Training on lead

[walt]

Hi, I was wondering if you could come up with some ideas on how to stop out Collie cross Springer from pulling on the lead and getting really worked up when we come to other dogs or cats? We have had a dog specialist in and it seemed to work for a day or so but she went back to her normal way after that. We have tried a lot of things from changing her lead, spray collers, and a lot of other things. She is so good at home and off lead, it is only when she is on a lead. She is a rescue dog and we have had her for just over a year now. She has a few scares on her nose to show she has had a bit of hard life in her time. She so intelegent and learns things so quick, it is not understandable why she won't learn that we will protect her when we are out.
She really is hard work on a lead but not all the time, she does have a few easy time, but that is far and few .
Any ideas would be very greatful on this as we are running out of ideas.
Thanks
Walt

[Val]

Bless you need Bev she can fix this easily one hour max to show you how to have a nice walk every time
Val

[*Lassie*]

This may help

http://www.dogclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2858.0;wap2

[rooooooooby]

Hi,

lets look at it from her point of view ...

you go out for walks and she's allowed to pull, she doesnt know you dont want her to pull because you are letting her pull (yes because you are not sure how to stop her) but she doesnt know that ... unfortunately

so in her mind pull pull pull = reward for more walks and maybe a play offlead too?

so - firstly you need to stop letting her pull ... 100% completely no more walks unless she walks nice you need to let her know that

walking nice to heel = more walks

and

pull pull pull = walk stops and back in boring house no reward of more walks / plays

Claire x

[dogloverwoooo!]

claire is right about your dog seeing her walk as a reward. doggy thinks 'great  walkies i can pull and i will get let off or be allowed to carry on walking )
 I don't know if your dog is into food but you could try some stinky intersting treats and reward her when she is walking nicely, also use them to lure her into correct position and keep her there 

[walt]

Sorry, I must be thick here. How will the dog know that it is being punished by not taking it out for a walk? We have not been able to take her out once and a while and have not ever seen a difference in her, so I cannot see how this would work, but if you say that it will work we will give it a go.
Any more ideas on this .
Walt

[*Lassie*]

Walt start with a nice loose lead, the moment she pulls stop don't speak just wait. She will come back to you, it may take a few moments but she will be puzzled as to why the walk stopped. Once she is back with you just tell her good girl heel and set off again. Every time she pulls you act like a tree and don't move until she is beside you, she's not daft she will soon cotton on that for the walk to continue she has to walk beside you

[SuzAndTheDiva]

Its not so much not taking her for a walk period - but how the walk goes, ie ours dont leave the house if they pratting about when we are trying to put leads on - they bugger about leads go away until they calm down - they both lay/sit by the door for leads on now    dogs arnt stupid, and will do what benefits them. There is im sure some good stuff on this in the stickys 

[Relay]

Sorry, I must be thick here. How will the dog know that it is being punished by not taking it out for a walk? We have not been able to take her out once and a while and have not ever seen a difference in her, so I cannot see how this would work, but if you say that it will work we will give it a go.
Any more ideas on this .
Walt

The dog doesn't see the walk in the same way we do. To us it's just a walk - to the dog it's going out on a hunt & all the adrenaline and excitement that comes with that is the reward, so it's not so much a matter of the dog knowing it's being punished, more a case of managing the walk/hunt differently.

[Relay]

Did anyone understand a word of that? 

[rona]

Yes Mark it made perfect sense.
Hi Walt, I used to be pulled all over the place when I first got Alfie, only thing that worked for us was, if he pulled I would about turn and go the way we had come. I felt that I was going in circles sometimes (which I was of course). Took a while but worked in the end.

[walt]

I will take your advice on this and try it over the next few days or weeks and get back to you, as my wife who normally takes her has M.S. and going around in circles makes her fall over, so it might take a bit of time, as she likes to train her.
Walt
PS thanks for the help

[rona]

Hi Walt
Hows it going, Hope the wife is ok

[Gemsy]

Its not so much not taking her for a walk period - but how the walk goes, ie ours dont leave the house if they pratting about when we are trying to put leads on - they bugger about leads go away until they calm down - they both lay/sit by the door for leads on now    dogs arnt stupid, and will do what benefits them. There is im sure some good stuff on this in the stickys 

I'm laughing so much at 'bugger about'... Mine are a nightmare at this too, they bark at me and everything. Where I usually have 4 dogs to get in the van I have to get them all in quickly so let them get away with murder. That's changing TODAY! *puts earplugs in*!

[walt]

Well my wife is taking her out on her own, I walk one dog a different way to my wife so as not to put the other dog off. The dog she is training is starting to get it, but only a bit, still there is plenty of time.
She WILL beat the problem as my wife is very deturmend to get the best out of her dog, as she loves her dog so much.
I will let you know how she gets on in a few days time, as we think this will work, why not as it has worked for all those others who have tried it.
Walt