Where to re-start?

West Texan · 10-29-2011, 03:56 PM

Gus went through puppy kindergarden. He still knows sit, down, leave it... and so on. Here is my problem... he has never been good at walking on his leash. He pulls constantly. I want to train him to walk beside me on a loose leash and possibly to heel (which to me is almost one in the same). I have been trying to work with him on getting a treat to my left side when he is walking with me and in position in the back yard. When I take him out front though, he does not even acknowledge that I have treats.

I just spent a half hour in the back working with him on 'watch me'. Is this the main thing to get him focused on me when we walk or should I start with something else? Is there other commands he needs to know before we work on heel?

He is smart, ask him how sand paper feels or what the puppy says and he will tell you

. Think he just gets too excited when we go out that he wants to drag me everywhere.

cowboy17 · 10-29-2011, 04:15 PM

backyard= no distractions
front yard = distractions

Yes, focus (engagement) is key to all training. If he/she is not engaged, training just won't work well.

Get it to the point of awesome in the backyard.
Then get a person to sit in a chair in the backyard and again get it to awsome.
Then get someone to sit in the chair and another person to walk back and forth in the yard and again get it to awesome.
Then get a person with a dog in the backyard, and a person walking and a person in a chair with a radio playing and again get it to awesome.

Then try the front yard.

Have you looked into perch training?

Stosh · 10-29-2011, 06:00 PM

You could try a basic obedience class- there's lots of distractions and he'd be on a lead. I used a prong collar when Stosh started the pulling business and it did the trick. Now that I don't need a formal heel like in class I just say 'with me' and he walks with or without a lead right near me- on either side.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 10-29-2011, 06:05 PM

Keep going to classes! Fun for you and your pup and you'll learn at the appropriate speed.

Better a few short (2 five minute) sessions in the day then one long (30 minutes was mentioned) session. Want the puppy engaged and wanting to do the 'whatever' So short training with LONG breaks for fun.

Clicker training is best because it means the human is learning too, so not all pressure on the dog not doing it right...

So click this and go have fun! ---> Intro to Clicker Training (perfect for puppies!)

10-29-2011, 03:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
West Texan New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 17	Where to re-start? Gus went through puppy kindergarden. He still knows sit, down, leave it... and so on. Here is my problem... he has never been good at walking on his leash. He pulls constantly. I want to train him to walk beside me on a loose leash and possibly to heel (which to me is almost one in the same). I have been trying to work with him on getting a treat to my left side when he is walking with me and in position in the back yard. When I take him out front though, he does not even acknowledge that I have treats. I just spent a half hour in the back working with him on 'watch me'. Is this the main thing to get him focused on me when we walk or should I start with something else? Is there other commands he needs to know before we work on heel? He is smart, ask him how sand paper feels or what the puppy says and he will tell you . Think he just gets too excited when we go out that he wants to drag me everywhere.

10-29-2011, 06:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	Keep going to classes! Fun for you and your pup and you'll learn at the appropriate speed. Better a few short (2 five minute) sessions in the day then one long (30 minutes was mentioned) session. Want the puppy engaged and wanting to do the 'whatever' So short training with LONG breaks for fun. Clicker training is best because it means the human is learning too, so not all pressure on the dog not doing it right... So click this and go have fun! ---> Intro to Clicker Training (perfect for puppies!) __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

10-29-2011, 04:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
cowboy17 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 143	backyard= no distractions front yard = distractions Yes, focus (engagement) is key to all training. If he/she is not engaged, training just won't work well. Get it to the point of awesome in the backyard. Then get a person to sit in a chair in the backyard and again get it to awsome. Then get someone to sit in the chair and another person to walk back and forth in the yard and again get it to awesome. Then get a person with a dog in the backyard, and a person walking and a person in a chair with a radio playing and again get it to awesome. Then try the front yard. Have you looked into perch training?

10-29-2011, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Stosh Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: tyler texas Posts: 8,434	You could try a basic obedience class- there's lots of distractions and he'd be on a lead. I used a prong collar when Stosh started the pulling business and it did the trick. Now that I don't need a formal heel like in class I just say 'with me' and he walks with or without a lead right near me- on either side.

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