Sandstorm growling/barking/lunging walking on our road, what to do?

[KarenCurtis]

Hi all. When Sandstorm and I go out of the house, he waits for me unitill I say okay, then we proceed off our property onto the dirt road. He starts barking/growling/lunging when we pass the neighbor across from us and the two neighbors on our left (and they are not at home). I don't feel this should continue, and we are thinking of doing one of two things:
1) I take him back to the house and start the walk over untill he improves.
2) I let him explore these neighbors property (somewhat) and he may get over it. (this is husbands suggestion, I like mine better)
What do you think? Making him sit doesn't work, just saying NO doesn't work. I don't want to use treats. The walk is the reward.
Thanks for all replies and suggestions.
Karen

 

[jerros]

I haven't had to deal with barking or lunging. But Vash does frequently get distracted on our walks when he sees a person or another dog and will do all sorts of things to get what he wants. He'll sit (which is the biggest pain in the bottom because he's practically immobile when he does this), he'll lay down, he'll pull towards who or what ever he sees.

I got so frustrated with this whole process that I went out, got myself a 20ft lead and every time he would pull his shenanigans on our walks I would simply say "Bye-Bye!" then continue to walk away from him as if he were walking by my side.

At first you may have a bit of a tugging match, but if you just ignore him and continue on your walk and put some distance between you and him he'll hopefully eventually want to join back up with you on his own. And when he does I usually click and treat.

I'd also say that you probably want sandstorms attention on you and not the neighbor, so bringing a high value dog treat and getting him to focus on you while you walk past the neighbors should help. (Have you trained the focus command? it's where you get a high value dog treat like a peice of cheese and draw your dogs eyes up to your eyes then click/treat.)

I've used the focus to prevent Vash from jumping on people (he's horrible with that).

I know it's not on your list, maybe you've already tried this method. If you have then taking him back to the house the moment he shows any bad behavior and ending the walk for a while wouldn't be a bad idea. Assuming you have plenty of time on your hands.

 

[KarenCurtis]

I haven't had to deal with barking or lunging. But Vash does frequently get distracted on our walks when he sees a person or another dog and will do all sorts of things to get what he wants. He'll sit (which is the biggest pain in the bottom because he's practically immobile when he does this), he'll lay down, he'll pull towards who or what ever he sees.

I got so frustrated with this whole process that I went out, got myself a 20ft lead and every time he would pull his shenanigans on our walks I would simply say "Bye-Bye!" then continue to walk away from him as if he were walking by my side.

At first you may have a bit of a tugging match, but if you just ignore him and continue on your walk and put some distance between you and him he'll hopefully eventually want to join back up with you on his own. And when he does I usually click and treat.

I'd also say that you probably want sandstorms attention on you and not the neighbor, so bringing a high value dog treat and getting him to focus on you while you walk past the neighbors should help. (Have you trained the focus command? it's where you get a high value dog treat like a peice of cheese and draw your dogs eyes up to your eyes then click/treat.)

I've used the focus to prevent Vash from jumping on people (he's horrible with that).

I know it's not on your list, maybe you've already tried this method. If you have then taking him back to the house the moment he shows any bad behavior and ending the walk for a while wouldn't be a bad idea. Assuming you have plenty of time on your hands.

My first idea was to keep taking him back to the house- I do have the time in the summer, I go back to work in September. By then the problem should be solved. I never use click and treat-it's just not what I want to do, I don't use food rewards- only a cookie after Sandstorm does his sit/stay before we go back in the house after his excersize, I say "want a cookie". That is his treat for the day. I am thinking that the going back to the house is the best optione for him, and repeating the start of the walk until he improves.
Thanks for your imput!
Karen