Snoozie

Well I learned today, that my lab boy, who I call blonde cause he seems like he doesn't have much there, is actually very smart but hides it very well. He has taught himself to open the sliding screen door and let himself inside to go to sleep on the rug in front of the computer desk. He was so peaceful I just didn't have the heart to tell him off! ETA - no offence to blonde people...joke intented only.

MarkS, You are a wealth of information and I thank you for your post. Your comments about waiting until the dog is in a relaxed state before commencing the walk struck home, as did your description re attentiveness training. I have PM'd you.

Thanks guys! I've been putting on a little bit of septicide (which in an antiseptic with an insect repellent in it for dogs and horses), but he likes to lick it off. I might try the betadine too as it might have more staying power. Cheeky lil sod he is. BellasPerson, I think it must be like Murphy's Law. I'll stay perfect just until Mum decides to show me, then, while she's not looking, I'll scuff myself up! I am absolutley positive you will see me back on here asking about other scars and how to cover em up!

No no no no no...Oh dear. Zed, in his effort to remove his gentle leader headcollar (which he hates) this evening, managed to scrape his nose on the ground somehow and has taken a small circle of skin of the top off his black nose! The small circle is now bright pink! Will this mend...and the black pigmentation come back or will it now stay pink? I have plans to show this boy and what will happen with this...If it stays pink is there a cover up product to make it black again? Typical, not one little inperfection (that I could see anyway) and then this happens Looks like I'm going to have to get out the 'ol filtabac to put on every day now too, since it's so pink and raw I don't want to add sunburn on top of it Any advice appreciated.

Thanks for the tips BellasPerson. I have tried turning and walking back in the direction we came from then turning and going forward again making him follow (to reaffirm I am leading). I also tried making him sit/drop for a minute to reaffirm leadership. I do agree though that maybe I am now also at fault and could be causing problems as I get so anxious and frustrated when walking him, which would of course make him much worse! I will try and keep calmer and more relaxed. When you say "walking into to him", sorry I'm a little confused, if he is pulling out in front of me how do I do this? (not being antagonistic, I'm really interested to know as I'd like to give it a try and see if it works) Will also try the check chain again and make sure I am giving the right correction at the right time. I haven't tried using it in ages due to the hopelessness of it previously. If none of these work I may even try the Martingale too! God, I'd try anything to make life easier on both of us. He can't really enjoy it much either I would imagine. Thanks so much for the advice :D deelee2, Worse part is I feel terrible when I pass someone with another dog on our walk and he gets that excited he nearly drags me along. Try explaining to that person that he is actually a really well behaved dog but just can't walk on a lead lmao. They look at me like I've got a few screws loose. Yet minute they pass us by he sits, stays, looks at me calmly waiting for me to give the okay to "walk"...go figure :D I'm pleased to hear things are on the improve for you. I'm sure we'll get there too, but I know it's going to take alot longer for us as he's been in the habit of doing it for alot longer (he's been this way since he was about 6mths..before that he stuck pretty close to our sides due to being unsure of what could be lurking around the corners). I also know that alot of it is my fault for letting him get this way in the first place, but at least I am trying to work with my dog to fix it. I personally give us both a pat on the back for admitting we have an issue we can't solve on our own and seeking ways to fix it. Well done to us :D

I'd just like to say... I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM My lab is 2. He is a great dog, he sits, stays, comes, retrieves his squeaky bone and toys BUT he can not walk nicely on a leash AT ALL.... Nothing has worked, not check chain (he just chokes himself), not headcoller (he just pulls anyway and it cuts into his nose), not headcollar/normal collar with leash attached to both (still pulls) not food driven (too many distractions other interests so he doesn't care about the food). Oh if I stop he will stop and come back to me. He will even sit and wait until I give him the okay to start walking again. But the very minute we start walking again, he pulls like a friggin steam train. Honestly, some days I just can't deal with it. He only starts to walk nicely on the leash towards the end of the walk due to being a little puffed out :shakehead: In most other ways he is wonderful but this actually gives me nightmares. I love my dog, but I DREAD taking him for walks and because of this he probably doesn't get walked enough. I even joined obedience club and trained to try and work with him on this, made no difference. He is fine in a less distracting environment and even at training he is fine. Minute we are at home and going for a walk, forget it. Good behaviour out the window. I actually want to begin show training with him and will be working with an instructor and hopefully she might be able to help me get to the bottom of this and implement a strategy that actually works with him! Sorry, can't suggest anything but thought I'd let you know you aren't the only one

