Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: Break through with lead training a steam engine!
Boomer has been an absolute monkey on her lead for as long as I can remember. She pulls like a steam train and it is RELENTLESS
However, today I think we had a breakthrough...
I just walked her up and down the road, changing direction every single time she pulled - not telling her off, just changing direction and saying heel. She got a treat if she managed a few metres without pulling. To start off with we were only managing a few steps before she was yanking ahead, but by the end (about 20 minutes) she was thoroughly enjoying the praise when she got it right and was really trying hard
Then a cat ran across our path and it all went to pot... Oh well, we'll deal with that another day!
I never thought such a simple tactic would work so well, and we had tried it before (but to be honest not always been 100% consistent which is what is required), so to all those labby-steam engine crosses - there is hope, it just takes resolve
She's just coming up to a year old, but has missed about 5 months training due to a hip op, so now we're playing catch up.
If Cally pulls it's well worth trying the above. I used to be so focused on getting Boomer around the block in the mornings that I wasn't consistent enough with her training, but this morning I just thought no, she needs to earn her way around the block.
It's also very stressful when they pull and I think she was beinning to pick up on my stress, but this morning was fun as we didn't HAVE to get anywhere - just up and down the road... up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down, !!!
Well done Jenni, make sure you do it everytime you walk now. Say to yourself Boomer doesn't pull, stay relaxed and be prepared to change direction the moment she is about to pull!!!
Mine are ok on there own, however I am having to train all three not to pull when they are together! hehe
Well that's even better going if she's been laid up for a while...........well done you!!
Does that mean I'm not such a bad mum still to be struggling with this.............. I feel like I'm climbing Everest right now, never reaching the top,and have too many other financial commitments that don't allow room to enrol for more classes.
I'll stick with it, as you say, perhaps they sense the stress, and I certainly get stressed, and sometimes dread 'walk time', came back close to tears today
I think before I spent too much time worrying about "I've got to get us around the park in time to get home and work". Now, we go to the park and we walk as far as we can, changing direction every time he pulls and it's had a really good effect. He's still very kangaroo-like when he sees another dog whilst he's on-lead, but we're getting there!!
Does that mean I'm not such a bad mum still to be struggling with this.............. I feel like I'm climbing Everest right now, never reaching the top,and have too many other financial commitments that don't allow room to enrol for more classes.
I'll stick with it, as you say, perhaps they sense the stress, and I certainly get stressed, and sometimes dread 'walk time', came back close to tears today
Your NOT a bad mum - like me you're probably a mum with time constraints. I really used to get it into my head that we HAD to walk all the way around the block every morning before I went to work. I had a particularly stressful walk with her yesterday (even swearing at her - luckily she's not a child or I would have had notes back from school!), which was the catalyst for the change in my attitude this morning.
In the same time as a stressful walk from X to Y, you could do a training session up and down your road with lots of praise and treats - literally just changing direction whenever she starts to pull. Boomer loved it this morning and was just as tired out as she would have been after a walk as she had to use her noggin.
Boomer will still be a mare at classes (which we've restarted as she didn't see a single dog while she was recouping) - I know that for sure. But hopefully given time she will get better. I have resolved not to let her off her lead for walks until we have mastered this properly, distractions and all - she needs to learn.
As for classes, I don't think you need them for lead training. Start off somewhere quiet and move up to busier places as she gets used to walking properly, that way she'll get used to ignoring distractions.
BIG HUGS to you - I do understand how you feel, but things will get better.
Charlie is also much improved as he pulled like mad too and as you know, also had time in the house for recovery from his hip ops.
I only said to my OH the other day what a difference it is now - so much more pleasant and not at all stressful.
He's still an absolute nightmare if he sees another dog though, he just wants to play as he had several months of never seeing another dog. Can't blame him really
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Cally and Anne xx
