My dog runs all over when we walk him. Any ideas on how to stop him from chasing other dogs and "exploring"

Question

My wife weighs 100 lbs, the dog is about 70 lbs, and when they go out together she usually ends up getting pulled around the neighborhood. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get him to stop chasing other dogs, exploring the neighborhood, and generally just acting like a typical pup. Any help would be great. We'd like to stick with positive reinforcement because he's had a rough life so far and we dont' want to abuse him any more than he already has been. Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

you have got to lay down the law - you and your wife are the "alpha-dogs" in your "pack" and must enforce this with your dog. it is not abuse - it is in his best interest. right now, you are both treating him specially since he was previously abused - stop. he wants you to set limits, to take charge. if no one else is taking charge, then he will do so - that is the way of dogs, and animals in general. contact your vet and ask where you can take him for obedience and training classes (for you and the dog).

Answer 2

Right, possitive reinforcement is good for dogs, that is really the only way they will learn. Bring some small bones with you, not necasserily the big milk bone ones, but small training bones and every time he runs away yell for him to come back. If he doesn't (probly the case) than drag him on the side walk and say Sidewalk! than give him a bone. Repeat this process. After a while, if the dog starts waking on the sidewalk for a little while, than give hima bone repeat this. IMportant thing to do: If the dog won't stay on the sidewalk than tighten your grip on the leash (so your hand is gripping the leash closer to the dogs colar) and walk it that way so it won't have room to lolygag. Than after walking a while on the sidewalk basicly draging it if you have to say: Good dog and give it a bone. Repeat these steps until it gets better. If you let the dog out on your front lawn and it runs ofr other dogs, than try and get an electric fence or to save money, a better idea is to just get those flags they put up ( you know the ones they put in when there are electric fences) and put them on the outside of the lawn. If you do that, get a shock collar and shock doggie a little when they get near the flags, after a while of this, when you put the flag down, they will basicly be trained to stay on the lawn. (the younger your dog is the easier it is to train it. ) also, if the waking procedures don't work, than take the shock collar on a walk and if the dog runs than give it a very light shock and call it back to you. After a while you won't need the collar anymore or the bones. When your dog does something right, than pet it, give it a bone, congraulate it. ect. I don't know what kind of dog you have (please add more details and so will I) but if it is a dog at all it needs affection. Make it a bed or pillow or something, or let it sleep on the bed with you. Dogs don't like cages, they feel trapped, only some dogs can realy be trained to sleep in a cage. also may i suggest for the first maybe, week or few days you try the walk thing, you should go with you wife so she doesn't get dragged along because than it will be just hard to train the dog. But still possible i guess.

Answer 3

I suggest getting a pinch collar along with some obedience training. I have a puppy that is 4 months old and weighs 45 lbs. He is crazy when it comes to going for walks. The pinch collar looks much worse than it actually is. It gives a little pinch only if they are pulling. I find this much better than a choker collar, my dog will choke himself the whole way with one of those things. He is very responsive to the pinch collar, he only pulled once or twice after we put it on him. The dog doesn't even have to pull very hard before he notices the pinch so it will not hurt him. My vet recommended it over the choker collar.

Answer 4

What DP said is right. Also before walking make him calm befor leaving the house. Also make sure that YOU leave first not the dog. You need to be seen as the leader. Also go in first. The dog should walk with its head right next to you or slightly behind. you must control the pace and direction. When he starts to pull or change the course give him a quick correction of a slight tug on the leash to bring his attention back to where you want it. Walk often. exercise, discipline and affection. should clear up in no time.

Answer 5

I'm no expert. but i think you should try to show him that you're in charge by doing little dominanting exercises. for example, when you leave the home be sure that you are first to go out and coming back in, make sure that your dog is by your side. to know if a dog is submissive to you, you can check to see if he rolls on his back for you.

When he starts pulling try to give him a quick correction. A jerk on the leash and an attracting sound will do. but most of all try not to leave the house when he is TOO excited. if the walk starts off that way simply go back and try it again. if you don't want to do the jerk you can simply command him to sit and wait until he calms down. it would take a lot of dedication.

Answer 6

Take him to obedience school. There he will learn how to walk on a leash without pulling your arm out of socket. Check with your local rec department - or pet shop sometimes they have dog obedience classes. Failing that get a good dog training DVD or book and let the learning commence - for both you and the dog. Good Luck.

Answer 7

The best way to sort out this problem, is to everytime the dog starts barking or running towards another dog, then turn sharply in the other direction and walk away. Repeat this everytime he does it and he will soon learn that its not worth trying to bark at other dogs because he never ends up advancing. Trust me, it really works, i've seen it in action and the end results!

Answer 8

Two words: Gentle Leader. You can buy them at most any pet store; I bought mine at PetSmart. I have 2 Siberian Huskies. My husband and I got tired of feeling like our arms were being pulled out of the sockets every time we took our dogs for a walk. We got gentle leaders for both of them - end of problem! Best of luck to you.

Answer 9

Watch a show called the Dog Whisperer. You need to be the domniant pack leader. The dog will follow once you change how you handle him. Its amazing how this works. Have tried with my dacshunds and it does work.

Answer 10

Letting him get away with bad behaviour in itself is a form of abuse. He wants / needs guidelines and he needs to be taught to walk on a leash properly.

Pull the collar up high on his neck, and walk with the leash so that he cannot walk out front, can't pull his head down to the ground, start walking and don't allow him to wander and go the other way.