Forums Home >

Service & Therapy Dogs

GO!
The Service and Therapy Dog forum is for all service and therapy dogs regardless of whether or not their status is legally defined by federal or state law, how they are trained, or whether or not they are "certified." Posts questioning or disputing a person's need for a service or therapy dog, the validity of a person's service or therapy dog, or the dog's ability to do the work of a service or therapy dog are not permitted in this forum. Please keep discussions fun, friendly, and helpful at all times.


Teaching Leash Manners

   
Spike

Don't Berate,- Educate!		 
 
Barked: Sat Jul 4, '09 12:17am PST 
I'm posting this in the SD section instead of behaviour and training because a lot of the suggestions there are hard for me to do -- things like bending over to correct/redirect. So, I need some ideas on alternative ways to teach this.

I somehow got talked into fostering my neighbor's dog, Rufus. He's a medium-small "blockhead" (that's what they told me his breed was) dog. I guess I'd say he's a pit/boxer mix if I had to guess, but he's about 18-19 inches (haven't measured, just guessing) and 30-40 lbs. I can't reach him without bending down, so correcting/redicting him is a bit difficult for me.

I'm trying to teach him how to heel/loose leash walk, but I'm having some difficulties. Stopping and waiting for him to come back to me doesn't work, even when we're in the house not doing anything. He is for the most part pretty intelligent. He's working with an Easy Walk harness and doesn't respond to head collars at all. He'll just turn his head upside down and keep pulling.

I've also tried doing the treat lure thing, but he won't pay attention unless it's right in front of his nose, which I can't keep it there without having to bend down.

Does anyone have suggestions for what else I might try?
my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals
 [notify]