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How to walk your dog


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This is my first time owning a dog.

I am reading books and learning how to train dogs. I have been walking my new Border Collie puppy and noticed how distracted she can get. Not to mention when cars drive by. She would sniff around, try to go everywhere which seems completely normal to me for a dog. But I have been told that You shouldn't be letting your dog does whatever she wants to do during a walk. Dogs are supposed to walk by your side, without getting so distracted.

 

How do you train them to be that way? Is it okay to pull the leash when she does it? I keep telling her "good girl" when she is walking good. Any trick?

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I am a big fan of haltis and gentle leaders and have had great success with them in the 10 years that I have been doing puppy training classes and behaviour classes for our local kennel club,and would suggest you look into possibly using on of those.

 

Unfortunately, North America is way behind in its attitude towards head gear. Less than 10% of dogs in North America wear head gear, over 67% of dogs in the U.K. wear head gear. For some reason over here, it is looked upon as cheating or people being too damn lazy to train their dogs.

 

We have this big hang up that dogs have always been walked on collars and leashes, so that is how it must remain, and any other option is just not kosher or is okay for a short cheating length of time while you really train your dog to be on a leash and collar.

 

There are lots of benefits to working dogs on head gear and many people once they hear of the benefits and start to work their dogs on head gear are very pleased that they made the decision to do so.

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I will give you my opinion. Although, I am not that good of person to ask. Up until I got Gypsy, now three years old, I had always lived in the country with dogs. A leash was a totally unknown thing.

 

I have never taught Gypsy to heel. However, she is generally well behaved on a leash. She does have a tendency to want to hold the leash in her mouth, like she is in charge. If she is really feeling her oats, she will want to play tug-of-war with the leash. For the most part, I let her get away with these things as long as she stops, when I tell her to.

 

When walking on the leash, she will find enticing odors, which she really "needs" to check out. I personally consider it rude to just pull her off the scent. I will let her have a minute and then say "lets go" before I pull on the leash.

 

When I pull on the leash, I do not give a steady pressure. Rather, I "snap" the leash to get her attention and pull briefly, if I want her to get moving. Also, when we walk on a leash, I try to always use the same vocabulary, so she has reasonable understanding of what I want. I do not allow and Gypsy does not pull on the leash when we are walking.

 

I indulge Gypsy at times. I believe a dog should be able to have time and opportunity to just be a dog. However, when I want Gypsy's attention or I want her to "straighten up", I expect her to do so. I personally believe she will be more "willingly' obedient, if she knows that I will allow her to be a dog at times. I also try to be fair, clear and consistent with my demands.

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I think there can be two kinds of walks. One is the more disciplined kind where your dog is right with you and very focused on you and where you are going. Oreo is a slacker in this regard and we have started another class to polish those skills.

 

I do think that dogs need and enjoy a chance to inspect things and have fun as they go along, too. For those kind of walks, Oreo has a retractable leash so I can let him go out ahead of me when safe and be snoopy and sniffy. I can always bring him back in close when we come to intersections or things that are forbidden (neighborhood cats, for example).

 

We have used the gentle leader from the beginning. We get some odd looks because most people don't know what it is - they think he is vicious and therefore muzzled. :rolleyes:

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That is exactly what I was feeling.

When I walk her, am I just walking her to exercise or am I doing that so she have fun. I want this as both and also for training opportunity.

 

I would hate telling her no when she wants to sniff around.

 

The head gear - If my guess is correct what it is.. - sounds like an option. I will check that out at petstore this weekend.

 

Thanks!

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I think there can be two kinds of walks.

_____________________________________________

Oreo's Mum - I totally agree. Sometimes I think we forget to let our dogs just be dogs. When I am in the city or at a competition, that is the time for controlled walks on leash. At home, I have tons of space to let my dogs roam off leash and lots of other areas that I can take them, and they get to be dogs. Sniff, dig, bark, jump over deadfall, play keep away etc. etc. If I have to, a dog can always be in a long line and still enjoy the freedom of exploring, etc.

 

I enjoy watching dogs just being dogs, and doing what dogs do, with the exception of rolling in rotten icky dead stuff or worse.

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I like to use environmental stimuli as part of my reward system. For example, if Lucy really wants to sniff a particular bush, I will not allow her to pull me to it. Instead, she must approach the bush on a loose leash and wait for permission to sniff it. Sniffing the bush is the reward for approaching on a loose leash. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right. The moment she starts to forge ahead, we start moving away from the bush. Then we try again. When she finally approaches without pulling, yippeeeee! "Sniff it!". I will insist on loose leash walking, regardless of whether I'm expecting a formal heel or we're just out on a fun walk. I HATE being dragged/pulled. My Labrador will walk on a loose leash, on his buckle collar, all the way to the field where I throw a ball for him, and all the way back home. If he wants to stop and sniff, I will only allow him to do so if he will approach whatever it is on a loose leash. Otherwise, he's out of luck.

 

Of course, this is in an urban environment. When we're in the woods, I prefer to let them run and sniff, and if I need them leashed, I'll keep them on a long line and avoid putting any tension on it.

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A "gentle leader" is similiar to a Halti and they are both head gear for the dog. It goes around their muzzle and back of the head. The leash attaches under the mouth, which causes the dog's head to turn when they try and pull. It doesn't prevent biting, eating, drinking or barking, but a lot of people think it's muzzle that does prevent those things, hence they are often afraid of a dog seen wearing a gentle leader or Halti.

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Congratulations on your new dog! Here is my experience with walking on the leash. I have two border collies, a 3 yr old female and an 8 mo old male. I got the female first when she was 1 yr old from a rescue organization. She was terrible on the leash, like a wild animal. However, I needed to walk her everyday for exercise (hers and mine). My husband and I also like to hike with our dogs as often as we can, so walking nicely without pulling is a must. I tried a gentle leader collar for her and it does work. However, she is pretty fiesty about having things on her head, so every few steps she (still to this day) paws at her nose and face. I had the collar sized by a friend who is a pet behavior counselor. It doesn't matter, she still paws at it. We even trained with a class to learn how to use the gentle leader properly. Lady is a pretty stubborn dog. Recently I tried a Sporn training halter, which is a harness with soft straps that the dog wears on its body. This thing is awesome. Lady stopped her pulling and we are able to walk without having to stop and fidget with the Gentle Leader. This is the happiest I have seen her on our walks. I tried the harness on our male and it worked for him too.

It doesn't bother me that they sniff along the way, as long as we maintain a steady pace. I have taught them to sit or lie down if a car passes, which isn't often since we live in the country. At any rate, enjoy your dog and hopefully the walks will get a bit easier. Gentle Leaders do work, but if you have a dog who doesn't adjust to it, I would recommend the Sporn training halter. -MA

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