Pulling on Leash...My Mistake!

[fogebotom]

The key to it is the position of the dog - if it's just past heel position, left turn, if it's truely forging and shoulders are past the knee, then right turn.

I think combining the two-tree and turn, isn't getting the correct message across to him. Try just doing one thing and reward. The other thing to remember is act like it's an accident not a correction. The tone of your voice is different, accident or an oops type voice is upbeat and the dog gets excited to see what's up, corrections tend to be stern and the dog either blows you off or gets very downtrodden with it all.

Good luck and happy heeling!

[MyPemCharlie]

Yes, I see the position difference between turning left or right. That's probably a split-second difference, but we're going to try it.

I was just being quiet, no verbal correction when he pulled, but giving verbal praise when he was walking on a loose leash. Peggy suggested the "Uh oh! What happened?" a couple days ago, so I have been trying that instead of just being quiet. I usually try to redirect him to a positive behavior that I can praise him for instead of giving stern or harsh corrections.

His behavior occassionally catches me by surprise though, and he gets a very very rare "NO! Stop That!"...like when he was caught in the act of chewing through the leather on the recliner when I thought he was just chewing on one of his toys. Surprise! That type of thing is not really normal with him.

Overall, he's pretty good (or at least predictable) and I can be calm and redirect him to the right thing so he succeeds and gets positive, happy reinforcement.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

Thanks Peggy, you're right. I didn't read the CGC "equipment" requirements correctly. I'm glad you brought that up. Still, just for my own satisfaction, I'd like to try retraining with the standard flat collar first. Like you said, it's whether they are pulling or not, not what type of gear they're wearing. If I've "ruined him" by teaching him to pull, we'll try a slip collar in a week or two and see if that helps.

I wasn't sure if they'd changed the rules or not. I just know I used "choke collars" on my dogs at the last CGC test we did.

The slip collar might get his attention faster, but overall it's the methods not the collars that teach what you want.

Peggy

[Chip's Mom]

I always use a buckle collar on my boys in or out of class and it works fine for me. I don't really care much for the choke collars. When we had our rottie he also had a buckle collar and I would walk him holding onto his collar he was so tall it was easier for me and he always stayed by my side.

[MyPemCharlie]

It's funny you mentioned your rottie. My last dog was a rottie and last week it occurred to me that I never really learned to walk him "the right way" either. He passed his CGC as a puppy, but by the time we went to advanced obedience, he was pulling me on leash. The instructor finally gave up (on me) and suggested a Halti (head harness). It worked immediately, and for the rest of his life, we were able to take nice walks without him pulling - as long as he wore the Halti. He would pull my arm out with a flat collar. I apparently have a mental block about leash training.

[Chip's Mom]

Aladdin never was a puller and that was a blessing to me. I would just hold onto his collar and we would walk. He was a great dog.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

I apparently have a mental block about leash training.

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

We've made some progress at least with walking in circles and figure eights. Charlie seems to think that's kind of fun and pays attention. When we try to walk straight down the street though, he falls back into not paying attention and wanting to pull. We got almost to the end of the culdesac today before he completely lost focus. Looks like we've still got a lot of work to do.

The stepping left in front of him seems to work well when we have a lot of space. It's a little harder on a narrow sidewalk. It does get his attention though. Thanks again to Cindy for that suggestion!

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

We've made some progress at least with walking in circles and figure eights. Charlie seems to think that's kind of fun and pays attention. When we try to walk straight down the street though, he falls back into not paying attention and wanting to pull. We got almost to the end of the culdesac today before he completely lost focus. Looks like we've still got a lot of work to do.

The stepping left in front of him seems to work well when we have a lot of space. It's a little harder on a narrow sidewalk. It does get his attention though. Thanks again to Cindy for that suggestion!

Bad habits are hard to break. Just hang in there! It'll work, it's just going to take some time.

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

It is taking some time. Today Charlie is doing pretty good and we've walked two blocks twice today (first time we've made off the end of our block since I started retraining). He'll do good one day, then won't have any focus for a day or two, then have another good day.

[fogebotom]

Ah teenagers! Don't you just love that age?

Keep up the good work.

[MyPemCharlie]

Yes I am allowing for the adolescent "crazies" in addition to my lapse in letting him get habituated to pulling. He's either total concentration or no focus...not much middle. But we just had our third short walk today and for the majority we seemed to be on the same walk, instead of his walk and my walk.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

It is taking some time. Today Charlie is doing pretty good and we've walked two blocks twice today (first time we've made off the end of our block since I started retraining). He'll do good one day, then won't have any focus for a day or two, then have another good day.

That sounds so promising! A big pat on the back for you and skritchs for him!

Peggy

[jakort1]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

Yes I am allowing for the adolescent "crazies" in addition to my lapse in letting him get habituated to pulling. ..

In December I wasn't paying attention to the walk and Will saw a dog he wanted to meet, considering that we were on an ice covered walkway I'm glad that I didn't go down...now we walk much more carefully with him at heel.

Moral of the story...sometimes you just don't realize the importance of heeling until your strong little corgi is about to put you on your rump.

[MyPemCharlie]

We are still having about 2 bad days to 1 good day with the walking. I broke down and saw a slip chain under five dollars and picked it up. Today Charlie and I tried one session with his collar, and one with the slip chain. Honestly I cannot tell a single iota of difference. We are having a "bad" day, but he tried to pull with the slip just as much and the "choke" tug didn't phase him.

His focus in general is excellent until I put a leash on him. Then his attention is on pull, pull, pull. I stopped for about 5 minutes today, got him to sit, but couldn't get his eye contact. (He was intently watching the mailman's truck.) We seem to be at a standstill. Hopefully we'll have a turnaround soon. Always darkest before the dawn?

John - I can see how the ice would be a real hazard! We thin-blooded Texans don't go out on ice (or hardly in rain, even)! LOL Our "winter" so far has consisted of 4 straight days of drizzle, wind and temps in the low-40's. This week's "coldfront" is supposed to bring highs only in the high 60's. It's looking like another scorching hot summer ahead with and bad flea, tick and mosquito season!