My hubby and I have tried a couple of times with our black lab in the woods behind our house. But he automatically runs to the stream (labs just love water!) and we have to go in there and hook him back up on his leash. I see other people who's dogs just stay with them, run off a little, but go right back to them. What do you suggest?
2006-11-08 13:34:20 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
We've been able to train him to do everything else under the sun BUT this, kinda weird!
2006-11-08 13:40:10 · update #1
Go back to your basic recall command. Instead of going from leash to off leash all at once, use a light long line. 30 feet of cotton clothesline works great. Just let it drag, and if your dog strays, give him a recall command and if he doesn't come back, you have 30 feet of line to grab and make him come back. This way, you have control, and your dog has no way of knowing where the end of the leash is. Very gradually begin to shorten the line until it is just a short tab on the leash. Since your dog doesn't know where the end of the line is, and thinks you can just reach out and get him wherever he is, he quits pushing the limit.
2006-11-08 13:51:50 · answer #1 · answered by piper 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is going to require some good training to get your dog to stay with you. I would suggest looking into an obedience training class. I'm in one now, a beginner class for our 5 month Border Collie, and am really impressed with the progress we've made and the things we have learned.
You do have to work on this, at home, inside or in a fenced in yard quite a bit before you can safely trust your dog off leash to stay with you.
2006-11-08 21:38:40 · answer #2 · answered by Shadow's Melon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Training and absolute obedience. You should teach him that he cannot do anything without permission from you. No matter how much he wants to go into the water, he can't go in until you or your husband give him permission. You and your husband have to become the alpha people in his life. Start small; put one of his favorite treats down in front of him and DO NOT let him have it until you give him permission. Tell him no when he lunges for it or tries to steal it. When he waits for permission, give him lots of praise and of course the treat he has been coveting. Also work on the basic sit and stay. He has to sit and stay until you tell him its OK to get up. He also must come immediately when you call him. If he does run off, DO NOT scold him when he finally comes back. Tell him hes a good boy and praise him.
We took our dog to obedience classes for a nominal fee and learned the basics and worked from there and she is a great dog and walks wonderful on and off leash.
You need to enforce your alpha status and be the pack leader. Right now, your dog sees himself as the pack leader and feels he does not have to listen to you unless he wants to.
2006-11-09 01:29:17 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog obviously loves the stream, you have to let him love being with you. Try carrying his favorite toy or treats in your pocket to keep his attention. Praise him for staying near. It will take several months. But you can not do this until he is one hundred percent leash trained. He shouldn't be pulling on the leash at all.
2006-11-08 22:14:33 · answer #4 · answered by krissy4543 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest that you keep your dog on a leash. Even a well-trained dog could get into trouble when not leashed. You may trust your dog, but do you trust every other animal or dog in the area?
2006-11-08 22:14:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG this is the question that i can always help people on!!! I know, i always wanted a dog who did that, and well now i do have that oportunity! I have a bernese/lab/shepard that used to rip our arms off, and now dosnt even pull and stays with us when off leah. I have full instructions on this, it is called 'nice walk' and 'heal' i can give you the instructions, they are from a profecional trainer that we had. (srry, thx for emailing me, it is just too long to write right now!) But i would love to help you guys out, this doesnt hurt the dog, and you are not correfcting him, he is correcting him self!
E-mail me at:
crazybout_connor@yahoo.ca
2006-11-08 22:54:30 · answer #6 · answered by koda! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
while i started training my shih tzu and collie when they were little that's how they get used to being off the leash. But labs are jumpy and u may have to go to training school.
2006-11-08 22:38:19 · answer #7 · answered by *~*~tubane~*~* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dog obedience class will provide you and your dog the skill to accomplish basic commands, which off-leash is part of.
2006-11-08 21:40:14 · answer #8 · answered by trusport 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
time, the leash for now, time and trust mostly. once the dog is more loyal he'll stay closer. just got our puppy to stay with us and not take off from the yard to the next door yard.
2006-11-08 21:36:30 · answer #9 · answered by Franchesca 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hold the leash close 2 u
2006-11-09 01:47:36 · answer #10 · answered by emmachoclab 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