Help, can't walk dog

[cmkicksass]

hi i have a 6 month old dog, hes part Doberman (http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/Doberman_Pinscher.asp) part German Shepherd (http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/German_Shepherd_Dog.asp)and part Rottweiler (http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/Rottweiler.asp), when he was younger. he was "scared" to go out and walk, now 4 months later, hes to crazy to go walk! as far as im concerned a dog is supposed to back beside you, not ahead, and this is what my dog does, to the point that he starts to choke himself! i have him on a short leash, so he starts to jump on him back legs! and if i let him walk ahead of me he still chokes himself!
ive tried a couple of things like backpacks, running with him for 10 min before i walk him, playing fetch with him before the walks, this dog just dosent get tired! i even got him fixxed!!
PLEASE HELP ME I NEED ADVISE !!!!! THANKS

by the way this is my first post:cheers: o yea as for the pics, those are old pics, so just pictuer him 3X as big! 50 lbs and barely 6months:eek:

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/cmkickass/th_rayrayanddiesel006.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/cmkickass/?action=view&current=rayrayanddiesel006.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1)

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/cmkickass/th_rayrayanddiesel020.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/cmkickass/?action=view&current=rayrayanddiesel020.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch2)

[Zak & Kola]

Hi,

If this hasn't been controlled as a young pup, then you have a long ride ahead to get it sorted!

We speak from experience, as Zak our 2y.o. G.S.D. does this, we took him as a rescue in Jan this year, and he had not been lead trained at all.

You'll need lots of patience and consistency to do it but the best way is to take him out, on a slightly longer lead to begin with & as soon as he charges ahead, stop dead and say your chosen command, heel, close, or whatever you choose. Do not walk forward again until he is back where he should be, and when he charges ahead again, which may be two steps further to begin with, stop & repeat the action.

They can be really stubborn learning this, Zak knows exactly what is required of him, but still will try to pull. Keep at it, zero tolerance, never let him get away with it!

It won't be quick, but he will eventually realise that he's going nowhere fast unless he's by your side.

Good luck!

[Becky]

First, I want to say that making a dog walk next to you at a heel for the entire walk really does nothing to exercise them. Sniffs mentally stimulate the mind and he gets to trot a bit. If anything, I would ask him to heel 2 minutes in the beginning of the walk, and the last 2 minutes of the walk (the 2 minutes is just an example).


Here's another thread with loose leach walking questions:
http://dogforum.org/showthread.php?t=188&page=12

It also sounds like he needs more exercise. A ten minute run isn't enough (I remember the 6 month state :eek: ). Can you set up dog play dates? Dogs are much better at tiring each other out than we are.

Anyway, I think he needs an hour or more of "free-time." I would get a long line (20-50ft), find an open area, or even a wide hiking trail, and let him run around, run ahead, lag behind, whatever. You need to burn off that energy somehow :D .

HTH

[Georgia]

If you can get the Gentle Leader head collar on the dog it appears to work well. Our lab mix had good success with it but she started to really give us sad eyes and droop when we put it on her and we (I) caved in. When she walked with it she never really pulled ahead much.

Similar to the start / stop method previously mentioned, I once saw a weekly show on ESPN2 where these regular people (not celebrities) all adopted dogs and trained at some place for like 10+ weeks and had a contest to see who did the best job with a cash prize at the end. I don't remember all of it but one lesson for walking was to take sharp turns at full speed to force the dog to pay attention to you. The trainer said something like it makes the dog pay attention to you because he/she basically thinks you're some kind of crazy walker! You need a wide open field to do this of course.

Also, our neighbor took lessons from a trainer and he told them to use treats to encourage walking besides you. Basically you just pile on treats while walking as the dog is at your side. I don't remember all the details but I watched my neighbor do it and the dog was constantly watching her and constantly at her side during that time at least.

[cmkicksass]

thanks guys im gana try the stop and wait method, also the ton of treats sounds like a realy good idea

BECKY: so should i let my dog walk in front of me?, or beside me?

[Becky]

I'd let him walk anywhere he pleases, so long as he's not pulling and it's okay with you. For instance, when I walk Maddi on a road, she can be anywhere on my left side (to keep her safe from traffic). However, if she's on her 20ft lead in a field, she can walk/run anywhere around me so long as she's not pulling or putting down an anchor on me:) .

I apologize if my assumption is incorrect right off the bat ;) .


