What to do when you can't avoid triggers on walks?

[Hanne]

I think I'd just get a good, strong collar that won't break or come off, then take him to a location where lots of cars go by (preferably residential where speeds aren't too high) and just drag him along when he overreacts. Once he's inured to the stimulus he'll stop reacting.

Maybe I misunderstand this post - so I am sorry, but I personally think that this definitely is a very bad solution - the dog learns not to deal with its uncertainty and certainly not such a sensitive race as a Sheltie - Dog acting's not that way because the dog is disobedient but because it can not overlook the situation - we would never pull away with our children that way if they were afraid, hopefully not.

We take dogs into our lifestyle which is so far from what it was created for, so it is also our task to deal with / help our fur babies in such situations in a dignified manner.

 

[2GoodDogs]

I'm more the whatever works trainer. If I don't get results the gentler route, then I will try "you're going to do it MY way." Sometimes being firm works.

 

[danisgoat]

I used a long handled spoon with peanut butter on it. When I saw something coming I would talk to my dogs and hold the spoon down for a lick, pull it up, down for a lick, etc. This worked great as they got so focused on the spoon and my voice talking to them "watch me" that they stopped being reactive.

 

[Cara Sandler]

I think I'd just get a good, strong collar that won't break or come off, then take him to a location where lots of cars go by (preferably residential where speeds aren't too high) and just drag him along when he overreacts. Once he's inured to the stimulus he'll stop reacting.

Not only is this ineffective, it is dangerous and abusive. You should NEVER drag your dog by the collar. NEVER!!!!!! You are doing nothing but harming the dog with this method. I certainly hope that no one has the poor judgement to try this.

 

[Mignarda]

Not only is this ineffective, it is dangerous and abusive. You should NEVER drag your dog by the collar. NEVER!!!!!! You are doing nothing but harming the dog with this method. I certainly hope that no one has the poor judgement to try this.

Pardon me, but I don't agree. Some people are far too sensitive when it comes to training their dogs, and that leads to innumerable problems with behavior, and these desperate pleas for help that we're endlessly seeing within these pages from those who think their dogs are going to wilt and fade away if even the slightest degree of force or negative conditioning is used.

I've employed the technique I mentioned on my own dog when I couldn't take him for a simple walk without him lunging at other dogs confined in fences and nearly pulling me off my feet. It took a couple of a days of work; he wasn't harmed in any way (psychologically or otherwise) and what was more, our problem was at an end.

Shelties tend to be a sensitive breed, but pressure on the leash is not the same thing as a heavy blow, and a dog doesn't interpret it that way.

 

[Cara Sandler]

Pardon me, but I don't agree. Some people are far too sensitive when it comes to training their dogs, and that leads to innumerable problems with behavior, and these desperate pleas for help that we're endlessly seeing within these pages from those who think their dogs are going to wilt and fade away if even the slightest degree of force or negative conditioning is used.

I've employed the technique I mentioned on my own dog when I couldn't take him for a simple walk without him lunging at other dogs confined in fences and nearly pulling me off my feet. It took a couple of a days of work; he wasn't harmed in any way (psychologically or otherwise) and what was more, our problem was at an end.

Shelties tend to be a sensitive breed, but pressure on the leash is not the same thing as a heavy blow, and a dog doesn't interpret it that way.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I do not, and never will, condone dragging a dog around by the leash. Ever. The advice given wasn't to put pressure on the leash. It was to DRAG THE DOG ON THE LEASH. These are 2 very different things.

 

[Cara Sandler]

Maybe I misunderstand this post - so I am sorry, but I personally think that this definitely is a very bad solution - the dog learns not to deal with its uncertainty and certainly not such a sensitive race as a Sheltie - Dog acting's not that way because the dog is disobedient but because it can not overlook the situation - we would never pull away with our children that way if they were afraid, hopefully not.

We take dogs into our lifestyle which is so far from what it was created for, so it is also our task to deal with / help our fur babies in such situations in a dignified manner.

Hanne, I 100% agree with you

 

[Ann]

It's a proven fact that negative reinforcement with a Sheltie will create the opposite of the desired effect, and the dog will become more fearful, shy, reluctant to respond as desired, and may completely shut down.

Aside from that, "dragging" any dog around by the leash is an inappropriate training method, and can physically harm the dog, especially if the leash is attached to a neck collar. There are so many better ways to accomplish training a Sheltie. Brute force is certainly NOT one of them.

 

[Mignarda]

It's a proven fact that negative reinforcement with a Sheltie will create the opposite of the desired effect, and the dog will become more fearful, shy, reluctant to respond as desired, and may completely shut down.

Aside from that, "dragging" any dog around by the leash is an inappropriate training method, and can physically harm the dog, especially if the leash is attached to a neck collar. There are so many better ways to accomplish training a Sheltie. Brute force is certainly NOT one of them.

Ann, you simply can't use positive reinforcement to address every issue with a dog, because it isn't practical in many cases. I've used negative very successfully with any number of dogs of different breeds; of those, only one was a Sheltie, but the other was half-Sheltie with the classic Sheltie temperament. Ninety-nine percent of the negative reinforcement came in the form of changes in attitude and vocal intonation, none of it was painful or physically injurious to the dog, but was calculated to get his attention and associate something he disliked with a particular unwanted behavior.

So far as "dragging" is concerned, I think I might have used a better term. I wasn't talking about hauling the dog along the ground as a dead weight, but simply pulling him in the opposite direction. At all events, the pressure on his neck from the force I applied in leading him away from a highly undesirable and potentially dangerous situation was no more than he was applying to himself by attempting to "drag" ME in the direction he was determined to go.

Someone once asked me how I taught my Brittany not to touch anything that wasn't hers. "Oh, it's easy," I replied. "I use positive reinforcement. Every time she doesn't touch something that isn't hers, I pat her on the head and give her a little treat!"

 

[Fasb's Owner]

My wife and I considered a firmer discipline style when we first got Fasb and the usual methods (positive reinforcement) were only partly successful. Unfortunately, we soon realized that we were both marshmellows when it came to training and discipline. Fasb figured out pretty quickly that he could get rewarded for practically nothing, and, well, the situation escalated from there. We ended up with a somewhat trained dog who mostly minded us - except when he didn't - and was generally well-behaved - except when he wasn't.

On the other hand, we also ended up with an exceptionally friendly, playful dog who was very gentle and good-natured, loved people, and almost always responded well to us. We'd make for simply awful dog trainers, but we think Fasb turned out pretty well on balance. I kinda wonder if he'd have been so goofy and affectionate if we had been stricter and trained him properly.