[GSDchoice]

Hi!
So there is a small issue with Rumo, which is his One-Man (or should I say, One-Woman) loyalty to me.

Ex:
Coming home from an outing. There is a grocery around the corner from our house, and I said, "I have to run in and pick up some things for dinner. Why don't you guys walk home, instead of sitting in the car?" 20 minutes later, I emerge from store to find husband & dog planted on sidewalk in front of store! Husband reports: "Rumo would not go. I dragged him a few feet, but then he planted his feet again. I didn't want to drag him by force all the way home."

Drop off at boarding kennel. There was a new girl this time, who tried to bring him in while I was doing the paperwork...he went around and stood behind me and refused to budge when she called him & pulled on his leash. (He's famous...regular staff know not even to try to bring him in, until I have closed the door behind me)

Ditto for vet tech, obedience teacher, you name it...it always involves dragging by force. He will refuse any sort of treat.


So, sometimes I wish I had a command that means: "You need to Go with this other person. This person is OK."

Does anybody have, or use, such a command?
If so, how would you go about training such a command?

 

[Katsugsd]

My girl and her one littermate does this. Katsu will refuse to do anything for anyone else if I'm around. Last night she completely ignored my husband calling her name and kept watching me. Our trainer stated she probably wouldn't work for anyone else. I haven't done anything for it, but her littermate's owner has.


He does this thing where he'll look at the dog and say "work with <insert name here>" then hand the leash to the person along with some food. It's still a work in progress, but every time the dog would look back at him he would just repeat it and so would the person holding the leash who would then offer the dog food. The person (in this case, our trainer) can do heeling work with him.
Maybe someone has another idea on how you may train it...I'm not 100% sure if it's a solid way to do it, but it does seem to work.

 

[Fodder]

Have you tried using a release word (“okay”), handing over the leash but accompanying the person.... just as a first step to help wean him?

 

[GSDchoice]

Hmm, good ideas...

I think I will try saying "Go With ____" and handing the leash over in a way that he sees me do it?
And then have the person offer him bits of cheese?
They may not let me walk with them (in case of vet's office or boarding) but I will try to go along a bit when I can.

Maybe that will teach him the idea that is a command, and that I want him to go with the person.

"OK" is already in use as a command, so I will try "Go With".


Yea, at first everybody is so nice (gentle tug on leash, calling his name, bend down & be friendly, holding out a treat) but it always has to turn into that Drag by Force moment, which I dread. Last time I heard his paws squeaking because he had all 4 legs planted and he was skidding along the tile floor...ugh. It can't be good for his neck, either! So, will work on this!

 

[Pytheis]

I thought that you could start by saying the command and handing the leash off to another person, move about five feet (or as far as you can go without him panicking) to the side but still in line with the person holding his leash, then walk forward with them. Eventually you could start slowing down while the person holding his leash walks at the same speed, then you could stop altogether while the person holding his leash continues.

No matter what you do it will take time, and you will have to train it in separate situations from when you will actually need it. Train it extensively before handing the leash off to the vet where you can't follow and he has to be dragged away. That just sets you back.

 

[GSDchoice]

True!

So, had the idea that maybe I could start with my daughter ("Go with Annie!") and do the Official Leash Handover, then walk a bit apart and have them walk in a big circle up and down the street, and come back. Then move on to husband in same method, then move on to them being able to go around a corner (out of sight) and come back. Will save the vet's office for last advanced challenge!

Yea, it's not that I want to train him to go easily with any stranger...I do appreciate his love and loyalty.
Just will aim to train him to the point where he doesn't have to be dragged away physically!

 

[Nurse Bishop]

I like this command Work with (name of person).