Walking with Riley

[ChrissieP]

Hi, I know this question has probably asked A THOUSAND times, but I was looking for some more specific advice if possible.
I have two main problems with Riley (9 Months) at the moment... He's a fantastic temperament, wouldn't hurt a fly! (Well actually, he eats flies on occasion but you know what I mean!)

1. He pulls on a leash! We invested in a 'Halti' Collar for him, and to some extent it works, but he still doesn't want to walk on a loose leash, he's constantly trying to pull. If we go to the park and play catch for a while, so he's tired he's fine, walks like a dream, but if we bypass the park just for a leash walk he pulls the majority of the way around. Any tips?

2. Only something we noticed this weekend, we took him to the forrest for an off-leash walk, and he didn't want to stay by our side, he would run off about 6 or 7 meters infront. If we use the command 'Wait' he seems to understand to wait, but doesn't come back to recall.

We are based in Tiverton, Devon, so if ANYBODY lives locally that could offer us some pointers?!
Thanks in advance,

Chris, Amy & Riley

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by ChrissieP

Hi, I know this question has probably asked A THOUSAND times, but I was looking for some more specific advice if possible.
I have two main problems with Riley (9 Months) at the moment... He's a fantastic temperament, wouldn't hurt a fly! (Well actually, he eats flies on occasion but you know what I mean!)

1. He pulls on a leash! We invested in a 'Halti' Collar for him, and to some extent it works, but he still doesn't want to walk on a loose leash, he's constantly trying to pull. If we go to the park and play catch for a while, so he's tired he's fine, walks like a dream, but if we bypass the park just for a leash walk he pulls the majority of the way around. Any tips?

A couple of things you could try, both work well,... every time Riley starts to pull, change direction quickly, then return to the direction in which you were going,.. if he pulls agin, again change direction,.. the idea is that Riley is never sure which way you are going and so cant predict your direction,..as he did when he first started pulling

The other way,..and I think the better way, is every time he pulls, you either stop or walk backwards,..or both,.. then return to your walk,.. riley pulls, you do it again

The important thing here is that you have to be doing this every time without fail for it to be effective

2. Only something we noticed this weekend, we took him to the forrest for an off-leash walk, and he didn't want to stay by our side, he would run off about 6 or 7 meters infront. If we use the command 'Wait' he seems to understand to wait, but doesn't come back to recall.

If this was my dog, then he would be doing as he was instructed,.. wait is not normaly a recall, so you need to two commands, wait, for wait, and something for your recall,..either that or `wait` untill you get top him to get the lead on

We are based in Tiverton, Devon, so if ANYBODY lives locally that could offer us some pointers?!
Thanks in advance,

Chris, Amy & Riley

.

[ChrissieP]

Originally Posted by Stuart

.

thank you for your reply, we will try both and see which is more effective!

[wildmoor]

My Zandi knows wait & halt : come & kommen
i find that when he is in his mischevious mood i use the harsher words

[LOVEGSD]

Whatever technique you use, stick with it and be consistant, this is the key to cracking the training.

I used to turn around and walk the other way every time Diesel pulled, he soon realised that he would get nowhere if he carried on.

As for the recall, I would use the word come rather than wait, as Stuart says wait is just that wait there where as the next command will tell Riley what you want from him.

He sounds a lovely boy