Okay, my dog is old enough that they can be trained to walk in public with a leash. What is the best way to get my dog to learn to walk with and without a leash while paying attention to the handler? Please, no smart *** or jerk answers. This is a serious question. My goal is for him to pay attention to me and turn when i turn, turn around when i turn around, stop when i stop, etc. Any good advice is much welcomed.
2006-10-03 14:38:18 · 7 answers · asked by vail2073 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This is a question to which has no short answer. It took me almost a year to train my dog to walk off and on leash correctly. It takes alot of work and lots of consistency. Practice having him or her heel on leash then eventually off. In the long run your dog will do better off leash than on bc they HAVE to pay attention to you when off leash. The best thing to do is enroll in obedience classes. Not only will this teach will to heel, but basic obedience, and the more obedient your dog is, the more they pay attention the more likely they will walk off leash for you. Good Luck my dog was beyond stubborn, but maybe yours will do alot better. It's def. worth it in the end.
2006-10-04 02:30:24 · answer #1 · answered by Elle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When done properly a dog (any dog) can be taught what you are asking in one half hour training session, it then only becomes a matter of daily repetition so that the dog will remember, and to refine the action.
The key is how the lead is used (NOT WHAT COLLAR YOU CHOOSE TO USE).
I trained dogs for the better part of 50 years using nothing but a normal flat buckle collar.
It is best to use a fairly long lead (6 to 8 feet) so that it is easy to get slack in the lead.
The first point is that if the lead is tight (the dog pulling) it is imposable to communicate with the dog using the lead, there MUST be slack.
To do this with the dog on your left, the lead should go from the dogs neck to your left hand with a small amount of slack between the dog and your hand. The lead should then have a lot of slack as it runs from your left hand to your right hand. Anytime the lead becomes tight between the dog and the left hand you can then drop the lead from the left hand to restore slack between the dog and your right hand, which is the hand that will be making all corrections at first.
Now this is important ! ! ! A correction MUST be in the proper direction in order to have any meaning to the dog. If you want a dog to speed up the correction must be in a strait forward line that is an extension of the dogs spine (normally this means GET YOUR HAND DOWN LEVEL WITH THE DOGS HEAD). If you want the dog to slow down the correction is strait back (NOT UP) on a parallel line with the dogs spine. For the dog to stop or sit the correction is up and slightly back.
The common things you will run into:
Sniffers
Any time a dogs head goes to the ground, it's brains will run out it's nose and you have no control of the dog. To correct this place the collar as high up the neck as possible (right behind it's ears) and then when the dog starts to lower it's head drop your left hand strait down to restore slack in the lead and then give it a strait upward "pop" (not a pull) with a command like "head up",,, and the immediately resume walking. In short order the dog will start to pay attention to you, (and you will be half way home)
Pullers:
Same thing, when the dog pulls forward, you have lost all control of the dog exactly the same as the sniffer. The idea is don't try to teach the dog NOT to pull or NOT to sniff. The idea is TO teach the dog to "pay attention", and with the pulling dog TO teach the dog" to keep the lead loose". When the dog figures out that it doesn't get corrected when there is slack in the lead, the dog will start to self correct anytime it feels the lead become tight. Then it just becomes a matter of repetition and consistence until the dog remembers
2006-10-03 22:34:56 · answer #2 · answered by tom l 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I suggest starting with a harness at first. This will help with any pulling your dog may naturally start doing. Keep your lead on him very short to begin with & have a code word or sound (like a sharp ppssstttt) that you utter when he starts pulling or barking at his surroundings. He will learn you give no quarter when he is walking, that you are the leader of the pack so he stays by your side.
Be patient. If often takes a while for a dog to learn this behavior. Dogs are pack animals & will stay by your side if you show them you are their leader. If the harness doesnt work for you, try a gentle leader (sort of like a muzzle). I would go to your local Petco & ask to talk to their canine education specialist. Thats where I took my golden to learn some manners & they helped a lot!
Good luck!
2006-10-03 21:47:51 · answer #3 · answered by emvannattan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
honestly the best way is with the help of Obedience lessons - they dont just teach "sit" and "stay" but also basic manners and socialization.. teach you which side your dog should be on etc..
you do not ever want to pull the dog or have it pull you - most training done now a days is called "clicker" training and is 100 % reward based.. choke collars are OUT (very dangerous and dont teach the dog anything)
so I strongly suggest this and you will have a great dog and the tools to go further
2006-10-03 21:51:45 · answer #4 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well when teaching your dog to heel you should keep the lease kinda short to begin with and when the dog pulls away pull him back and say heel. He will eventually learn not to pull on the lease.
2006-10-03 21:41:37 · answer #5 · answered by liv 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everytime your dog does something good patt him on the head and give it a treat
2006-10-03 21:43:42 · answer #6 · answered by destaniet12 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a good site that addresses all training for dogs. :-)
2006-10-03 21:39:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