Elizabeth77 Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Since I got Meg I have always walked her on my left side. Today we were somewhere new and there was a busy road involved. I walked her as usual on my left as we set out. On the return journey the busy road would be on my left so I thought well I will walk her on my right . Meg had different ideas and immediately crossed over in front of me to be on my left. This happened several times so I just allowed her to walk on my left, traffic or not. How did she know the diference? Will your dog walk on both sides ? Is there different energy from each arm? Tomorrow I will try and see if she will walk on the right if I hold the lead in my left hand. Guess you are feeling dizzy by now ...sorry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 If you always train and work an animal on the one side, it will be comfortable there and not on the other side. I think Temple Grandin describes that as not generalizing (in other words, to people, right or left side is not a big issue on most things but to animals, different sides are like different things entirely - not the same - a horse that passes a rock on its right going out, may balk at that same rock on its left coming back, until it becomes accustomed to passing it both ways). Try training her on the second side as if you are teaching a new skill, starting from the beginning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLloydJones Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Will your dog walk on both sides ? Yes, she will. I have never done formal obedience with her, so she hasn't got the rigid one-sided heel syndrom. I always keep her on the inside when we walk along a road with heavy traffic. It's a boon when we do agility; a one-sided dog is harder to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Boots Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Not only does an animal not make the connections between exercises done on the left versus right side, some are also easier to train one side or the other. Or may be spookier one side or the other. I have seen this more w/ horses than dogs, but it can hold true for them too. I had a young horse come to me a few years ago that hadn't had much contact. It had only been worked w/ on the left side and not much had been done there. It took 6 weeks for the horse to be confident w/ me on it's right side. Leading, picking up feet, brushing, everything. If he was tied and you were on his left side he was fine, as soon as you crossed to the right side he was balky and would pull back. Don't be surprised if when you start working the other side your dog may not have as good of heal or basic commands when on that side of your body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody & Duchess Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 As a volunteer basic trainer at a shelter- they always want the dogs on the left , by your knee. I do this because that is what they want me to do. For my dogs - I like the flexibility of snapping my fingers , then pointing to where I want the dog to go. I know this isn't a long agreed upon method - but works with my situation. I really understand your concern about putting your dog on the "safe" side of you. I think the above posters are correct - of trying to teach as a new skill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Here's a different opinion. In the past when working with several dogs there would be an order in which they would heel as a group. Biggest on the inside, smallest on the outside all on the left. That was to be too difficult to do in some is some places, your street for example, so I taught the dogs to "Tack starboard (right)" meaning for the time being heel on the right side. I also had to teach them to walk single file in case of narrow ledges or for when we go into a slot canyon so they wouldn't try to push past. The last command in the group was the release or return to heel command. Here it's generally a release command. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I make sure to have both of mine walk on both sides. We usually have the dog on the inside away from traffic as well. Poke and Ceana also know "left, and right." It seems to make the walk more exciting for them. Poke gets incredibly happy when I tell him a direction and he turns and I tell him good boy. He feels very acomplished! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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