving treats once in a while reinforces the command.

For those who don't know how to teach the "look" command, you get a treat, show it to the dog, put it near to your eye and say "look," then give the dog the treat. Eventually when you say "look" your dog will automatically look you in the eye.

 

[Shelletlover]

Yes, I have been working on this with CeCe on our walks lately and it does seem to work. She will start looking at me first but is still a little distracted. It will take some more work, a few more treats, but it is working. It also helps her to sit before we cross a busy street. I can get her focused on me and not the other cars.