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If you need help or advice about a dog you are retiring then this is the place for you.
Overcoming excessive pulling on Lead
Ted Wolfenden United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 9 Dogs 0 / Races 0 15 Jan 2012 17:58
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Does anyone have any advice of how to overcome Mickey pulling like a train whilst on the lead if he sees another dog. His intentions are not aggressive but just wants to meet and greet but completely ignores me when I tell to leave. There is no way I would trust him off the lead as his recall is nil. I have never come across this pulling like a train problem in what is supposed to be an ex-racer. He does not seem to have remembered anything of his handler training whilst racing and therefore completely puzzles me. It is as if he enjoyed his two weeks of straying that he has the wanderlust.
Just wondering if I am expecting too much from him in these early stages, when I could trust Missy, Merlin and Menta off the lead at the numerous parks we go to, but on the lead there was no pulling just walking gently with me. I know that on beaches I could not trust Missy to come back as she had very selective hearing. Both Merlin and Menta will come back to me when I call them.
Carole Brown Australia (Verified User) Posts 32355 Dogs 185 / Races 2 15 Jan 2012 18:21
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Ted, you could try one of those restraints that I call a pulling muzzle. They are like a leather horse's halter and are very effective in stopping a dog from pulling. We have used them with great success on racedays on a few over here.
Think Carole means a "Halti" Should be able to purchase at any good pet shop or vet in UK, probably webbing not leather. Worked like a dream on some of my very large sighthounds. Only thing, I never trusted the plastic clips they used back then, so clipped lead to the halti And the dogs normal collar.
Annette Glaser United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 28 Jan 2012 21:32
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Hi Ted, I'd suggest that whenever he pulls ahead of you,you change direction, ie turn around and walk into a different direction than he pulls you into. He s then behind you again and you re in charge. Be very very consistent with this,do this every time he pulls on the lead, even if he begins to rush ahead of you as you re only leaving the house for instance and then of course whenever he does it out on the walk too. -(If you ve got a garden, you can start there each day to take "the edge off" and then slowly go further afield) -No need to use your strength to pull him back to your side on the lead in order to get ahead. This would stress you out and the dog too, who is tugged about, , the same goes for too much talk/commands. -When you see other dogs ,turn away early for now; in time ,as he ll be learning, you ll be able to walk closer towards other dogs with him, as you ll build it up. I agree with you,I wouldn't let him off lead for now,till you re more harmonious together on the lead unless you find a safe place where you can do this. Best wishes Annette
Annette Glaser United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 29 Jan 2012 12:14
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re: you can also alternate "changing direction" with just stopping and waiting for a bit, especially if you got more than one dog, don't pull him back to you, don't give him more leeway ,just wait, most dogs will start to shuffle round, or do a u-turn after a while and when he 's back in line, walk on.In the first days this ll drive you mad because you ll have to do it a million times and won't get anywhere, but with consistency he ll soon get better.
Warren MacDonald Australia (Verified User) Posts 920 Dogs 5 / Races 3 29 Jan 2012 12:46
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You could just do what some TOTAL Spastic did at Dapto last Thursday night in the last race with the 5 dog. Walk the poor thing on his hind legs all the way from the Gate too the 297m boxes. He ran second . What a tool!!
Ted Wolfenden United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 9 Dogs 0 / Races 0 30 Jan 2012 20:49
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I have started taking Mickey training at A1K9 on a Saturday Afternoon. All the dogs have two 5 minute off the lead sessions one prior to the training and the other at the end. These off lead sessions have already made quite a difference to his attitude on the lead. He was great on the training with walking on the lead doing left and right turns and left and right about turns. His recall was useless unless I squeaked a squeaky ball in my pocket and then he came back like a rocket. My problem is that my other Greyhound Merlin was taken in hand by Missy the greyhound I lost on 5th December 2011 from a snapped femur caused by bone cancer on her supportive back leg, he thought Missy was his Mum and he latched straight away onto me when walking both on and off lead.
Julie Sadler United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 766 Dogs 0 / Races 0 05 Feb 2012 15:58
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Hi Ted
I use the TTouch Balance Lead at first till they settle- the one lead clip around their chest and the second lead clip attached to the rear clip on the harness ... you can control their body if they lunge and you can turn them without putting pressure on their neck. Lots of TTouch and also find a calm, quiet 'real' dog and lots of parallel walking .. people between dogs and as far apart as it takes till Mickey can cope, you can gradually get closer as he learns what other breeds are. I used to sneak into playgrounds to practice off lead if you can find one with a safe surface and good fencing but best is an indoor riding arena - and you only need it for about 10 mins max I find LOL
Best wishes
Julie
Peter Jones (Verified User) Posts 301 Dogs 3 / Races 0 05 Feb 2012 17:19
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annette glaser wrote:
Hi Ted, I'd suggest that whenever he pulls ahead of you,you change direction, ie turn around and walk into a different direction than he pulls you into. He s then behind you again and you re in charge. Be very very consistent with this,do this every time he pulls on the lead, even if he begins to rush ahead of you as you re only leaving the house for instance and then of course whenever he does it out on the walk too.
spoken like a proffesional -(If you ve got a garden, you can start there each day to take "the edge off" and then slowly go further afield) -No need to use your strength to pull him back to your side on the lead in order to get ahead. This would stress you out and the dog too, who is tugged about, , the same goes for too much talk/commands. -When you see other dogs ,turn away early for now; in time ,as he ll be learning, you ll be able to walk closer towards other dogs with him, as you ll build it up. I agree with you,I wouldn't let him off lead for now,till you re more harmonious together on the lead unless you find a safe place where you can do this. Best wishes Annette
Annette Glaser United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 11 Feb 2012 12:15
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Hi Ted, sorry for your loss, Merlin is missing her isnt he . Can you leave Merlin with Menta whilst working with Mickey, then Merlin s not alone, then swap over, or when theyre all together and he latches on to you whilst youre working with the other dog, gently push him away from your body a few times without saying anything; give him time, hell understand after a while that although you give them all equal attention, itll always be his turn again . The pack has to re structure when you loose a dog, it s hard because you have to get re elected leader because otherwise theyll grapple for that amongst themselves which can make what you call arguments in your other post worse, except you wont feel like being leader if youre grieving.
Anna Cook United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 52 Dogs 0 / Races 0 07 Mar 2012 21:57
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Hi there, i find a walking before dogs meal times helps them learn recall and generaly more responsive when thier hungry. This combined with good training tit bits i.e- chicken or raw bacon and such like. Good luck.
Ted Wolfenden United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 9 Dogs 0 / Races 0 13 Mar 2012 19:06
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There is always two left in my van whilst I am out being trained by the other one. Mickey pased his Bronze Award his recall was amazing to see to stunned me the trainer and the rest of the class it was as if he knew he was being tested. Mickey has now moved onto the Silver Award Training, whilst Menta has started her bronze training. So I now have two hours of dog training on a Saturday Afternoon but it still means there is aways two keeping each other company in the van. When Menta finishes her Bronze Training I will get Merlin to start his Bronze Training, I fully expect Mickey will have to redo his Silver as his stay of the lead does not exist nor does his retrieve, Dad you threw the ball/toy you go and get it, but his recall was great again.
I have had to place Mickey on Loxicom pain killer as he has noisy hips and slightly limps on his right back leg, but he did race 78 times in less than three years. I also notice that if he gets the leg in the wrong position he gives a squeal. We have been to the Animal Doctor twice now but the vets said he sounds happier. Obviously was time for him to retire.
If you need help or advice about a dog you are retiring then this is the place for you.
