Walk help :-(

[FoxyPinkChick]

Hoping someone can help, would love to hear a success story! Gimli is really starting to be bold on his walks. He has always walked ahead but not really pulled. Now he's pulling so much sometimes that he can't catch his breath. He is almost trying to run against the lead. He's also barking at people and dogs. He might be cute and fluffy but he has scared a few people with his bark and I really want to figure out what to do for that. As soon as people say hello to him he's fine, tail wagging like mad. Part of me feels he just wants some attention. If he's in the front garden he barks at people walking by as well. Again, his bark is pretty big for such a small guy and he is scaring people (until they look at him and see what a small guy he is). But I don't want him frightening people. I really don't know what to do. If he starts pulling and barking on a walk I stop and get him to relax then as soon as I go again he is straight back to it. I know I am talking in circles here, it's hard to explain.

 

[Mom2Melli]

Find a place with NO distractions (people or dogs) and spend a lot of time training to loose leash walk. If he pulls, you go the other way or stop. Train the pulling out of him. Practice walking manners first.

Then, start going where people and dogs can be seen way in the distance. Have treats. If he focuses on them, do a "watch" command and have him look at you for a treat and then walk another direction.

Keep at it getting closer and closer to the distractions.

Don't ignore or hope it will go away. They just become more reactive with time.

Time in training class with others will also help if that is available for you.

 

[BarbV]

Loose leash walk means getting to dog to focus on you rather than what its ahead of him.

That means you need to distract the dog on you.

Its a gradual process and done in baby steps.

It's a little long for me to post, but any puppy school will teach it. But the short version is to teach the talk to "look" first. That means look at me.

From there you progress to attaching a leash in the quiet area. And walk a few steps. And look again.

Then you start to walk, and if the dog pulls ahead, you gently pull back, then reinforce "look" . This forces the dog to slow down and get treated and rewarded by looking back up at you.

Lots more to the technique but I hope you get the idea.

That being said, for dogs that just can't seemed to be trained by their owners, I often recommend the Easy Walk Harness. I would suggest for puppies thought. Train first and resort to remedial only if necessary later.

 

[roxyllsk]

He is probably just excited and happy to see everyone !

Do work on the loose leash walking. You can even work on this in the living room of your house, it doesn't have to be outside. It takes a while and you have to be very patient but it does work.

The other suggestion I have is to get your pup more exercise. He is likely barking because he is overly excited to visit with everyone. More exercise = tired pup = less excitable = better listening to you. It doesn't have to be walking on a leash. You can have your pup chase a ball or play tugs with a favorite toy. That is exercise, too !

I work at home and make sure to take my dogs on a long walk in the middle of the day when most people are at work and things are quiet in my neighborhood. That is also a great time to work on loose leash walking.

 

[Bradt9881]

How I was taught when I went through beginners obedience with my collie:

If the dog pulls on the lead, stop walking until he stops pulling. Then reward him, and start walking again.

Hope it helps!

 

[DonC]

When we started walking Timmy, I think he thought he was a sled dog. I put a "Gentle Leader" on him and it worked wonders. He didn't like it at first but got used to it. After he stopped pulling in a few weeks, he got to the point he didn't want to go on a walk if he had to wear "that thing" so I attached the lead to his collar but would carry the Gentle Leader in my pocket just in case. But, we only had to put it on a couple of times and since then, he's been a joy to walk with - no pulling - except when a dog behind a fence starts barking and he feels he has to investigate. We're working on that now. I stand between him and the barking dog, get him to look me in the eye, have him sit and then start walking with him heeling while I'm holding a treat just out of his reach. He focuses totally on the treat but forgets about the distraction. It's working!
Don

 

[Caro]

I think it's a stage they go through too. I agree you need to work on your loose lead walking and heeling with no distractions. Lots of treats so he learns the best place to be is next to you, and checks in with you.

As for the barking at people and dogs and pulling on the lead. As soon as he does it turn and walk the other way. You might find to start with you are walking in circles, but Shelties are pretty smart and he'll soon learn if he carries on he gets taken away from the thing that is making him excited.