Pup digging the anchors in when walking.
Discussion
Hi all. Basil Beagle is coming on nicely. most of the time he comes when called, and will drop and leave most of the time too.
However, we are getting a bit frustrated with his refusal to walk home after a walk in the park. the anchors go in and not even the finest homemade liver cake (which he drools over when its baking) will get him moving.
There are only 2 entrances to the park, and we have tried mixing thing up to trick him home, but to no avail.
I don't want to be, or be seen to be the person dragging his puppy home, so has anyone got any tips please?
However, we are getting a bit frustrated with his refusal to walk home after a walk in the park. the anchors go in and not even the finest homemade liver cake (which he drools over when its baking) will get him moving.
There are only 2 entrances to the park, and we have tried mixing thing up to trick him home, but to no avail.
I don't want to be, or be seen to be the person dragging his puppy home, so has anyone got any tips please?
Our's excels at sitting down, too.
I am the person seen dragging the puppy home.
She gets the idea after a while, and starts using her legs.
ROFLCOPTERS at "let them sniff". Mine certainly isn't sniffing; she's protesting at being made to walk! She forgets about it as soon as she sees something that interests her, though. Even more thankfully, anything can interest her.
"What's that? A leaf? OoOO!"
"What's that? Another leaf? OoOO!"
"What's that? A pebble? OoOO!"
"What's that? I've not seen one of them before. A leaf? OoOO!"
"What's that? A leaf? OoOO!"
....
I am the person seen dragging the puppy home.
She gets the idea after a while, and starts using her legs.
ROFLCOPTERS at "let them sniff". Mine certainly isn't sniffing; she's protesting at being made to walk! She forgets about it as soon as she sees something that interests her, though. Even more thankfully, anything can interest her.
"What's that? A leaf? OoOO!"
"What's that? Another leaf? OoOO!"
"What's that? A pebble? OoOO!"
"What's that? I've not seen one of them before. A leaf? OoOO!"
"What's that? A leaf? OoOO!"
....
d 
, I nearly burst out laughing in the office over that! We have the opposite problem. As soon as we head in the general direction of home, our dog starts to pull on the lead.
Have you tried distracting your pup? What I normally do is hold a treat in my hand and get the dog to walk alongside me, with her nose buried in my hand if necessary. That way she forgets we're heading home. Sometimes.
Have you tried distracting your pup? What I normally do is hold a treat in my hand and get the dog to walk alongside me, with her nose buried in my hand if necessary. That way she forgets we're heading home. Sometimes.
I wouldn't drag the dog. It may well result in the dog creating negative associations with the lead/going for a walk.
Does pup like playing? Tuggy fleece toys? A Skinneeeze? If so, I would get really upbeat and make it a lovely game all the way home. With one of my dogs, the only way to make myself more interesting than chasing bunnies is to take the cheer leader approach - really upbeat and fun. Loads of games and silly voices. Running backwards and forwards, etc, etc.
Good luck!
Does pup like playing? Tuggy fleece toys? A Skinneeeze? If so, I would get really upbeat and make it a lovely game all the way home. With one of my dogs, the only way to make myself more interesting than chasing bunnies is to take the cheer leader approach - really upbeat and fun. Loads of games and silly voices. Running backwards and forwards, etc, etc.
Good luck!
Mrs Grumpy said:
I wouldn't drag the dog. It may well result in the dog creating negative associations with the lead/going for a walk.
Does pup like playing? Tuggy fleece toys? A Skinneeeze? If so, I would get really upbeat and make it a lovely game all the way home. With one of my dogs, the only way to make myself more interesting than chasing bunnies is to take the cheer leader approach - really upbeat and fun. Loads of games and silly voices. Running backwards and forwards, etc, etc.
Good luck!
this is very good advice, make it fun and something the pup enjoysDoes pup like playing? Tuggy fleece toys? A Skinneeeze? If so, I would get really upbeat and make it a lovely game all the way home. With one of my dogs, the only way to make myself more interesting than chasing bunnies is to take the cheer leader approach - really upbeat and fun. Loads of games and silly voices. Running backwards and forwards, etc, etc.
Good luck!
thankfully my dog (had him since he was 7 weeks old and trained him myself) was always very happy to have his lead put on and walks very well..he actually speeds up on the way home
sorry for my first reply, was having a bad day (with ear infection)
if you drag the pup he will learn to hate having his lead put on then you'll have a job on your hands
where are all the PH "dog behavioral experts" when you need them?
funny enough they are all silent now
Edited by y2blade on Thursday 26th May 09:57
y2blade said:
where are all the PH "dog behavioral experts" when you need them?
I would try the following:Take him just outside the house. Back in. Big fuss and treats
Take him a few metres away. Back in. Big fuss and treats
Incrementally build up the distance.
Make 'going home' something he wants to do.
I can't work out why our pup stops occasionally, to be honest. Luckily it's never for any length of time, and I only realise she's stopped when the lead suddenly goes taut... but by the time I've turned round to see what the deal is, she'll usually be sprinting past me toward a leaf or another bit of pavement or a leaf or some grass or that bit of pavement over there...
Treats on a walk turn her into the worst kind of bitey kangaroo in the world. She stops all the time, (when she's not mid-air or attached by teeth to a hand), if she knows there's treats.
Treats on a walk turn her into the worst kind of bitey kangaroo in the world. She stops all the time, (when she's not mid-air or attached by teeth to a hand), if she knows there's treats.
Yeah, she only ever had two walks with treats - the first one went OK(ish); the second one was by far her worst walk to date.
In good news, we went out today; no treats, and, as a new tactic, no acknowledgement of her attempts at stopping... after a few minutes, we were striding along just fine, and continued to do so for the rest of the walk!
I find that ignoring is by far the best method for this pup's behavioural training. Clyde, our older dog, needed a slightly different approach (praise and play), and for longer, but this one seems to pick things up quicker by ignoring the bad behaviour, or, if its super bad behaviour, putting her in a different room as a MASSIVE "ignore".
In good news, we went out today; no treats, and, as a new tactic, no acknowledgement of her attempts at stopping... after a few minutes, we were striding along just fine, and continued to do so for the rest of the walk!
I find that ignoring is by far the best method for this pup's behavioural training. Clyde, our older dog, needed a slightly different approach (praise and play), and for longer, but this one seems to pick things up quicker by ignoring the bad behaviour, or, if its super bad behaviour, putting her in a different room as a MASSIVE "ignore".
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