Dog Community

Training to walk on leash

Posted : 4/1/2006 11:42:51 AM

I'm sure this has been addressed many times before (and if there already is a thread out there, maybe someone could direct me to it?). I have a 9 month old Cavalier puppy that pulls, he's not horrible tho, and he's coming along pretty well actually, we just need to get outside and go for more walks (haven't been able to do much, if any, due to our Wisconsin winters). But, I mainly would like to know if I am doing it correctly. I don't want him to just keep dragging on my arm, so I have been giving little tugs back, but since he pulls nearly non-stop at times, I feel as if I may be "tugging/jerking" him back too much. Any suggestions? I do try to keep him walking alongside of me, and not out in front of me, so I keep the leash fairly short, and I do try to keep some slack in it, if I can, unless he starts pulling again. Thanks for any help!

Renee

huskymom

Posted : 4/1/2006 8:41:47 PM

I use the reward mile method. I'm not sure thats the right term but this is what I do. When my dogs get close to the end of thier leashes I stop walking. I'm a tree. They don't get to go any farther until they come back into position. Note that this is not a heel position. They may walk a little ahead or behind me as long as the snap on their leash hangs down from their collar. I use whoa, easy and stop but thats because my dogs are sled dogs. You dont really need a cue. Once the dog comes back into position take a few steps in the direction you want to go. It may take an hour to get where you are going but the trick is to not move while the leash is taught. It is more important to get the loose leash than to get where you are going anyway, for now at least. The longer he pulls the more he will learn that pulling is acceptable. Until he learns to walk nicely get his exercise in the back yard with a ball or a good game of tug. Good luck!

Renee

Posted : 4/1/2006 11:13:05 PM

Thanks huskymom! I like the sounds of that method, so I'll give that a try. That is so true, it is more important to get a loose leash than it is to get where you're going, for now. And it makes sense too. Such as with horses (I have a horse), as soon as they give to the slightest amount of pressure on the reins, you give with your hands (relax your hands) immediately.

Renee

Stephanie Book

Posted : 4/7/2006 5:39:57 PM

When I'm heeling with Cassidy, she has to stay right by my side ( for shows, training) and I use the Easy command to get her to slow down, so she automatically slows down, and Let's Go to get her to speed up/trot. It helps because whenever she hears that she knows to go faster or slower. If she's pulling and I tell her easy, she'll slow and come back to my side. I taught her this using the pinch collar so she didn't pull.

schleide

Posted : 4/7/2006 6:32:13 PM

I use the same method as huskymom, if Wesley is pulling, we are going nowhere... It took a while, but now, as soon as I stop, he stops, looks back and runs around me to my left side (not really in a full heel - but loose leash by my left side). The first few times to teach it, I would let him get to the end of the leash and would stop, as the leash pulled him I would say "uh oh" and use the leash to lead him back to my left side and then praise and treat...