Dog Walking - out front or behind?

• 12-27-2007 8:30 PM

  stardog85 Joined on 09-10-2007 South Carolina, USA Posts 1,493 Points 105

  Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact I like walking my dogs out in front of me because it allows me to see what they are doing, preempt and redirect undesired behavior, and I just plain enjoy seeing my dogs enjoying their walk.  In the last few months, however, my 8 yo dog, Maggie, has taken to lagging behind me.  I have *yet* to see why people enjoy walking their dogs this way - I can't stand not knowing what she's doing, it makes handling leashes difficult, and I really don't think she enjoys the walks as much when she does this. So, those of you who walk dogs behind you in the CM "way", why and how does this work for you?  For those of you who walk dogs out front like I do, why?   Erin, the Amazing Maggie Mae, and Super Puppy Ziva

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• 12-27-2007 8:45 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,481 Points 735

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact stardog85: For those of you who walk dogs out front like I do, why? Same reasons - I like being able to see what Rascal's doing, we make him paying attention to me a "game" so he's not just sort of following me but instead is listening to my instructions, and it's much easier to keep the leash from getting tangled in his legs (or ears, which for him is more problematic than you might think!).

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• 12-27-2007 8:48 PM

  In reply to Cita

  glenmar Joined on 09-10-2007 Northwestern Michigan Posts 11,511 Points 405

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact Ditto.  On lead I like them to be either beside me or ahead of me, and off lead they are always up front.  They know their distance....this comes I'm sure from being trained off lead on a 50' drag line....and never exceed it. They usually stop short of that and turn around to check on where I am, and either trot back to me or wait for me to catch up. A house without fur is not a home. Glenda

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• 12-27-2007 9:30 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  FourIsCompany Joined on 07-30-2007 Posts 4,738 Points 1,135

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact stardog85: So, those of you who walk dogs behind you in the CM "way",   I've never seen him walk a dog behind him on a leash. Always beside him. If my dog is on a leash, he's beside me in a heel. If he's not on a leash, I don't care where he is.   LSTM (Laughing Silently to Myself) Click Daily to Give Free Food and Care to Animals: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

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• 12-28-2007 9:00 AM

  In reply to FourIsCompany

  luvmyswissy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 1,541 Points 25

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact When my dog was in training, young and a pain the neck.  I always insisted on walking by my side and never in front.  If he were in front, he was pulling.....  it took him quite a while to learn how to walk nicely on lead.  The prong collar was a godsend for us during that time.  Now at 3 years old, trained and mature he can walk anywhere he wants, where a flat collar and has for a long time.  He is just an angel no matter where and what he does.   It isn't often we even use a leash anymore except for those visiting outing or vet appointments.  On my country roads we walk side by side, sometimes he is out front and sometimes not.  Sometimes he is down in the gully checking out whatever he can.  But he is off lead and just stolling with me. If a car comes down the street he sits and waits (on my command) and then we proceed along. The early stages of training are the hardest and the most important.  Once that is done and maturity sets in dogs change in so many ways and I don't see any reason to push the alpha story on him anymore, he already knows his place in our family.

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• 12-28-2007 2:01 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  GoldenAC Joined on 02-05-2007 Posts 240 Points 110

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact My pups rarely walk behind me.  Typically they are in front of me, especially when they are off leash.  The only time I keep them next to me is when Selli and I are at training or a trial (although sometimes in the obedience ring unfortunately she lags quite a bit while we are healing).   I have found that when I walk with a group of people the dogs know well and we are single file on a path, the dogs tend to walk behind the first person.  I like to be able to keep an eye on the pups.  Plus if I have no compelling reason to pick the path, I let the dogs (usually Selli) chose where we are going.

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• 12-28-2007 6:47 PM

  In reply to GoldenAC

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 10,137 Points 735

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact I vary things up.  Most of the walk I let them be dogs.  Part of the walk I might practice sits, downs, leave it (I go out ahead of time and "bait" the path with milk bones), and some days, I run or skip part of the way.  When cars come by, they might be asked to sit or down/stay.  When joggers pass, I might ask them to "watch" me.  I do not think that you need to have your dogs walk in any particular location relative to where you are walking to have them know who the heck is in charge.   Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 19 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

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• 12-28-2007 6:57 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  Dog_ma Joined on 06-25-2007 San Diego County, California Posts 1,353 Points 795

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact  Where my dog walks is pretty irrelevant to me. Sometimes ahead, sometimes next to me, sometimes behind. It varies throughout the walk. On the rare occasion we are off leash, Sasha seems to have an invisible leash on. She'll wander up ahead, or linger behind on some smell, but she always manages to stay within a certain range, even if she has to stop and run like the wind to catch up. It isn't something I taught her.   "Are you a dog trainer?" "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night."

