It all falls apart when we pass another walker, or worse, another dog...

TheVintageAngel · 12-29-2011, 11:01 PM

I've been working with Jemma (4 months old) lots with her leash walking...three long walks a day in the neighborhood, or on the trail that runs behind our house. I've also begun click training and I know that's another thread in itself, but she's responding really well to the click method....

However...all the training and obedience falls apart and disappears the instant another walker is passing us, or worse, another dog is in the area. I literally have to step into the grass, grab her collar and hold her in a sit. Otherwise she pulls, like a madwoman, pretty much up on her hind legs raging against the leash and pulling and barking like a crazy pup. Even at her puppy age, some people look alarmed at this white beast...even though I'm sure she'd just run up, jump on them and lick, lick, lick....

I know not to go anywhere when she pulls like this....but is there anything else I can do..aside from post signs asking people to please not go out for walks when I do

Is the only way to handle this stopping in our tracks, putting her in a sit and waiting until they get a safe distance away? This is gonna make walking miserable until she gets past this....or I figure out how to teach her what is expected in a civilized world.

onyx'girl · 12-29-2011, 11:20 PM

Do you ever use a toy when training instead of the clicker/treats? Sometimes a tug or ball on a string will hold higher value than food(especially as the pup ages) I would transfer to a ball or tug for rewards and switch up that training with what you are already doing with the clicker. Then when you are out on your walks, pop a ball/tug and engage Jemma thru redirection. As she matures, this type of training will work with many distractions. Because you are putting her in a sit, it is just ramping up her excitement, I'd rather get that excitement out with playing with me!
These free clips(look at more than just the page I linked)will show you marker training and the power of tug/engagement.
Leerburg On Demand | Michael Ellis Videos

Kaity · 12-29-2011, 11:23 PM

^^ second that. I'd distract her with something else so she's more interested in you and what you have rather than the person and other dog. Work on down-stays with her.. I used a prong collar to get Vida to respond better to people and other dogs, that may or may not work for you both. I'm sure you'll get a lot of good responses on this

onyx'girl · 12-29-2011, 11:27 PM

The pup is only four months, I wouldn't use a prong just yet.

Kaity · 12-29-2011, 11:54 PM

For some reason I thought she was older? My mistake! Def try everything you can before a prong

TheVintageAngel · 12-30-2011, 09:15 AM

Jemma has been around lots of other dogs...she's went through puppy preschool where all the pups (all smaller than her except for a chow chow pup) were there in a contained area. She loved it and was good and gentle with the super teeny tiny pups. She's also had lots of play time with much larger dogs. Her newest BFF is a 9 month old Rott and they are so funny together. She rolls on her back when the larger dogs in her life get annoyed with too much biting that she does, so I think she is learning bite inhibition and her place in the pack from the other larger dogs a little too.

I will try taking her favorite toy next time we go for a walk...and just try to engage her and distract.

She also went through a phase where she lunged and barked at moving cars on our walks. Our trainer said that was common in shepherds from their herding instincts. We worked with her to sit each time a car was coming, and said "wait" every few seconds. This has worked...although if we forget she still barks and lunges but I think with time, she'll understand.

martemchik · 12-30-2011, 09:47 AM

Your puppy is 4 months old!!! Stop thinking that it will heel perfectly in all situations. It took me up until about 1 year and a good corrective collar to get my dog to heel and not want to play with other dogs on walks. It still doesn't work if he sees a dog that he knows and has played with before! Yes this is a GSD, but they aren't born obedient, allow her to be a puppy! Mine is a social butterfly and he wants to play with every dog out there, even the mean aggressive ones, he just doesn't care.

12-29-2011, 11:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheVintageAngel Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Waterville, OH Posts: 113	It all falls apart when we pass another walker, or worse, another dog... I've been working with Jemma (4 months old) lots with her leash walking...three long walks a day in the neighborhood, or on the trail that runs behind our house. I've also begun click training and I know that's another thread in itself, but she's responding really well to the click method.... However...all the training and obedience falls apart and disappears the instant another walker is passing us, or worse, another dog is in the area. I literally have to step into the grass, grab her collar and hold her in a sit. Otherwise she pulls, like a madwoman, pretty much up on her hind legs raging against the leash and pulling and barking like a crazy pup. Even at her puppy age, some people look alarmed at this white beast...even though I'm sure she'd just run up, jump on them and lick, lick, lick.... I know not to go anywhere when she pulls like this....but is there anything else I can do..aside from post signs asking people to please not go out for walks when I do Is the only way to handle this stopping in our tracks, putting her in a sit and waiting until they get a safe distance away? This is gonna make walking miserable until she gets past this....or I figure out how to teach her what is expected in a civilized world. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jemma, WGSD 08/22/11 "Dogs are miracles with paws." www.thevintageangel.com

12-29-2011, 11:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Do you ever use a toy when training instead of the clicker/treats? Sometimes a tug or ball on a string will hold higher value than food(especially as the pup ages) I would transfer to a ball or tug for rewards and switch up that training with what you are already doing with the clicker. Then when you are out on your walks, pop a ball/tug and engage Jemma thru redirection. As she matures, this type of training will work with many distractions. Because you are putting her in a sit, it is just ramping up her excitement, I'd rather get that excitement out with playing with me! These free clips(look at more than just the page I linked)will show you marker training and the power of tug/engagement. Leerburg On Demand \| Michael Ellis Videos __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

12-29-2011, 11:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kaity Master Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 951	^^ second that. I'd distract her with something else so she's more interested in you and what you have rather than the person and other dog. Work on down-stays with her.. I used a prong collar to get Vida to respond better to people and other dogs, that may or may not work for you both. I'm sure you'll get a lot of good responses on this __________________ Kaity Vida

12-29-2011, 11:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	The pup is only four months, I wouldn't use a prong just yet. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

12-29-2011, 11:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kaity Master Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 951	For some reason I thought she was older? My mistake! Def try everything you can before a prong __________________ Kaity Vida

12-30-2011, 09:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheVintageAngel Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Waterville, OH Posts: 113	Jemma has been around lots of other dogs...she's went through puppy preschool where all the pups (all smaller than her except for a chow chow pup) were there in a contained area. She loved it and was good and gentle with the super teeny tiny pups. She's also had lots of play time with much larger dogs. Her newest BFF is a 9 month old Rott and they are so funny together. She rolls on her back when the larger dogs in her life get annoyed with too much biting that she does, so I think she is learning bite inhibition and her place in the pack from the other larger dogs a little too. I will try taking her favorite toy next time we go for a walk...and just try to engage her and distract. She also went through a phase where she lunged and barked at moving cars on our walks. Our trainer said that was common in shepherds from their herding instincts. We worked with her to sit each time a car was coming, and said "wait" every few seconds. This has worked...although if we forget she still barks and lunges but I think with time, she'll understand. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jemma, WGSD 08/22/11 "Dogs are miracles with paws." www.thevintageangel.com

12-30-2011, 09:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
martemchik Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,049	Your puppy is 4 months old!!! Stop thinking that it will heel perfectly in all situations. It took me up until about 1 year and a good corrective collar to get my dog to heel and not want to play with other dogs on walks. It still doesn't work if he sees a dog that he knows and has played with before! Yes this is a GSD, but they aren't born obedient, allow her to be a puppy! Mine is a social butterfly and he wants to play with every dog out there, even the mean aggressive ones, he just doesn't care.

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