Getting a Dog to Walk on a Loose Leash - Paw Talk

RSbunny · #1 03-04-2004, 01:06 AM

Ok guys need your advice again!! Biscuit loves to walk but she is all over the place....she crosses from side to side, she pulls on the lead, if someone is on the other side of the road she wants to go greet them, if there is a dog in a fence she chokes herself trying to greet it etc. Basically she's hopeless!! Once she tires out a bit she gets a lot better and I praise her a lot in this time cause she walks on a loose leash when she is tired.
I just want to know what ways do you guys get the best results with your dogs? I do have a head halti here that I used to use for Nacho but I want to train Biscuit properly and she is nowhere near as strong as Nacho so I can still keep my feet on the ground when walking her!! I know I will cover this when I get her trained in May but that's two months away and I'd really like to start now on as much as possible....so any thoughts would be great! i find it really hard to give a dog a treat on a walk...I'm there for exercise too and so I do say 'good girl' to her and I use just those words a lot when she is doing something good rather than food treats. Food treats never worked for Nacho and so I just kinda abandoned them altogether. Biscuit gets them when she is learning new tricks (like paw etc.) but it's easy for me to give them to her then whereas on a walk it is annoying!

Formula86 · #2 03-04-2004, 01:47 AM

this is what i learned at puppy school:
i'm assuming that if you put your left arm down to your side, your hand will reach near her mouth. you should hold a gooood smelling treat in the hand (left) and the leash with your right hand. make her follow your hand with her nose. if she does this for about 10 steps or so (maybe less depending on her level), give her the treat. just keep some in your pocket or in a fanny- pack type thing (they sell dog treat bags for your waist at pet stores). i think that this will work.
now...if her problem is PULLING on the lease then you have a different problem. but if she's just walking everywhere...try the above. if she is pulling let me know and i can tell you how to solve that best i can.

RSbunny · #3 03-04-2004, 07:18 AM

Formula that's the problem, I'm tall she's quite short! I will actually have to bend over to do that follow the treat thing!! And very possibly stop and not be walking properly. She also pulls on the lead too..so basically she's pulls on the leash and crosses in front of me. If I hold the leash tight she pulls more and runs into my leg! when we trained my first dog, Cindy, to walk the thing was to pull the lead back and say heel loudly and then praise but they advise you not to pull back on the lead these days (or so I read) cause it comes back to the positive training thing which is great but I don't know how to do it properly! Thanx for your help to formula

Formula86 · #4 03-04-2004, 11:31 PM

well if she is pulling then this is my idea (i saw this on Good Dog U on animal planet and the dog was horrrrrrible!) ok, start this exercise somewhere like a backyard and then work your way up to the sidewalk, etc.
hold her leash in both hands with her on the left (this is the best side). hold the leash taut and take ONE step forward. if she takes more than that (if she is ahead of you), pull her back to your side and say "heal". then let the leash loose. if she stays still, give her a treat or praise. then take ONE more step forward. keep doing this by ONE step incriments. if she is a quick learner, then do 4 or 5 steps.
this is the main point: she wants to run ahead. if she is dragging you, she is winning. everytime she gets ahead of you, she gets a prize. the reason you want to do it step by step is to make it VERY clear for her where she needs to be. DON'T let her win. if she even goes to step forward ahead of you, put her in her place and say "heal". you have to think ahead of her. pretty soon, she'll learn that you guys aren't going anywhere unless she heals. the walk is her prize.

hope this helps!! sorry so long. oh yah and one more thing....
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MORE PICS OF THE BISCUIT!!!!!!!!!!

RSbunny · #5 03-05-2004, 12:08 AM

Thankyou sooo much!!! I'll start that on the weekend!!! Do you think I could still walk her as well and do the training on the side?? I'm so hopeless aren't I!!lol Walkimg is the only physical exercise she will do!!! I will post more pics when I get more pics!!! I've been a bit slack on taking photos lately!

Formula86 · #6 03-05-2004, 03:57 AM

i really really think you should do this with her for at least a couple of weeks (depending on how quickly she learns) before taking her out for a full walk. otherwise it will be inconsistent. i learned how much consistency matters. it only takes you letting the rules slip once and they are back to their old habits. but she sounds like she picks things up really quickly so i don't think she'll be out of exercise for long.

GO STAIR-STEPPING BISCUIT!

RSbunny · #7 03-05-2004, 07:00 AM

thanx formula I figured as much!! I will be strong!! I might go bike riding instead of walking to make myself feel better about leaving her at home!

Formula86 · #8 03-06-2004, 04:17 AM

yah i think that she'll catch on soon! wow....you are so dedicated to working out. i wish i was!!!!!!!!!!! i haaaaaate to physically move! hahahaha!

RSbunny · #9 03-06-2004, 07:53 AM

I have been soooo lazy these past couple of weeks...I'm getting right back into it all again on Monday I've only walked and done my dancing the last two weeks...I've been so slack! I consider myself lucky...my dad is really motivated when it comes to exercise and I'm a lot like my dad so I think I got that gene! Anyway I'll keep you updated on how Biscuit goes!

RSbunny · #10 03-08-2004, 05:07 PM

Ok well it rained all weekend and yesterday I was really busy so we started training this morning. We just did a ten minute session and I got her to do 6 steps!! I'm going to train her again this afternoon and do two training sessions a day! Thanx Formula for all your help!! I know that this is going to work!!!

Formula86 · #11 03-10-2004, 11:13 AM

your welcome! sorry i didn't reply sooner...but you know about my email notifications.

RSbunny · #12 03-10-2004, 03:33 PM

that's okay Formula!! She's doing great! I'm going to take her out onto the footpath on Friday if she keeps it up!

Formula86 · #13 03-11-2004, 01:57 AM

coolness. let us know how the biscuit does. (btw - do you ever find yourself wanting to call her Bisquick? i think that in my head sometimes).

RSbunny · #14 03-11-2004, 02:28 AM

lmbo no I don't but she has officially been nicknamed (and answers to) biscimeato! Don't ask me why nothing I do makes sense!!lmbo

Formula86 · #15 03-11-2004, 11:55 PM

that's funny. yah...i call penny "pen-pen" sometimes and i call chaquita "chaquite" (no a).