Walking Question - Where To Start?

[Adele]

My pup has now hit 16 weeks and we have been out and about getting used to walking on the lead. At the moment whenever she pulls I stop and wait for her to let the lead become slack again before we move off - I am a "tree". We live in an area where there are lots of dogs being walked and any time we walk past or see another dog she pulls and pulls to try and reach them. Getting to the point of my post - where do I begin in getting her to the point where we can walk past/see another dog without going ga ga. Do I get her to sit and wait making sure attention is on me or is it best for us to keep walking. Any advice?

[charli73]

Hi Adele,

We had the same problem with out large gsd.. when your pup gets distracted by other dogs and pulls you need to turn & go the other direction. a gentle pop on the lead and change in direction will and make puppy realise you're in control. Getting pup to sit and focus at 16wks will be pretty hard so just continue to change direction until pup is walking on a loose lead and show him/her who is in charge.

Its like a reward to let you're pup sniff another dog, and if our pup is good she gets the reward..

if still pulling take pup away and try again another time.. eventually she will learn lead manners but it takes practice. Goodluck!

[poodlefan]

I think you'll find it easier to have the pup focus on you than to have it sit calming. I walk past quite a few people who try the sit and be calm approach with their dogs - never seen it work yet. The aim seems to be to make a passing dog no big deal but changing YOUR behaviour or the dog's behaviour when a dog approaches seems to run contrary to that.

Teaching your pup a "look" or "watch me" command or to a look at you when you call their name can be very handy in these situations. You can use a motivator to reinforce this at first.

[BC]

I think you'll find it easier to have the pup focus on you than to have it sit calming. I walk past quite a few people who try the sit and be calm approach with their dogs - never seen it work yet. The aim seems to be to make a passing dog no big deal but changing YOUR behaviour or the dog's behaviour when a dog approaches seems to run contrary to that.

Teaching your pup a "look" or "watch me" command or to a look at you when you call their name can be very handy in these situations. You can use a motivator to reinforce this at first.

:D I agree !

Edited April 6, 2008 by BC