Dog Community

Road sense

Posted : 11/22/2006 1:47:23 PM

Im interested to know how you all teach your dogs a little road sense, our 6 month old dalmatian bitch doesn't have a clue that a car will hurt you and givem the chance would think nothing of hurtling out into the road[

]. Any ideas on taeching her a bit of road sense, her basic training is pretty good

Scout in Canada

Posted : 11/22/2006 3:01:24 PM

In what circumstance exactly?

I don't really think you can teach a dog 'road sense' as we know it... the best you can do is teach boundaries. Some dogs understand the boundary between the front lawn and the road is not to be crossed. This can (maybe) be achieved with a lot of training. Would you trust it? I wondered that myself, but I know if Scout saw a squirrel across the street she'd be across in a flash with no thought to training.

Another way you can set that boundary a little more safely is with electronic fencing. I've never used it.... from the posters here I've learned that it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, depends on the dog.

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Posted : 11/22/2006 3:19:34 PM

Well they train seeing eye dogs so there has gotta be a way, no?
Since Rory was a pup we just stop at every intersection we are about to cross and I maker her sit before we procede. I mean obviously she dosnt know to look both ways, he he but she recognizes that we pause.
My dad took her for a walk a couple of months back and brought her back a lil irritated, ha ha! He said "we would be walking fine and outta nowhere she'd just stop and sit her butt down" I said, " you mean at a crosswalk"? He thought about it for a moment and realized the connection, I hadnt even realized she had it down that well!
Its just little things they start to grasp by routine, its second nature for me to stop at every crosswalk and she has become accustomd to it!

corvus

Posted : 11/23/2006 1:40:07 AM

ORIGINAL: sheprano

Well they train seeing eye dogs so there has gotta be a way, no?
Since Rory was a pup we just stop at every intersection we are about to cross and I maker her sit before we procede. I mean obviously she dosnt know to look both ways, he he but she recognizes that we pause.

I've done the same thing with Penny. I've been pretty rigid in making her sit or stop and wait every time we cross the road. She isn't supposed to go until I tell her "Okay, cross the road." I believe she does understand that it's cars we're waiting for, because she tries to get up and go the moment the car has passed. But she has problems with busy roads and doesn't seem to realise that constant traffic means it's not safe to cross. Our pedestrian lights make a distinctive noise when they go green to tell blind people and people not paying attention that they can cross. I was teaching Penny to wait for that noise, but then we moved away from pedestrian lights.

spiritdogs

Posted : 11/24/2006 8:30:20 AM

ORIGINAL: kira657

Im interested to know how you all teach your dogs a little road sense, our 6 month old dalmatian bitch doesn't have a clue that a car will hurt you and givem the chance would think nothing of hurtling out into the road[]. Any ideas on taeching her a bit of road sense, her basic training is pretty good

You can teach "wait" or you can do boundary training, but I certainly don't think it's wise to trust either in a setting with a dangerous road nearby, even if the dog gets to be pretty reliable. One mistake can cost a life - not worth the gamble.