bmathers (02-15-2019)
You can do 180 degree turns on a narrow trail, or sidewalk, in the aisles at Lowes or other pet friendly stores. I find the appliance aisles at Lowes to be very good for practicing direction changes, the are narrow which helps keep the dog in place, and you have lots of options for changing direction. I still practice there with Brooks.
One of the things I've learned with all the obedience, rally and field training is you have to get and maintain your dogs attention. I attended a seminar 2 years ago that dealt with this. it's not that hard to do, but it takes constant practice and reinforcement. I find using a clicker to mark the behavior works well when you are first training this.
1. Stand quietly with the dog sitting at your side. At some point he will look up at you, when he does this click and treat. He'll most likely look away, just stand quietly and every time he looks at you, click, treat repeat. He will pretty quickly figure out that looking at you is a good thing. Do this for a couple minutes 2-3 times a day.
2. By the second or third day you can start adding a command word to this exercise, I use "watch". Same thing as above, but say "watch" when he looks at you, click, treat, repeat. Again, a couple minutes 2-3 times per day.
3. Once he's reliably looking at you when you tell him "watch" you can start taking a step forward with him watching you, click, treat, repeat. Then start working on doing a couple steps while clicking, treating, repeating.
4. By working on basic attention you will become the focus and it will help when dealing with distractions. Brooks and I have been working on this almost daily for 2 years and in pretty much any situation, with high levels of distraction, if I say "watch" he'll immediately stop what he's doing a look at me, waiting for the next command.
bmathers (02-15-2019)
Excellent advice. I’ll start that this afternoon in the house. I signed him up for a Beginner Attention class that starts the end of this month. Your advice will give me a heads up on that class!
Had a tough walk today. He pulled and pulled and pulled, even when I changed directions. After about 10 minutes of that, I started back to the car and it was almost as if he knew we were going back because he slowed way down and was much better. Maybe I should hold off on trail walks where there are super high levels of distractions - today we saw lots of wild animal tracks and he was extremely interested in that.
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Have you heard of "Silky Leash Training" ?
How to Train a Dog to Stop Pulling on the Leash | Grisha Stewart
This is training with positive reinforcement....no pain from choke or prong collars and a fun way to teach loose leash walking for your dog. It also helps to create a strong, happy bond for both of you.
bmathers (02-17-2019)
lovemylabby (02-17-2019)
Unannounced changes in direction: With a surging dog... turn into the dog. With a lagger, turn away. As previously noted, it’s too late if the dog is already pulling.
For example: I need my dog’s head/eyes to be at the seam of my jeans, left leg. So if she “surges” to where her shoulders are at the seam of my trousers, I turn into her. No verbal warning. No apologies. Boom. Sudden left hand 90 or 180 degree turn. I don’t guide her with the leash. It’s loose. Following my movements is her responsibility. I don’t dance around or go slow or otherwise try to accommodate her. I walk at my pace. HEEL is one command. Until otherwise ordered (as in... SIT) she is to stay in position while we walk.
Are you tugging on the leash and saying HEELHEELHEELHEEL? I ask because that’s what I do when I’m not thinking about what she’s doing to me.
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