Hiyee I'm a member of the Central Coast Dog Obedience & Training Club, based at Kincumber. I love it. We do obedience and agility there. They have a website www.ccdotc.com The only catch is that before you start agility you have to do the basic 8wk obedience course, which teaches sit, stand, down/drop stay etc... I know they do this to enable everyone to be on a similar level when learning agility but if you already have these things in place well it can be a bit boring. It's based on the Delta program so if you've already done it and can prove it..you can pretty much move straight up a level. We've just passed the basic stuff and are about to start agility and I can't wait. My guy loves it out there with the other dogs and I love it too. Instructors and people learning all all generally lovely and very helpful.

Well Zed had his assessment on Saturday for basic obedience with our club. This is the sit/drop stay, recall, llw, etc etc basic stuff. Anyway, he passed! I'm so proud of him. This was a dog who only a few weeks ago couldn't stop jumping on ppl, couldn't be on a leash without pulling or wouldn't wait until asked in and out of the car..now he does all of it! We have moved up to intermediate now. We get to start agility training! Yay! Just had to have a brag...don't have many friends who would understand why I'm so excited

I'm with everyone else too. Having nearly completed (my assessment's this Saturday!) the basic obedience training with my lab at my club I've not only learned how to become a more effective handler to my dog, how to understand my dog better, but it has also helped create a stronger bond with my dog. We now understand each other better than ever . It's no use having someone else teach your dog, then the dog come home, only to find that his mama is using different techniques to that of his trainer and doesn't know what you want him to do... Besides it's the small achievements that makes it all worthwhile. Such as the first time Zed ever walked calmly around the course on a loose leash for me, or when I did a recall with him and he was that happy to come to me he just bashed straight into my legs.... I would never have thought my dog could be well behaved enough to show, trial or do agility with but am now more than ever wanting to move up to the next level so I can

I do too. It's pretty easy to get a reasonable heel with the basic turns, but start throwing in complicated turns, changes of pace, pivots, jumps, etc or even just demanding a more precise position, and it gets way harder. We go to obedience each week, and my nice instructor is always able to point out at least one problem with our heel work. Teaching loose lead walking isn't as time consuming, though. And it sounds like LLW might be more like what Snoozy is after at the moment? Hi Amhailte, I think right now I need to have the LLW in check and going nicely before I even think about heeling properly. He will heel with a treat lure at home, and sometimes at class, providing there aren't too many distractions. My main objective at this point in time is to be able to comfortably walk my dog without him tearing my arm out of it's socket, giving me blisters and causing himself pain and minor injuries. Naturally once this is down pat, I'd want to move onto heeling but not until I have solved the LLW problem.

sorry...double posted

Hi Everyone, Thank you for taking the time to help me. At this stage we have been teaching heel (stay by left leg, dog's shoulder level with leg) only when using treat lure. When not using treat lure at training we are aiming that dog should be loose leash walking, preferably not too far away (as in not pulling out too much in front of handler)...I hope this makes sense? I am not expecting him to be at competition level for some time, just to be able to walk comfortably on a loose leash would be nice I've tried check chains and the gentle leader on him, I really hate the check chain and because he pulls soooo much, I can't use the gentle leader as it cuts into his nose and chops it to bits. Silly doggy doesn't even stop pulling when it hurts him.. When out walking with him I have used the stop dead when he pulls, and wait until he turns in and lets lead go loose before starting again. I guess all I can do is try a few different methods, such as you've all suggested and see which works the best.

Hi everyone, Well Zed and I are onto week 7 of our basic obedience training. Everything is going really well except in one major area...Heeling! I have been doing everything they tell me to do, and in the backyard it works perfectly (treat luring), stopping when he pulls and asking him to come back to me, rewarding when he does. The only problem is, this is the only place where this method works! As soon as I move outside the backyard, he starts pulling like a steam train and is not interested in the treats at all...Strange for a Lab, I know :rolleyes: When he pulls I am stopping and asking him to come back to me, rewarding when he does, but at soon as we start walking again, he starts pulling again. Is there a way that I can get through to him quicker about what we are trying to achieve or is it just a case of because he is older (18mths) he needs longer to absorb and get used to the idea and I should just persevere? If not, is there a better method to be used? Any hints, tips, suggestions would be helpful! Thanks