Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: walking to heel & recall
Hi
I just wondered if anyone has got any tips on getting their puppy walking to heel. Muffin is only 18 weeks but I am having difficult getting her to walk to heel, especially when she's excited. When we walk round the block she's not too bad but could be alot better the main problem is when we get to the beach or somewhere with other dogs, she really pulls!
Also she loves everybody and everything and can't wait to go and see someone else or another dog, and seems to go deaf when we call her back. Her recall is great at home and when no-one else is about, it's just when there are lots of new people and dogs about, she feels that they are all there to see her and of course they're not, this is a bit worrying sometimes. Is it best to go back a few steps and lead walk her or will that make her worse next time she's let off.
Ahhhh the age-old heel problem! Ozzie is 10 months and we still haven't got perfect heel in all situations
He'll heel on our daily walks, perfectly, but when we're on a GT or in a park with loads of distractions all he wants to do is get to other dogs or interesting smells, and he'll still pull.
Our remedy? From our puppy school trainer : turn 180 degrees and walk in the opposite direction. And this will sound mean, and horrible, but give a good pull on the lead as you turn - make it really snap. Not enough to hurt the dog, but enough to get his attention and make him see "oops, we're not walking that way any more"...
I promise you, only 3 or 4 of those and Oz normally sorts his head out and walks properly to heel.
But you need to do it *each and every* time she pulls... if you let her get away with it one day she'll think she can always get away with it. It does make it hard to get further than down the block, but she'll get the point shortly!
I can't wait till we can get his behaviour in all situations perfect, but for now I'm happy with where he's at... when he puts his mind to it he's soooo well behaved! But when he's excited and distracted he forgets. But when he does that, he's not being naughty, just being a puppy, so it's infinately forgivable
As for recall, you'll get a few fields of thought on that one I suppose.
Did you let her offlead from the very beginning as a weeny puppy, or is offlead time still kinda new to her?
I'd suggest that you still do let her off-lead, as all dogs need time to run around and be an idiot. But I wouldn't call her when she's distracted, she'll never come back to you when faced with the choice of something far more fun (like another dog, or a pile of fresh horse manure!) so why even compete with that, you'll just teach her that it's okay to ignore the recall command.
You need to make yourself soooooo irresistable that she chooses you, every time. And when you can't do that, you need to just walk up to her and catch her collar and remove her from the situation, don't call her if you don't think you'll win.
Ways to make yourself irresistable? If she's food-oriented, then amazingly smelly treats - cheese, bacon, frankfurter sausage, liver cake, whatever it is that really gets her juices going. If she's toy/play oriented, then squeaky toys, tug toys etc.
Run away, in the opposite direction, this always works for us.
Lay on the floor making noises and clapping.
Whatever it takes to make her think "Oh my god my mum is the most fun person on the planet and she is WAAAAAAAY more interesting than this dog/bicycle/horse poo/flower".
Do you have a long line? If you do, it might pay to take her to the park a few times on her long line, try the recall, if she doesn't respond immediately then you can "reel" her in.
Remember when she gets to you, LOADS of praise, really over the top, and a treat.
Hope these ideas give you some hints as to how to go forward, but I'm sure other members will be along soon with more ideas for you!!
Thanks for all the advice it's very much appreciated.
We'll give that a go!!
She has been let off the lead from about week 2 after her jabs so it's not really a new thing, but saying that, obviously everything is still sooooo exciting for her at the moment!!! Wonder what she'll be like at that GT!!!
be careful not to over exercise a young pup - i don't let mine run loose with others at that age - as there bones are still growing and strenthening ..........
don' t let your dog loose unless it's reliable about coming back - use a long line if necessary
walking on a loose lead - a bit of food or toy - stopping when they get slightly ahead of you - before they get too far ahead of you - and encouraging them back ---
or if they are pulling turning round and going the opposite way is pretty effective -- and then turning round again .... it needs time and patience and lots of praise
hope thsi doesn't sound too negative - the running loose thing i'm just SO careful with -- you can take a pup out on its own and save it's dashing about for when it's 9-10 months old and it's had a chance to mature up .....................
touch wood i've had no ocd or hip problems with any of my dogs over the years...................... and touch wood they have all been pretty sound right into old age
Genie is 17 weeks now and I do let her off the lead when we go to the park. I have practiced recall by waving my hands about and smiling and calling her like an idiot plus really tasty treats - chicken, frankfurters etc. She is really happy to come back to me. I practice this all the time and feel pretty confident although not blase because I still need to keep practicing recall with Lula who's 1 now.
The walking to heel is really hard though... she can walk to heel but like you have found she will pull if my older lab is up ahead or park looming etc. I do try to turn around or just stop dead and not carry on til she's in the heel postion but I know it takes constant practice and she doesn't seem to take any notice or learn the lesson - it's long term work that... I posted a similar question last week and someone suggested a rope choke lead and I am considering one but haven't heard anyone say that's a bad idea although it has to work in conjunction with heel training. What it will do is stop the puppy pulling too hard and choking themselves as they will feel the effects of their pulling - I have one for Lula and it does help...
i dont think you need a rope check at this stage with a young pup - however i would be taking your pups out on their own - not for long - but that way you can give them 100% - and they and you aren't looking out for your other dogs ......
it is ideal training them on their own and not with your other dog/s.... likewise your older dog/s can have your full attention and play with you without the pup getting in the way too
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
