Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
frustrated
I want to first thank all of you on this board, I'm so glad I've found it, so much useful information.
I've become incredibly frustrated with Lucy & her leash manners. She's a 4.5 year old boxer/american bulldog mix and incredibly strong. When she was 6 months old, we did a board & train program where they trained her for 3 weeks & then trained us. It's been working fairly well up until the beginning of this year, major regression! We have an almost 1.5 year old, but I can't correlate it w/ him coming into our lives. There was some regression ,but we quickly got her back on track, it's been since about the time he turned a year she's gone crazy on her leash.
If we're walking & don't encounter a dog, she does great - it's when we encounter a dog and the more reactive they are, the more terrible she is. I mean, so terrible I have to let go of the stroller to deal w/ her pulling & jumping, otherwise she tips the stroller. That then creates a predicament about how we proceed down the street w/o me pushing the stroller & dealing w/ her leaping & pulling. It's a mess, a frustrating & embarrassing mess. At first, I went back to the basics of her original training & took her for walks w/o the stroller as often as I could, but it was to no avail. I then enrolled her in another training program recommended by a friend. The first 4-6 weeks it was great, but now we're back to square zero.
I called my husband last night after our evening walk in tears. We have new neighbors that have 2 large dogs (shepherd mixes I think) that stand on the picnic tables behind the 6' fence & hang over & go CRAZY when you walk by. Of course, that throws off Lucy. I can't even give her a good yank because the second I let slack into her leash to give her the yank, she pulls & leaps more so the slack is instantly gone. I'm frustrated that the owners don't do something about their dogs disrupting everyone in the neighborhood (I've had a few dog walking neighbors say something to me about it) and I'm frustrated that my dog all of a sudden has incredibly terrible leash manners & I'm not sure what to do anymore.
We are going out of town this weekend & boarding her where we are currently doing some training. They are going to work with her a few days while there. I've been bringing her to their weekly group classes, but of course, she's a total angel in the class.
Is it to much of me to expect my dog to heal (or even walk a smidge ahead of me) on a leash w/ no pulling?
Re: frustrated
it sounds like you are doing the right things. Alot of times it just takes continuous practice.
Have any of the trainers mentioned a prong collar to you? Mine did because of the size of me and the size of my dog. We have an italian mastiff who weights 95lbs. My trainer recommended it not because Ben is bad but because it gives me some extra leverage over him. I only use it when he is on a leash. I have never had to jerk him or pull while he is wearing it.
That's the kicker! With her original training, they trained her w/ a nylon choke type collar, but we always used the prong because when she had it on, we had to do a lot less corrections. With her new training, they gave us a nicer prong one (our was a cheaper one that didn't jerk as well) along w/ a metal choke type & I use a double ended leash. The choke type sits high one her neck under her ears, like it should & the prong right below. I wonder if I should switch their positions.
We will start the walk in the right positions and then have to stop a few blocks up because they tend to slip down, so we readjust. However, the can be in the right spot, but because she pulls so hard, they slide down her neck to the bottom - regardless of how tight they are (even the trainers have noticed this, so I'm not crazy).
I know it takes practice, it's why we go out EVERY.SINGLE.DAY, regardless of weather (well that & the fact everyone can use some fresh air).
Adventure's In Willyland
Have you worked on any type of focus command (look/watch me) with her? If not, I would definitely train that, first in the house with zero distractions and then gradually increasing the distraction level (but only if she is 100% at the prior level). Give tons of praise and rewards for remaining calm and focusing on you. By teaching a command that tells your dog to look at/focus on you, you can get her attention off of the other dogs. I taught this to my dogs, and now, they automatically look up at me any time another dog passes by.
When she is ready to work on the command outside, I would go somewhere like a park where you can sit at a great distance from other dogs and praise/reward her for remaining calm. Only reduce the distance between you and the other dog once she is 100% non-reactive at the prior distance. If you have friends with calm, non-reactive dogs, enlist their help, and try to avoid situations where she will be pushed beyond her limit because each time she practices she undesirable behavior (flipping out at the other dog), it can make it more difficult to teach her the alternative, desirable behavior (remaining calm and focusing on you).
I've also heard good things about "Feisty Feido" by Patricial McConnell, which discusses leash reactive dogs (it sounds like that may be what you have on your hands).
I'm not sure what other training methods you have been using, but yanking her by the leash or using leash snapping may only worsen the behavior or get her more riled up. Also, if she is doing fine in class, you could consider hiring a behaviorist to come to your home so they can go on a walk with you and observe the problematic behavior first hand.
Thanks Caz! I will look into the book. I like your technique. I have tried to engage her while we walk and that does help, especially if the other dog is non reactive. However, I have not gone to the extreme you described, although I can see it being helpful.
For instance, when we are casually walking, and she starts to lose focus, if I say "Lucy, focus!" she will remember to watch me in relation to her & check back every few seconds to make sure she's not pulling and sniffing/lolly-gagging.
Adventure's In Willyland
Have you seen my monkey?
this is great advice! i forgot about the "watch me" command.
We switched from the prong collar to the gentle leader with our rottie puppy who was doing the same thing (very reactive to dogs that reacted to him). I agree, it's much easier for me to use. He hates it, but we have seen progress.
The "focus" command helps, too.
Adventure's In Willyland
She still gets excited but now instead of pulling she lays down. One thing the trainer said was that her "treat" was being able to say hi to the other dog (this is in our neighborhood b/c we know the owners and the dogs) so if she behaves and sits/lays they can come over. So in short.. I suggest going back for a refresher to obedience or have someone come and see how your dog is with the stroller...2, go back to the prong, 3, practice the "look" command to divert their attention. Good luck, you will get there. If i made it through anyone can... literally I would cry b/c the walks were such a nightmare.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6