help with behavior please

1478 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by caligirl07, Jun 10, 2008

caligirl07

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2008

Hi Guys,

I am going to bother you with some help again. Thank you all in advance.

We are taking Buddy (10 months) to this elementary school every evening to chase the ball with group of other people and dogs. We know each other for a while now. The problem is, that when I want to go there, Buddy knows, we are going there and he is very excited and pulls me on the leash like crazy, he tries to go very fast. I use the prong collar and it works on him always...I mean except when we go here. I don't know what to do anymore, I try to stop and calm him down, but then again he pulls me to get there. Otherwise, when I walk with him somewhere else, he can walk very nicely. What should I do? What can I try to teach him walk slowly to get there?

Second question...when we are about to go home from the playground, and I put the leash on him and other dogs are around, and I am close to some of them, like standing next to that dog, he snaps at them. Is this normal? It is not every time, but I noticed, when I put the leash back, and we are going home. It doesn't happen when we meet other dogs, which are also on the leash. Could it be, because he is on the leash and they are not? Does he feel threatened? How can I correct him?

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ThreeDogs

· #2 · Jun 9, 2008

Originally Posted By: caligirl07Hi Guys,

I am going to bother you with some help again. Thank you all in advance.

We are taking Buddy (10 months) to this elementary school every evening to chase the ball with group of other people and dogs. We know each other for a while now. The problem is, that when I want to go there, Buddy knows, we are going there and he is very excited and pulls me on the leash like crazy, he tries to go very fast. I use the prong collar and it works on him always...I mean except when we go here. I don't know what to do anymore, I try to stop and calm him down, but then again he pulls me to get there. Otherwise, when I walk with him somewhere else, he can walk very nicely. What should I do? What can I try to teach him walk slowly to get there?

My Stella did this when she knew we would be going to the park. she would pull and yelp and honestly sounded like she was being tortured. So embarrassing. So we made regular trips to the park, no playing. We would just walk there and leave. The behavior calmed down the more trips we made. Also once we hit the walk way, I would stand still every time she pulled, it took about 10 minutes to get to the other end, but she finally got the idea.

Originally Posted By: caligirl07Second question...when we are about to go home from the playground, and I put the leash on him and other dogs are around, and I am close to some of them, like standing next to that dog, he snaps at them. Is this normal? It is not every time, but I noticed, when I put the leash back, and we are going home. It doesn't happen when we meet other dogs, which are also on the leash. Could it be, because he is on the leash and they are not? Does he feel threatened? How can I correct him?

Sounds like a bit of leash aggresion, I give a leash correction and a leave it command to Cyrus when he does this on leash with other dogs.

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BlackGSD

· #3 · Jun 9, 2008

One thing I have heard is to turn and go in the opposite direction when he pulls, then when he calms down and isn't puling, go back in the origional direction. Chances are you will have to do this over and over until he figures it out.

A LOT of people have also had good luck doing it the way Threedogs mentioned. (Stopping when they pull.) I personally have never had any luck with that method.

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MaggieRoseLee

· #4 · Jun 9, 2008

I know when I have trouble with a training issue, dog classes help the best. Build up the distractions gradually, give me the skills I need to lead, and teaching my dog to pay attention and listen.

If I wasn't able to got to classes to teach the dog, then I would just use another method to prevent the pulling. Both the head collar or the harness by Gentle Leader are supposed to help with this. That way you can still get to the park.

Harness info

Here's another type The Dream Walker

Head harness by Gentle Leader (click here)

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MaggieRoseLee

· #5 · Jun 9, 2008

The behavior issue of your dog snapping at other dogs would also be solved quickly and well at dog class. It may be play? May be agression? A good instructor would be able to help determine what the issue is.

But once again, if you can't bother with the classes, here's a site for reference

Handling On Leash Aggression

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caligirl07

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 9, 2008

Thanks guys, I will try to turn the opposite direction when I walk to park. I did stop walking, when he pulled me, but when we moved again, he pulled again, so that didn't work.

We did take some puppy classes, maybe it is time for us to enroll for more.

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jdsd21

· #7 · Jun 9, 2008

Hello Caligirl, I have a couple boys myself that get real excited when they sense that we are about to go do something fun. This can be for anything from taking a ride in the back of my truck to running around the neighborhood. I am not sure how you begin the ritual of taking Buddy to the park, but maybe try to focus on the initial part of the trip and determine if maybe you are creating an elevated state of energy before even stepping out the door.

I know for me, I used to pick up my keys, or simply just grab my boys prong collars and the clicking of the metal was enough to get them so excited that once I got outside, they were already full force ahead to the destination. I realized what I was doing and changed my ways by making sure they were calm prior to putting their collars on. I would then make them sit at the door in a calm state before even opening it up. Then I would step out first myself, make sure they continue to sit, then turn around, establish eye contact, then grant them the permission to step outside. This will atleat start your walk with Buddy at the energy level you want and him focusing on you rather then on the dog park (or other fun) that is on its way. You may from here be able to control him more on your way to your destination.

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caligirl07

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 10, 2008

Thanks, he is ok, when we get out, but on the way there he is very excited. I have to try all those tricks you taught me here. Even maybe try with treats again.

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Dinahmyte

· #9 · Jun 10, 2008

I would make him do some obedience (heeling included) before he is able to get out there and play. Is it possible to get there before the other people and dogs? If it is, I would get there early and do a little obedience so the distractions are minimal. Maybe work up to doing it while people and dogs are there. Then he is rewarded in the end by going to play.

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Lauri & The Gang

· #10 · Jun 10, 2008

Do you always walk the same route? Can you take different ones?

Also, the idea about going to the school and then leaving right away without letting him play is a good one. That way he won't know which time is a play time and which time is just a walk.

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caligirl07

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 10, 2008

I often get there, when there is nobody. It is that he knows we are going there, so he is very excited.

Yesterday, I walked with him again and he pulled me, so I stoped several times, which helped. I let him sit for a while, so he calms down and then I gave him treat. I don't have a problem, once we are there, it is just that on the way there, he is very excited.

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caligirl07

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 10, 2008

No, I changed the route too. But they are smart dogs, what can I say, he knows all the routes already.

)

I do that too, go there and then leave without playing, he gives me that look :" Like what's going on, how come I don't get to play?"

))

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