Do you want your dog to walk behind/beside you because you think if he walks ahead of you he's in the "leader" position? In dogdom, there's not such thing (to steal a fraise from Jean Donaldson) as walking at a really slow, boring pace next to the leader. It's just not a natural behavior. Often, if you watch a wild canid pack, the Alpha pair are not in the lead on a hunt.

Oh, and I wanted to mention, you're pup sure is a looker! Course, I have a soft spot for black and tan dogs :D

[cmkicksass]

Oh, and I wanted to mention, you're pup sure is a looker! Course, I have a soft spot for black and tan dogs :D[/QUOTE]

thanks for clearing that up for me :) ill inform u guys about our little problem.

thanks for the compliment on my little mutt:D he is always getting compliments at the vett, but they just tell me that hes a little gooffy, cuz he LOVES TO BARK, especialy in the night (hes an out side dog) do u have any advise on how to correct this problem, im thinking about using the "water gun" experement,

[Becky]

My best advice is to bring him inside. Dogs are pack animals and like to be with their pack whenever possible.

Is there any reason he is an outside dog?

[cmkicksass]

My best advice is to bring him inside. Dogs are pack animals and like to be with their pack whenever possible.

Is there any reason he is an outside dog?

well........ in my house its "tabue" to have a dog inside, its a little hard to explane, but a dog inside my house is definitly impossible. :D i enjoy having outside dogs. not that i have anything agents inside dogs,

[Lynn]

I understand what becky was getting at with that question.... and I guess maybe I don't understand why you can't have a dog inside your house?

[cmkicksass]

I understand what becky was getting at with that question.... and I guess maybe I don't understand why you can't have a dog inside your house?

well... first of all i live in california (near the LA area) and i have a fairly large yard, so i dont know i just think my dogs will be happier if they had a big yard to run in.
what im about to type, i mean no afence to any one, but its the honest truth, i am a mexican american and my family fells that its "dirty" to have a dog, or any animal inside, and im not saying that its cuz i have a mexican family,dont get me wrong i have nothing againts inside dogs, but my family is just unconfortable with pets inside, i hope this makes scence to you guys, but like i said its alittle hard to explane

[Lynn]

i understand what you're getting at. And I am in no position to make any judgements on someone I don't know....just that many of us feel very much the opposite of dogs. One thing I believe becky is getting at is that your dog is part of your family and a good reason that it's probably barking is because it's seperated from you. You are it's pack and dogs rely on their pack to survive. I'm sure your dog feels vunerable when it's alone and at night no less. And while I mean nothing against you, I feel strongly that if you're going to have an animal, especially a dog, they shouldn't be forced to be outside 100% of the time, mainly because there are so many things they can't protect themselves against and seperation anxiety.

[cmkicksass]

i understand what you're getting at. And I am in no position to make any judgements on someone I don't know....just that many of us feel very much the opposite of dogs. One thing I believe becky is getting at is that your dog is part of your family and a good reason that it's probably barking is because it's seperated from you. You are it's pack and dogs rely on their pack to survive. I'm sure your dog feels vunerable when it's alone and at night no less. And while I mean nothing against you, I feel strongly that if you're going to have an animal, especially a dog, they shouldn't be forced to be outside 100% of the time, mainly because there are so many things they can't protect themselves against and seperation anxiety.

i understand how u feel, but trust me the reason why my dog barks, has nothing to do with seperation anxiety, cuz i have 2 dogs, the one im talking about and a little yorky mixed with west highland, and she doesnt have a problem with barking at night. i think that its just a combination of not being walked enough, with just being a puppy, hes still barely 6 months old.
as for the dog staying out side, im usually outside most of the time, just not at night, plus whose gana protect me at night when im asleep:D

[mysterydog1]

I respect your decision about the dog not being iin your house, but what if you got a dog that couldn't stand it/survive outside? He has a dog house right? to protect him from the sun and snow and other weather right?
Even if he likes it outside and wouldn't have it any other way, i feel sorry for him.
good luck with the leash training thing.

[cmkicksass]

I respect your decision about the dog not being iin your house, but what if you got a dog that couldn't stand it/survive outside? He has a dog house right? to protect him from the sun and snow and other weather right?
Even if he likes it outside and wouldn't have it any other way, i feel sorry for him.
good luck with the leash training thing.

trust me the dog is happy outside, he has a house and lots of water a house, lots of shade, about the snow.... SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:D :)

[mysterydog1]

Cali huh? he MUST be a happy dog! and yeah no snow =P

[cmkicksass]

Cali huh? he MUST be a happy dog! and yeah no snow =P

yea there spoiled:D but the only time the dogs are not wagging there tail is when they are sleeping:p