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• 12-29-2007 3:04 AM

  In reply to Dog_ma

  sillysally Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 3,436 Points 0

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact Sally and Jack walk beside us. Sally tends to pull more and pay attention less if she is out in front. It's just a habit we've gotten into. I would find it extremely annoying to have them behind me..... "Some men aren't looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

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• 12-29-2007 8:12 PM

  In reply to sillysally

  ron2 Joined on 09-10-2007 far north central Texas Posts 9,827 Points 500

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact Shadow walks in front, as befits his ancestry to pull hard in front and run like the wind. However, he doesn't pull as hard as he used to and I can have him walk in heel, now and then. After the first time I jackpotted heel in Petsmart, he always assumes heel or LLW position when we enter. I prefer him to heel in close quarters but on a wide open walk, front is okay and it does allow me to see what he is up to.   The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb

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• 12-29-2007 8:47 PM

  In reply to ron2

  kaf Joined on 09-10-2007 Chicago Posts 526 Points 185	Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact  The dogs walk in front of me, I too don't like having them behind me.  I like to see what they are doing.
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• 12-29-2007 9:23 PM

  In reply to kaf

  BEVOLASVEGAS Joined on 07-11-2006 Texas Posts 4,157 Points 640

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact My dogs walk wherever I ask them to walk.  If we are hiking on trails with long straightaways, then the dogs are allowed to walk ahead of me.  If the trails are narrow, & winding, the dogs walk behind me.  Normal walks around town are done at my side.  Their walking locations decide what position the dogs will walk in. Amanda "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, throughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming --- ' WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!! ' " - Author Unknown

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• 12-30-2007 6:52 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  Janet808 Joined on 09-14-2007 Pgh. PA Posts 1,688 Points 345

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact Well, from my understanding of the CM way is that dogs don't walk behind you but beside you.  At least that's my interpretation of what he's teaching.  I've never gotten the understanding he wants your dog behind you, but I do know he doesn't want them in front of you and not just in front, but way in front.  I prefer Misty to walk beside me, otherwise, I have no control of her if she is walking too far in front of me.  She's obviously long, so a little in front is fine, but not the whole leash length in front.  I tried that once, and because I live in a suburban neighborhood and have local traffic up and down the streets, her being in front, became dangerous to her.  I had too much leash to reel in to keep her close and that was the end of that.  I agree w/ you, that I too, do not like it when she's out of sight behind me.  You just can't see what your dogs doing and that to me defeats the whole purpose of the walk.  I want us to walk together, not her walking me, and not me walking her, but rather in a comfortable inbetween. Handle every situation like a dog. If you can't Eat it or Chew it. Pee on it and Walk Away

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• 12-31-2007 10:16 AM

  In reply to Janet808

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 7,100 Points 850

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact Depends on what we mean by "walk".  Kenya has 4 levels of walking: 1. A strict heel (queue "Fuss" or "Heel") is like what you see in Schutzhund - the dog is basically touching the handler, head turn toward the handler with constant eye contact. 2. A "normal" heel (queue "Hup" or "Come Along") is her walking in heel on my left, but she doesn't have to be touching me or have constant eye contact, though I encourage as much eye contact as possible. This is the type of heel we would use in the obedience or rally ring. 3. If I give no command at all, that means she walks in front on a loose lead and is alert, not stopping or zig-zagging all over.  4. Finally, if I say "OK!" and release her from one of the heel exercises, that means she can pretty much do whatever she wants without pulling - sniff, zig-zag, fall behind, whatever.  This type of walking is what I use as a reward for extended periods of the first two. She does whichever one I call for, leash or no leash.  vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop RA CL1-F CL1-R TT HIC TDI CGC ("Kenya", GSD) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC ("Coke", All American) Alta-Tollhaus' Bono ("Nikon", GSD)

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• 01-01-2008 11:01 AM

  In reply to Liesje

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,492 Points 100

  Re: Dog Walking - out front or behind? Reply Contact I like them out in front so I can see them. I can't imagine what benefit, physical or mental, a dog would get out of walks if the dog is expected to walk at a slow human pace in heel position ALL of the time. Dogs get very little exercise benefit from just walking at a human pace, and unless they are allowed to sniff as they please they don't get much mental stimulation either. My dogs favorite kind of leash walk is to slowly walk out, sniffing everything (mental stimulation), then jog back briskly without stopping (physical exercise).

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