Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:06 am Post subject: problems getting stroppy 11 month lab home after walks
Bailey walks well on lead most of the time, enjoys training classes and no problems there. He's started being a real pain on walks. When he realises we're on our way home he stops and refuses to budge. I've tried offering treats, giving sharp tug to lead and trying to march off purposefully - doesn't work. So I'm now standing saying nothing and holding the lead so it's pulling a bit. After 10 minutes or so he'll start walking very slowly. Once we're in sight of the house he speeds up and can't wait to get inside for his chew treat. He stopped in the middle of the road this morning and held the traffic up and I had to drag him to the pavement. Everyone except me thought it was hilarious. Hoping someone can give me advice.
Thinking back, Mischa started to do that around 1 year to 18 months, Ialso tried the treats but it was worse as she realised if she stopped there maybe a treat, so I eventually found if I got a bit exciting and trotted a little she got her momentum back, it did help to break the habit, and I agree it was very annoying, but really think they are just trying it on.
In my opinion your dog is sticking two paws up at you and doing what he wants, your walks have become predictable and because of that, he is able to know when to play up and not have to do what you want him to.
I would suggest varying your walks, so instead of heading home after one of these moments, carry on walking, just a for a little while so he starts to think "oh, hang on, something's different, I need to pay attention". Go on different routes, and don't give him a treat as soon as you get in, think you mentioned a chew??
It may take a little while, but by making life and walks unpredictable your lab should start to look at you for direction, he won't tend to do so much of what he wants, when he wants.
oh you have my sympathy Sam's done that to me too and Niks is probably right its a case of "I don't want to and I'm not going to" at first I did think there was actually something wrong and was very worried until I realised if we went the way he wanted as opposed to where I was going then he was absolutely fine not helpful if you're in the middle of the road so you did the only thing you could this morning tbh. I do go out armed with treats and a 'squirrel ball' (tailspinners) for distracting purposes to get my own way but they can learn to play on that to get the treat so its swings and roundabouts. Funnily enough I never have the problem on park/woods/fun walks or in new places so the boredom and predictability others talked of could be involved there. I do now try to vary routes and routines so that he has to pay attention. I also find that if you are 'rooted to the spot' that you can offer a treat food or toy, if someone is with you one of you walk off in the hope Bailey wants to catch up or you can motivate him to want to - 'what's x got, lets go', you can try turning round and going the other way or crossing over, use a turn command if you have one or alternatively just move yourself give a little tug and a lets go and see if he comes, or go for a command instead of trying to move at all so say Bailey sit, Bailey paw, Bailey watch, Bailey touch or whatever words he knows and hopefully he will follow your commands forget why it was he wanted to stop then just move off with you again when you say now lets go in a sing songy voice. Or you can stop stand still ignore him do nothing and wait it out but I haven't got much patience with standing on street corners so I get fed up first... or you can say to him in an excited hushed voice 'Bailey come on we've got to get home for your chew' now that does sound mental but my Mum says it to Sam she goes 'Sam we've got to get back for the fishes' or 'Sammy do you want your bread' (because they're his favourite things) bizarre as it may sound Sam will then get up and head for home as fast as his legs can carry him honestly its quite funny, he does get the treat when he gets home so this has reinforced the behaviour! Bribery and corruption, probably not the best form of dog training and I'm sure someone will say I just let him get his own way but hey nevermind dog happy me happy where's the problem! I know I sound like a mad woman and I'm sure I provide great free entertainment for anyone in my neighbourhood with time on their hands and a nosey streak but that's life! oops.
In my opinion your dog is sticking two paws up at you and doing what he wants, your walks have become predictable and because of that, he is able to know when to play up and not have to do what you want him to.
I would suggest varying your walks, so instead of heading home after one of these moments, carry on walking, just a for a little while so he starts to think "oh, hang on, something's different, I need to pay attention". Go on different routes, and don't give him a treat as soon as you get in, think you mentioned a chew??
It may take a little while, but by making life and walks unpredictable your lab should start to look at you for direction, he won't tend to do so much of what he wants, when he wants.
Hope that helps
I agree a bit of variation works wonders I had a similar problem when Lux got to about 8/9months, he also started to not exactly running off but definitely not coming back when recalled
this only happened when he knew it was time for leads back on & home time! a trainer advised me to turn around & walk away with Bea as if I was going home without him
I was very hard to risk trying this but it worked he doesn't let me out of his sight now
I had no idea it would be so easy to resolve what I thought was a huge problem!! sometimes a good idea to change the routine so they are not sure whats next??
I had a similar problem when Lux got to about 8/9months, he also started to not exactly running off but definitely not coming back when recalled
this only happened when he knew it was time for leads back on & home time! a trainer advised me to turn around & walk away with Bea as if I was going home without him
I was very hard to risk trying this but it worked he doesn't let me out of his sight now
I had no idea it would be so easy to resolve what I thought was a huge problem!! sometimes a good idea to change the routine so they are not sure whats next??
