Dog Walking - out front or behind?

FourIsCompany

Pryor's work shows documentable proof of behaviors (something observable).  But I have yet to see any proof of what they're thinking.

And behaviors are not always without thought. And some behaviors, I think, can be a sign of thought.

And another benefit of the Pryor studies is that the language of OC is accurate.

And a problem dog wouldn't necessarily behave because they are walking beside you or behind you, though that could be taken as a sign that they are minding you, which, of course, would be interpreting what they think by means of a behavior. That is, the requirement of walking aside or behind is not what fixes the problem. Having the dog listen to you rather than something else will help them to walk aside or behind, if that's what you need at the moment.

ron2

According to the show, Dog Genius, dogs actually look at a human's eyes for cues.

Let's be fair....it's the eyes or hands when no words are spoken......how does a dog see the eyes of the owner/handler during a walk, when a dog is ahead or behind........so, basically, that's totally irrelevant......

Good grief.  Now we have members basically telling us that everything that needs to be said HAS been said so that we should all shut up?

There are certainly situations and circumstances where a dog does BETTER walking at his/her owners side.  That's a given and Sally is a perfect example.  But, I'd also be willing to bet money that Christina doesn't insist that Sally's attention be rivited to HER the entire walk.  And I'm betting she even allows a sniff or two.

Except for "snakey" months, my dogs really don't need to go into town for walks.  They still go though and that's because I really want to be sure that they remember their leash manners.  And again, except for when I ask for a heel, I truly don't care WHERE they walk in relation to me so long as the leash is loose.

And, I'm not sure that a pulling dog thinks he's the leader so much as he's learned that pulling gets his person to move faster so he can get to the place he wants to go sooner.  But, I can say honestly that I've never HAD a dog that tried to be dominant to me.  And that sure isn't because mine are afraid of me.  Or where they walk.

glenmar

But, I'd also be willing to bet money that Christina doesn't insist that Sally's attention be rivited to HER the entire walk.  And I'm betting she even allows a sniff or two.

Glenda, thats EXACTLY how we walk our dogs, i dont know why people thought that we want their attention the entire walk, my dog can look around anywhere she wants AND we STILL let them sniff now and then, we NEVER said otherwise 

Therefore for us "a dog does BETTER walking at his/her owners side."

glenmar

Now we have members basically telling us that everything that needs to be said HAS been said so that we should all shut up?

What? Where? I totally missed that! LOL  

espencer

I dont think there is anything more to explain, we have said why we do it that way and its our choice to do it, its only matter of preference (and other things other people dont like to do with their own dogs) and if we continue we are only going to get more: "but why?", "whats the point"? Well we already responded why and whats the point and we are still being asked over and over, i think the only answer that is left is:

Because if works for me and my dog 

There ya go, Carla.

And espencer, who is we?  What dogS?  I thought you had ONE dog.  And actually my objection was to the post of bkimura's about reading abook and watching TV and walker HER dog that way.

glenmar

And espencer, who is we?  What dogS? 

We=Me and all the others who advocate the walking next to the owner 

DogS= Mine and the dogs of the people stated avobe, plus, dont think that i never walked more than one dog before  

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...
 

Goodness, this is getting tedious.  If I didn't know better I'd think that someone was following me from thread to thread to be sure to let me know that they think I'm stupid.

I wasn't aware that ONE person had been elected spokesperson for ALL who choose to walk their dogs at their sides all the time.  Must have missed that memo.  Or, maybe it just went out to a select group.

I guess it would be a pretty neat trick finding a sidewalk wide enough for me and six german shepherds to walk side by side by side by side by side by side by side..........and I regularly walk six dogs at a time, by myself.

Wow I went away for a few days and the thread took on a life of its own!!

I do stand corrected that CM doesn't ask dogs to walk behind him - I fully admit that I watched a few episodes and skimmed the first book and then decided his ideas weren't for me, so I obviously missed the detailed walk instructions. :)

A timely development of the thread btw - I started teaching my first round of obedience classes last week and this week is the first week with dogs present; the first topic in class?  You guessed it: loose leash walking!!
 

espencer

Chuffy

I only make them work for priveleges.  Water is not a privelege.

 

And food is? because i suppose that you make them sit before you feed them

Then you "suppose" wrong.  I like how you snipped my post to leave out the "generally speaking".

No, I don't ask for a sit when I feed anymore.  When it's dinner time, they run to their crates (which is where they are fed).  Call that "work" if you like.  (as much work as you or I running to the dinner table).  Now, if I had a puppy, or a new dog, I might hand feed the meal at first, to help the dog realise I was the giver of really good things.  After a time, I might use some of that meal to help teach the dog some simple behaviours that it is useful for them to know.  My dogs are currently beyond that stage, so I don't do that now, there is no need.  I also sometimes feed out of kongs, so I suppose you could say they were "working" for their dinner, but they aren't doing something "for me" to earn the food.  They are just have to try a bit harder to get it out of the toy, rather than the bowl - which they actually seem to find more satisfying.  Now TREATS, special toys, games etc.... priveleges....THOSE things I ask them to "work" for.

espencer

Chuffy

being allowed to express some natural behaviour is not a privelege - it's a right.

 

And i assume you still dont like them if they jump on guests, bark at midnight, look for food from the table, etc. VERY natural behaviors IMO 

Emphasis added by me.  I hope it answers your question.

If you re-read my earlier post, I said that much of the stuff we ask of dogs could be considered "unnatural".  That is why walking is important for us - I think (without looking) I used the phrase: it's a chance for them to let their hair down a little.  Even there, there are some things I must ask of them and some things I can't allow them to do.  I try to keep that to a minimum, for reasons that I HOPE are obvious by now.  So that's why I'm not strict about their position in relation to me when on a walk. 

ETA - its EASY to walk ONE dog "beside" you.  The more dogs you have, the harder that ideal becomes to achieve. 

Chuffy, I wonder how the Village would respond if I asked them to close off several streets at random times so I could walk my dogs side by side, etc??  Nah, never mind, that would be too boring a walk.

I suppose that we won't ever reach agreement.  Those who think they need, for whatever reason, to walk their dogs at their sides all the time, won't ever "get" why we walk the way we do.  Their loss.

I really do get that Christina.  Remember, Thor at one point quite literally dragged me down the street on my rump!  Yes, it took a lot of work to reach the point we are that I can walk all six together without a bit of pulling, but our walks are so much fun now, for all of us.

glenmar

I wonder how the Village would respond if I asked them to close off several streets at random times so I could walk my dogs side by side, etc??

I don't think anyone is saying that you SHOULD walk your dogs this way, are they? I admit, I feel like I'm missing a lot here even though I'm reading it all. You seem to be "seeing" things that I'm missing. espencer's statement started with "I don't think". That's stating an opinion. It's not telling everyone to shut up. My goodness, indeed! Where do you get these implications?

glenmar

Those who think they need, for whatever reason, to walk their dogs at their sides all the time, won't ever "get" why we walk the way we do. 

Just so you know, I totally "get" why people walk their dogs any way they choose, whether it's in front, in back, to the side or at heel. Everyone has been quite articulate. What I don't "get" is the frustration that comes about in simply talking about walking our dogs! To each his own. Right?