Will it make that much difference?

[Chinchi]

I'm staying with my in laws this Christmas. They absolutely adore Darla and really want to take her for a walk on Boxing Day. I've been trying to teach her loose leash walking for a few months now by being a tree when she pulls. She somewhat gets it, but when she's so excited she finds it very hard to control herself and she will just shoot back to the end of the leash again. She's leash reactive too which doesnt help. When we walk its usually just me and her, but I have noticed that when my fiancé comes along at weekends she's even more excitable. More people = more excitement.

Now I know they will not want to follow my training, they think I'm being a bit of a kill joy and that I should just let her walk the way she wants to on a leash. But they really want to walk her. Do I let them or be a stick in the mud? Would it really set her back that much if she's allowed to act up and pull on a walk with them? I just want to keep the peace this Christmas but I don't want to confuse my pup further too.

Forgot to mention, I have purchased an easy walk harness for those walks when we just have to get to a destination on time and to help with her leash reactivity as she chokes herself on her martingale. Unfortunately it won't arrive till after Christmas

 

[Meldor]

I know how you feel as everyone wants to walk my sheltie because they believe it will make her like them (she is very shy and only warms up to certain people).

Unfortunately, she can be very intense on a walk and can lunge really strongly if I don't communicate with her that a stranger coming over is not a threat, etc.

What I do is I say ''Okay I am coming for a walk with you guys'' and I go out with them but I walk my dog the whole time. Normally people get it and they don't even ask for the leash, if they do I simply say, no I prefer holding it as she can be too intense. I've never had anyone insist and if I did I would just repeat No firmly.

I do this for Kyara's safety as well as for the person who wants to walk her. A 30 pounds lunging sheltie can really hurt someone's arm or even cause someone to fall.

 

[Chinchi]

I know how you feel as everyone wants to walk my sheltie.

Oh thank goodness I am not alone!

If we did go for a walk I would come too as I would worry about her behaviour too much. She can be difficult to handle sometimes when she's excited. The 'being a tree' training will probably drive them nuts though, but I guess they are always free to return home

 

[Emmasmom]

I would go with them, perhaps let them try walking her if it is calm where you are walking and she seems okay, but let them know that if she starts to react to anything, you will need to take her back as you are working on training her, just to make it easier in the future for everyone who wants to walk her, including them. This way, you can include them, but also make it seem to them you value them and their love of your dog, but also making it clear that she is in training and you are working with her to make sure no one is hurt, including the dog and them.

 

[Meldor]

The 'being a tree' training will probably drive them nuts though, but I guess they are always free to return home

Indeed! I personally am not patient enough to do the tree method. Plus, I don't think Kyara gets it and she simply becomes more anxious that I may stop again. In fact, she seems a little bit panicked when she realizes I was not following her.

I prefer doing the ''giving her a treat'' for walking besides me even if that is every 3 or 4 steps. Normally at the start of the walk I need to call her back more often holding the smelly treat out towards her nose, once she does a couple of steps without pulling and with her head looking forward I treat her again. By the time she as burnt out some of her energy, it is much easier and she stays beside me. At the end of the walk I normally don't even have to give her treats and she is right there beside me.

It's the same if I take her to the park to play fetch on her long line (a 30 feet leash). When we get to the park, she normally pulls a lot on her short leash so I make her walk on a loose leash with the treat method before putting on her long line to play. Once we are done playing and she gets back on the 6 foot leash there is no pulling anymore. I guess when she is more tired she is more cooperative ahah!

Anyhow, I think you will do fine on the group walk. Be patient with them but remember what is best for your puppy. There is always a way to be nice to people and respect your training plan at the same time. Who knows maybe they will be interested in doing some of the techniques to keep her on a loose leash!

 

[Shelby+Julie]

This is an issue with my pup as well. Lots of family (especially younger kids) would love to walk Shelby. My rules are 1. If the dog's safety and health is not going to be harmed it is okay (basically, he is in a state of mind to not choke himself and the person understands to NEVER jerk or pull the leash). 2. the person agrees to hand over the leash if/when I ask. 3. that I will come with them.

I have found that people enjoy me and my dog much more if I let them do stuff with him, even if it doesn't always advance his training. Put aside the training sometimes and just have fun. A few times of "not-exactly-correct" loose leash walking is not going to completely harm the dog's training.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

oh yeah there are loads of threads around other non dog /sheltie enthusiasts who are thinking we're kill joys, I am sure
I forgot to mention to you, one of the best adivce I got from this Forum was when somebody suggested the wooden spoon with Peanutbutter!!!!
Load it up with peanutbutter if she walks close to ya, reward with the spoon and keep walking...

 

[Chinchi]

I forgot to mention to you, one of the best adivce I got from this Forum was when somebody suggested the wooden spoon with Peanutbutter!!!!
Load it up with peanutbutter if she walks close to ya, reward with the spoon and keep walking...

Lol, she would LOVE that! I will give it a go.

Thanks all for your advice, it's very much appreciated, not to mention comforting.

 

[Psalms]

Wow, thanks for the wooden spoon idea. Our pup would do just about anything for peanut butter. I'll let you know if he tries to pull the spoon out of my hand and lie down in the road and have a nice licky snack...he would!

Janet

 

[Chris]

That's a great idea! Then the folks can walk her, spoil her, not ruin her training -- and you get to be the good fairy! Everybody wins!