I was in the field where I train (middle of nowhere) and Bodie decided to bu**ger off and not come back when I called, so I got in the car and drove off down the track - he was scared to death - hasn't done it since!! Some may think that is harsh but it worked, he is a particularly bolshy dog who often tries to do his own thing!!
I had a similar problem when Lux got to about 8/9months, he also started to not exactly running off but definitely not coming back when recalled
this only happened when he knew it was time for leads back on & home time! a trainer advised me to turn around & walk away with Bea as if I was going home without him
I was very hard to risk trying this but it worked he doesn't let me out of his sight now
I had no idea it would be so easy to resolve what I thought was a huge problem!! sometimes a good idea to change the routine so they are not sure whats next??
I was in the field where I train (middle of nowhere) and Bodie decided to bu**ger off and not come back when I called, so I got in the car and drove off down the track - he was scared to death - hasn't done it since!! Some may think that is harsh but it worked, he is a particularly bolshy dog who often tries to do his own thing!!
sounds like you took it a bit further than I did but it really does work
I would suggest varying your walks, so instead of heading home after one of these moments, carry on walking, just a for a little while so he starts to think
Just for thread balance I wouldn't do that (I'd vary walks generally just not change my course and walk more after those moments)
I think doing anything to reward the 'mule mentatility' is a no-no.
Basil went through a phase of this. I don't think it's defiance or needs telling off as such, I do think it's a genuine communication to say ' shall we go a bit more? '
Basil used to do it at the cross roads, mule heels went in, followed by a very obvious nose point to the direction he'd like to go.
For me, it's no treats, no discussion just a hand under the belly and a no-nonsense physical movement of dog to get going ( like you I hate pulling leads like)
It did wear off tbh , although that said he's 5 now and it doesn't matter whether we have a short half hour walk or a long 3 hour one he pootles the whole way around but once he realises we're covering old ground to go back to the car his pace gets a little slower, he hangs his head and he walks like a dog that's been forced on a 25mile walk. He's like Charlie Brown from snoopy
I'm sure other walkers think he's an oldie and i'm forcing him to do to much.
Then we get to the car and he stops dead, 6 feet away, looks me right in the eye and then purposefully turns his head behind him...' i want to go that way'
Bodie decided to bu**ger off and not come back when I called, so I got in the car and drove off down the track - he was scared to death
I did a similar thing to B because I was repeatedly having to wait for him at the farm gates. I just walked through and left him, walked into the next field out of sight and played fetch with Nell for 5 minutes. He was most upset but is now with me as soon as I reach a gate and it rattles.
I think it does our dogs good to think we're trying to ditch them at times
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not helpful if you're in the middle of the road so you did the only thing you could this morning tbh. I do go out armed with treats and a 'squirrel ball' (tailspinners) for distracting purposes to get my own way but they can learn to play on that to get the treat so its swings and roundabouts. Funnily enough I never have the problem on park/woods/fun walks or in new places so the boredom and predictability others talked of could be involved there. I do now try to vary routes and routines so that he has to pay attention. I also find that if you are 'rooted to the spot' that you can offer a treat food or toy, if someone is with you one of you walk off in the hope Bailey wants to catch up or you can motivate him to want to - 'what's x got, lets go', you can try turning round and going the other way or crossing over, use a turn command if you have one or alternatively just move yourself give a little tug and a lets go and see if he comes, or go for a command instead of trying to move at all so say Bailey sit, Bailey paw, Bailey watch, Bailey touch or whatever words he knows and hopefully he will follow your commands forget why it was he wanted to stop then just move off with you again when you say now lets go in a sing songy voice. Or you can stop stand still ignore him do nothing and wait it out but I haven't got much patience with standing on street corners so I get fed up first... or you can say to him in an excited hushed voice 'Bailey come on we've got to get home for your chew' now that does sound mental but my Mum says it to Sam she goes 'Sam we've got to get back for the fishes' or 'Sammy do you want your bread' (because they're his favourite things) bizarre as it may sound Sam will then get up and head for home as fast as his legs can carry him honestly its quite funny, he does get the treat when he gets home so this has reinforced the behaviour! Bribery and corruption, probably not the best form of dog training and I'm sure someone will say I just let him get his own way but hey nevermind dog happy me happy where's the problem! I know I sound like a mad woman and I'm sure I provide great free entertainment for anyone in my neighbourhood with time on their hands and a nosey streak but that's life! oops. 
I had a similar problem when Lux got to about 8/9months, he also started to not exactly running off but definitely not coming back when recalled
this only happened when he knew it was time for leads back on & home time! a trainer advised me to turn around & walk away with Bea as if I was going home without him 
he doesn't let me out of his sight now 
