pennyw74 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 How do you teach a Cavalier road sense? How do you stop them running across the road if they spot something or someone on the other side? Our yard is fenced, so we have no problem but at her grandma and grandpa's place, their yard isn't. Last night when we were there, she had to go outside to the toilet and found a way out. When she was called, she came running back but then saw somebody on the other side and just crossed the road. Thank God it's a quiet street but still... I know she's still a puppy (5 months) but she needs to learn and not scare me half to death. I can take her outside to the toilet with her lead, that's fine (not sure if she'd be too happy with that, though) but that's what will be happening in the future if we take her there again but I'd be interested if anybody has any tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyB Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 I always make Gypsy sit before we cross the road when I walk her. When she is out in the front yard with OH or I she is fine, but when the little monster escapes (we have found out where she is getting out and fixed it now) she goes off by herself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kallistar Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 How do you teach a Cavalier road sense?How do you stop them running across the road if they spot something or someone on the other side? I can take her outside to the toilet with her lead, that's fine (not sure if she'd be too happy with that, though) but that's what will be happening in the future if we take her there again but I'd be interested if anybody has any tips. Cavaliers haven't got good road sense, so the only thing to do when you are out is to keep her on a lead regardless of where you are visiting. Home is different as you know all the spots that she can escape from. Better to be safe than sorry. I have a cavalier and am speaking from experience.... she doesn't like to toilet on lead, but her safety is more important to me than her feelings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixy Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 I'd like to know too, I just know if mine got out they would make a dash straight across the road in excitement. It's hard to make them sit while we're walking because they're so excited and focussed on going as fast as they can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 My brother's dog was trained to only cross the road if he is given the command "cross", or hears the crossing noise at intersections. He will sit for hours until he is told to "cross" - even if people he knows are calling him over... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdude Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 You need to ask how to learn to control your dog................not teach your dog road sense. The simple answer is to forget letting your dog off lead in public, until you have complete off lead control. Joining your local dog obedience club would be a good start......that is the cheapest option. Private lessons the best option if finances allow. Regular socialisation with everything that exists in the big bad world, would be of great long term benifit too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Your pup is a baby....do not leave her unsupervised where there is a chance she can get to anything dangerous, like a roadway. She is not responsible for her own safety...YOU are When you are out walking her ON LEAD , then you can start her stoppingand sitting at EVERY kerb, whther it is a highway or back lane.Use a single word as you then step off the kerb to continue. be consistent.EVERY time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 (edited) Personally I use 2 commands for Zero - he has to "sit" at the road side, and look at me (so i have his full attention) - then we have a "cross" command when he's allowed to walk across the road. While I've never done this offlead (I've never met anyone who has been able to walk a husky offlead!) I've been told it worked with my godmother's cavies! Until you have both of these commands mastered on lead (as well as a recall, stay and heel command) - i would forget about letting the puppy off lead at any time! Edited May 12, 2008 by ~*Shell*~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennyw74 Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 I have tried making her sit at every corner but she just doesn't listen. She wants to go, go, go. It can take a couple of minutes to get her attention and make her sit but she's just not interested and is too focussed on rushing ahead. I will keep trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I have tried making her sit How have you tried? You are a person..the leader, and much larger and more competent than she is ... say "sit" ONCE ..don't ask! lift her head up with the leash held in one hand, gently push her bum to the ground with the other.Look A Sit! Quiet praise, so as not to excite her... then a 'release' word..or just step forward. repeat, repeat, repeat..... It is not much use trying to teach her the 'sit command' in a situation like roads, etc...she maybe should have a couple of sessions in the backyard each day, so she obeys without distractions..then when she is pretty reliable with the command..you continue it at kerbs ;) also ..have a read here ... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=62375 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennyw74 Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 She is perfect with the sit command at home - no worries at all. When she's out, though, her mind is elsewhere. She won't even look at me. When she's out, she will sometimes do it for a treat. At home, she does it every time for treat or no treats, right in front or from a distance. There are no worries about her not knowing commands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 At home, she does it every time for treat or no treats, right in front or from a distance. There are no worries about her not knowing commands. Knowing and willingness to perform unfortuantely aren't the same thing. This is a training issue. You need to practice more outside the home environment to improve consistency of performance under distraction. A really reliable recall including under distractions would be the best training you could give for this situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 There are no worries about her not knowing commands. Ok..then she needs to learn to WALK past distractions, and at your speed and wherever you turn .... when she can do this..and she is concentrating more ( it will take a while , as she is still a bub) THEN incorporate the 'sit', maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 She won't even look at me. She is young..and learning about her world..fair enuff... BUT she should look to you for guidance. have you tried this with her? http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=64101 It may be of help getting her to see you as the 'all-powerful' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 (edited) Penny, if you do not absolutely insist that your pup sit every time you ask her to, she's learning that her response to your commands can be when/if she feels like it. You don't have to be heavy handed to improve her response. You simply have to refuse to move forward unless she sits first. It might take a while the first few times to get that sit but her reliablity and speed will improve once she realises that she doesn't get what she wants (to move ahead) until she gives what you're asking for. She's well and truly old enough to be able to learn to focus on you and to obey. Such self discipline/focus has to be trained into pups. If you haven't been attending dog training classes, now would be a great time to start. These are smart little dogs who soon learn whether or not you mean what you say. Edited May 13, 2008 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennyw74 Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 We have been to puppy school and she did really well at all that. I just have to get her dad to be a little more patient with her instead of getting frustrated when she doesn't sit and just wanting to move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 We have been to puppy school and she did really well at all that.I just have to get her dad to be a little more patient with her instead of getting frustrated when she doesn't sit and just wanting to move on. Puppy school is a great beginning. However your most challenging time for training is still to come - the terrible teens. ;) Think about going back to training until she's at least 12 months old.. you'll both learn a lot. If your OH is getting frustrated, walk her by yourself until this is sorted. They don't have to be long walks but you do have to be absolutely consistent in not moving off until she sits. Same goes if she's pulling on the lead - she needs to learn that she doesn't get to move on unless the lead is slack. Doing the hard yards now will set her up for a lifetime of pleasant walking with you. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 If your OH is getting frustrated, walk her by yourself until this is sorted. They don't have to be long walks but you do have to be absolutely consistent in not moving off until she sits. Same goes if she's pulling on the lead - she needs to learn that she doesn't get to move on unless the lead is slack. Doing the hard yards now will set her up for a lifetime of pleasant walking with you. (my bolding ) ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennyw74 Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 I want to take her to obedience classes - just have to find a good place. It's hard when I don't get home until it's dark - I guess dogs don't care if it's night time or day time for walks, as long as they get out, although it would be more fun if it was light so she could see where she's going and so could I. She's just over five months now - is this the teens? She's acting like one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 (edited) I want to take her to obedience classes - just have to find a good place.It's hard when I don't get home until it's dark - I guess dogs don't care if it's night time or day time for walks, as long as they get out, although it would be more fun if it was light so she could see where she's going and so could I. She's just over five months now - is this the teens? She's acting like one. She's probably a little young for adolesence but once they're no longer tiny babies, you and they benefit from the reinforcement of your leadership that training provides. You also benefit from nipping issues in the bud rather than having to retrain out of bad habits that have become ingrained. Asking here on DOL will probably get you some advice on good places to train. Yep, it is hard to find the motivation to head out when it's dark and cold. How about getting up earlier? I walk my dogs in the morning. Edited May 13, 2008 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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