Dog Walking - out front or behind?

Chuffy

GoldenAC

Cassidys Mom

espencer

Cassidys Mom

If you insisted on taking your wife for a walk every day whether she wanted to go or not, and took her on a route of your choosing and length that she wasn't interested in and had no input in choosing

 

Then i assume that when you take your dogs out for a walk they are the ones who decide where to go, for how long and when to return home and you dont have any vote in those decisions, talking about leaders and followers!!

 

 You know what they say about making assumptions...
 

With my Dexy, who passed away in 2004, I did let him chose the path, how long we would be gone and when we would go home!  Did he think he was the leader?  I don't really care.  He had a beautiful recall, I could call him off any animal, he would wait at roads until I said he could cross them.  He never had any issues that might be expected from a dog that considered himself "dominant" to his human.  Selli and Duff are getting there, in fact we got back to work a little late due to an extended walk.  I usually let Selli choose the way since she is older.  And by the way she has a beautiful recall and heal and no "dominance" issues. 

Like Spirit, I use walk time to let my dogs have their freedom.  They have to closely follow human rules for say 21 hours a day, I will give them three hours a day to do their own thing.

 

Phew.  I thought I was on my own in my line of thinking there!

If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I think in my next life I would like to be a GR puppy and I'd like you to buy me and take me home please!  

Chuffy,

We could be honored to have you as a puppy and luckily, we are not planning on a new pup for awhile.  Selli and Duff did think it was only fair to warn you that since my evil personna owns a self-service dog wash, any dog of mine has to get lots of baths.

dyan

When someone walks by, a simple "wait" command makes her stop and wait for me to get to her side...when I hold her leash much closer until she can run again.   She is very good about that

That's because she's classy, just like you.

GoldenAC

Chuffy

GoldenAC

Cassidys Mom

espencer

Cassidys Mom

If you insisted on taking your wife for a walk every day whether she wanted to go or not, and took her on a route of your choosing and length that she wasn't interested in and had no input in choosing

 

Then i assume that when you take your dogs out for a walk they are the ones who decide where to go, for how long and when to return home and you dont have any vote in those decisions, talking about leaders and followers!!

 

 You know what they say about making assumptions...
 

With my Dexy, who passed away in 2004, I did let him chose the path, how long we would be gone and when we would go home!  Did he think he was the leader?  I don't really care.  He had a beautiful recall, I could call him off any animal, he would wait at roads until I said he could cross them.  He never had any issues that might be expected from a dog that considered himself "dominant" to his human.  Selli and Duff are getting there, in fact we got back to work a little late due to an extended walk.  I usually let Selli choose the way since she is older.  And by the way she has a beautiful recall and heal and no "dominance" issues. 

Like Spirit, I use walk time to let my dogs have their freedom.  They have to closely follow human rules for say 21 hours a day, I will give them three hours a day to do their own thing.

 

Phew.  I thought I was on my own in my line of thinking there!

If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I think in my next life I would like to be a GR puppy and I'd like you to buy me and take me home please!  

Chuffy,

We could be honored to have you as a puppy and luckily, we are not planning on a new pup for awhile.  Selli and Duff did think it was only fair to warn you that since my evil personna owns a self-service dog wash, any dog of mine has to get lots of baths.

I want ron to be reincarnated as a blue merle Aussie and be my pup - imagine how fast his training would go - he already understands the clicker and he would know enough not to chew on wires.

here's that link from spence again -

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogwalk.htm

handy because it has lots of photos!  Could you look at the photos and tell us - in your opinion - do any of the dogs in any of those photos look anxious or unhappy?  and if so what is it about the body language that tells you that?

notice especially the three dogs, before and after pictures- look at the tails. Yes, I would say the dogs marching at heel do not look happy. The boxer puppy seems subdued in every single picture, and who on earth advocates putting choker collars on puppies and yanking them around like that article suggests?

spiritdogs

I want ron to be reincarnated as a blue merle Aussie and be my pup - imagine how fast his training would go - he already understands the clicker and he would know enough not to chew on wires.

Knowledge and experience does have it's advantages. And I do, in fact, like liver.

mudpuppy

here's that link from spence again -

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogwalk.htm

handy because it has lots of photos!  Could you look at the photos and tell us - in your opinion - do any of the dogs in any of those photos look anxious or unhappy?  and if so what is it about the body language that tells you that?

notice especially the three dogs, before and after pictures- look at the tails. Yes, I would say the dogs marching at heel do not look happy. The boxer puppy seems subdued in every single picture, and who on earth advocates putting choker collars on puppies and yanking them around like that article suggests?

I would say the boxer doesn't look exactly thrilled and I was a bit put off by the article saying something about tugging on the lead to throw him off balance... that's not my style AT ALL. 

I will say that I was at a point with Thor that I *might* have been willing to try just about anything....but some things just go too much against the grain for me.  Using a prong was a gut wrenching decision for me.

So, when this kind of stuff is "out there" for folks to find and use, it's a concern for any dog lover that some of these methods are going to be used to the point of being abused.

I ALSO walk them on a leash at heel. .

 and why do you do this? I'm puzzled. What do you think the dogs get out of this behavior of yours, since it sounds like they get plenty of exercise and mental stimulation in other ways. What additional benefit do you think they get out of this?

I do this just to keep the skill sharp, mud.  There actually ARE times in town when they do need to heel.  Not often, but I want to be sure that they remember when I ask for a heel.

mudpuppy

and why do you do this?

I would imagine for the same reasons you do?

mudpuppy

She gets treats ONLY for above-average heel performance. Her heel performance has been gradually getting better over time. At one point she exhibits a couple of seconds of fantastic heel- I jackpot her with wild praise

I want them to keep up the behavior. It's just like repeating any behavior that you've taught the dog that you don't want it to forget...

mudpuppy

What do you think the dogs get out of this behavior of yours

What do yours get out of it?  

Oh come on you two!

well of course, but I thought fouriscompany meant the dogs were ALWAYS at heel when walked on leash?  except in formal training, I only ask for very brief periods of heel while on walks, leashed or not.

glenmar

Oh come on you two!

But mom!  She started it! LOL

mudpuppy

I thought fouriscompany meant the dogs were ALWAYS at heel when walked on leash?

I only take them for a short walks on leash. Down the lane and back. If Jaia is on a leash and I don't make him heel, he pulls. The others don't pull, so I'm not as strict with them, but I don't let them sniff around and cross leashes and stop and basically cause chaos, because then they WILL start pulling. Because that's the way I like to do it.

My husband has them at heel going down the lane and in sniffing mode on the way back.  

Anything else you'd like to know?  

Good point.  Maybe she can clarify?

That's exactly how I use heel.  Brief "reminder" sessions.