tips for walking a dog?

Question

we have a "new" dog who is a little over a year old. i have been trying to walk her several times a week. it has been getting incredibly frusterating to walk her because she keeps pulling & running into me (and virtually running me into the ditch). she is a treeing walker coonhound. i have her on a harness & a short leash. i walk her on my right side (i have also tried the left with the same results). and attempt to keep her next to me.

i am getting so annoyed because it is a constant struggle the ENTIRE time i walk her. i give positive reinforcement when she does walk correctly, however that is about once or twice for a few seconds!

i refuse to use a choker chain because of their level of misuse & potential for causing injuries.

i already tried the gentle leader harness (it attaches to the front) and it did not work because the dog is too big. she does not turn to me. instead, the harness ends up going to the side. i put it on correctly, but she is just too strong. she is 65+ pounds.

basic obediance... duh... i am asking for actual tips to teach basic obedience...

Answer 1

We just got a new dog and have a similar problem. We bring him to a beginner training class and they brought this topic up. They told us to bring treats with us when we go on walks. Get a handful of the treats(make sure they are small!) and hold them in the hand on the side that you want to walk your dog. Give them to her when ever she is walking beside you like a good dog. She will see the them and be excited to be by the treats.

If the dog is small (like ours) we were told to put peanut butter or something else the dog enjoys on a wooden spoon and use that to treat the dog so we wouldn't have to bend down every 10 seconds to treat the dog.

If the dog pulls, switch directions or something else like that.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

Did you try the Gentle Leader body Harness or head halter?? The body harness may be sufficient for some people but if due to size or stubborness it doesn't move up to the head halter either by Gentle Leader or Halty brand are the two I know. Make sure you follow the instructions on how to properly size and to not cause injury make sure it's properly re-sized everytime you put it on your dog as it will slip around. This should work fairly well as where the head goes the body goes.

Also, aside from positive reinforcements when the dog walks nice what do you do when the dog walks poorly... do you let it drag you or what?? I understand it's a bigger dog but you need to show it you're the boss....there are several approaches to de-train your dog from leading you. One can be for you to stop walking whenever your dog tugs and don't move until it stops. another is to turn and go the other direction when the dog starts pulling you. I know these drag out the process of walking the dog but you have to consider these are training sessions not merely something to get through so your dog goes potty or gets walked.

Answer 3

Don't try to walk more than one dog at once. Wear a back brace. Wear good shoes. You never know when a dog is suddenly gonna see something it wants to chase. Most of the time, they're going to strain against the leash as HARD AS THEY CAN for the duration of the walk. Spend more than an hour fighting that and you're gonna get back pain. Wear a brace. Wrap the leash around your wrist, never your fingers. A sudden jerk will snap your finger bones like saltines. Doggies don't want to be friends with other doggies. Keep your dog away from other dogs. All you need is one dogfight to ruin your reputation. Speaking of which, if a dog is too big, too rowdy, or too aggressive, don't walk it! You can always turn down a job!

Answer 4

Been there, done that. But...

Get a "Gentle Leader" halter. Make sure to follow the directions EXACTLY so it goes on right and does what it says. I tried both head halters and did not care for the other one.

This way when the dog pulls you whatever direction when it reaches the end of the lead it will cause the dogs head to turn towards you.

Start with a short leash, maybe a foot longer than from the area on the dogs neck/chin to your hand. That way it will learn really quick. With a longer leash you got problems until the dog learns. Do NOT leave it on when not walking. AND for safety, also have a normal collar and leash attached until the dog learns to walk properly (and you get used to putting the halter on right).

Lots of people with service dogs use them as they don't have the strength to fight with a pulling dog.

I am in a electric wheelchair, and I have used it on, 1 pit, 2 shepherds, and 2 poodles (trained for someone else).

Good luck

Answer 5

if you have her in a regular harness, you are giving her a better vantage point to pull. try a sporn harness or another trianing harness. They work very well. also to teach loose leash walking stop everytime she pulls and wait 3 seconds before calling her name. the idea is that she should look @ you before the three seconds is up and gets a treat. otherwise she gets attention but no treat Eventually, w/ work and patience she will slow down on the pulling. The first several times you will only take a step or two @ a time before you have to stop, it should get more and more. w/her being a coon hound though, you may consider getting her invovled in something that she can sniff stuff out. like maybe games of hide and seek in the house or yard. give her an opportunity, or job, to use her special ability.

Answer 6

oh boy!
a new dog!!
I have one too, she is a boxer!
you might want to start yours out in the house. she seems WAY too happy to be going out.
practice when she is full of food and water
has been out to pee. and has been calm for a few min.

then have her sit. do not use any sillyness in your voice. do not smile.

when she sits give her a kibble
then have her stand by you,

give her another kibble. even if you have to hold her there.
say good girl and go to your room. or another part of the house.

come back in two min. do it all again. 4 or 5 times.

do this all day on the top of the hour.

Tomorrow after the second hour. take her out on the porch to do the same things. all day again.
day 3 take her for a walk and make her stay by your side by using the same reward system .
some use the word heel. I do.
never get mad .
I use a robot voice and a kibble. pat her but dont go crazy because she will get hyped up again.
if she makes a mistake... go back to the house. and start day 1 over.
You seem to be a good parent to her but just like a baby... she needs patterns...thats how they learn. whew!! good luck!!
remember start in the house
when there are no distractions
and things are normal sounding.
she will be too big to be the boss lol
Start ob school when YOU are ready but I have never gone lol and I have raised LOTS of great dogs!!
mine learned to open the fridge no towel on the holder either
maybe you have a hint for me to teach her no. its not in a place I can put a baby gate... HELP LOL

Answer 7

Basic Obedience

Answer 8

There are a few real keys to dog training, whether you are trying to train your dog to come when called, sit, stop barking or any other behavior. Understanding their importance is critical to achieving rapid results that are long lasting and help develop the bond between you and your dog. Learn more http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?J6No

The first is simple; you must win your dogs mind. If you don’t achieve this first then you will be struggling the all the way. When I talk about winning your dogs mind what I really mean is that your dog looks to you for all the decisions. Before you do anything else watch one of the amazing video sites that show you the 5 Golden rules to establishing yourself as the pack leader. If you aren’t putting these in place then you are setting yourself up to fail. Just at the crucial point where you really want your dog to listen they will go and do their own thing. For sure your dog may play ball occasionally or even most of the time, you may even have a dog that is obedient 99% of the time, however if you want a dog who always listens to you and does as you ask then you need to win your dogs mind.

The second key to success is to motivate your dog. It is really important that you discover what it is that your dog enjoys both in terms of exercise and play but also in terms of a reward. If you can make the experience enjoyable then you will both achieve more and look forward to training.

Some dogs love to fetch, others love agility, and other dogs simply love obedience training, or swimming out into water and retrieve. At least to start with find out what your dogs love is and help them develop this, what I am saying is work with your dog. The other point to recognize is to make training enjoyable reward your dog.

Answer 9

Try using a 'halti'. It worked extremely well with our dog, he doesn't pull at all! and i don't have to use it anymore! It's a simple concept, just fits on your dogs head like a horse halter. Give it a try, I'm sure glad we did! And it's more humane than a choker, cause your dogs breathing isn't impaired.Best wishes :)

Answer 10

You need to walk your dog short distances first. start out with about 500 to 1000 feet. Make you listen to your comands. Sit pull the leash down. Make him listen before he goes any father, make your voice a command