How to [Not] Walk on a Leash

[ToBScholarly]

So we have decided to try Maxine on a leash on walks again. Adam has her and I get Smeggie, because Adam is stronger than I am and can hold her back if need be.

Here is my question: For right now, we are keeping Maxine away from all animals and small children, because of her history with them. So when we encounter one on a walk that is going in the opposite direction, is it better to put her in a sit and stay until they pass by or to walk her on the non-pedestrian side, thereby being the barrier between child/animal and Maxine, and continue walking, giving her the "heel" command?

Basically - do we teach passiveness or distract her?

[mezmerelda]

I would start walking her away from the people with lots of treats. Distract her with treats when she sees them or reacts to them even across the street-basically redirect. As she gets better with ignoring them from a distance (assuming she has that problem) then move closer to the people and try the same thing. That's what I saw Victoria Stillwell do, so it has to work, right?

[Truman's Mom]

That is what I've been doing with Truman lately.

For some reason about 6 months ago, if there is a dog on the opposite side of the street he will go absolutely nuts barking and lunging to get close to them, which generally scares most people. Thankfully he doesn't use all of his strength or I'd be armless but still. I started reversing and I'll have a treat or 3 in my pocket and it's working.

Hopefully it will work with Maxine

[krb0471]

I agree - maybe bring peanut butter/honey/something on a spoon/stick so she really has to pay attention to the treat...glad to see you are working with her! She will be a good girl in no time! If she acts ok with a sit/stay then it seems just a matter of desensitizing her to others.

[ALDOGMOM]

Work on "watch me!"....I have found that having her sit and watch me works much better than trying to keep her moving while the other dog passes....

Ask her to sit...Then take a treat moving it from her nose to your eyes...The second she makes eye contact tell her to "watch me!" and give her the treat...
Gradually increase the amount of time she is making eye contact...Even Birdie caught on this this pretty quickly...I used small bites of hot-dog in the beginning...
Now I just use cheerios as her reward when we are out and about...much more portable and not nearly as disgusting...

This is one of the techniques that has really worked with Birdie...If she starts to hyper-focus - I ask her to "sit" and then "watch me!" while the other dog passes us...

The only other comment I have is for you (or Adam) to relax...Your anxiety will travel down the leash to her...

[mezmerelda]

Regarding the anxiety from you - I've had a bunch of show people tell me that having mints (for you) somehow lowers your anxiety so it doesn't travel (as much) down the leash. It never worked as well as a shot of whiskey did, but it's always worth a try.

[ToBScholarly]

I agree - maybe bring peanut butter/honey/something on a spoon/stick so she really has to pay attention to the treat...glad to see you are working with her! She will be a good girl in no time! If she acts ok with a sit/stay then it seems just a matter of desensitizing her to others.

Not as much as I would like but at least an evening walk to start with. My job has calmed down a bit and I am pretty much on top of things (except the paperwork) so my evenings are a little more free.

Now I need to try and find a treat that she absolutely loves. She is so picky about things, most treats she could take or leave.

[mezmerelda]

Want me to send you a few things from the Barkery to see if she likes them? Their dried liver treats seem to get most dogs very interested.

[ToBScholarly]

Hmmm, I am not sure how she does with dried liver. It has been a while since I dehydrated any, although I have piles of it in my freezer.

I think i may pick up some Juke's (Zuke's?) with the blueberry. I think those were the ones she liked... if not, I think I know someone else who will digest them just fine.

We plan on perusing the barkery when we are there in July... right after we hit the wine store.

[mezmerelda]

Maybe try booze w/Maxine as well?

The wine store doesn't have that super special wine you like anymore. Heck, they don't even know what it's called.

[ALDOGMOM]

She doesn't like hot dogs? Bogey would shed his skin for a hot dog...LOL.

The only other suggestion I would give you is to try and find a place with no distractions and really work on the obedience part of the walk.
Not a perfect heel - but a solid loose leash walk...

That is the one good thing about Birdie...Her basic obedience commands are rock solid...

[krb0471]

Try the liver chips from the Barkery- I have about 10 left that Mel sent home with Basja. She goes through her whole "pony tricks" routine when I get them out w/o me even asking. They are her super-special treat.
Maxine is pretty good with watch me (from what I've seen)- way better than Basja.

[Yeti_Girl]

string cheese? banana? carrots?

[ToBScholarly]

Maxine does not like banana or carrots. I am not sure about the strong cheese because I eat it all before they dogs get any and we rarely have hot dogs in the house. Maybe we need to reserve a day for taste testing and get a veritable buffet of goodies.

Maxine IS way better with obedience than Reggie. She is faster and really wants to please. But when she wants to chase something, she is equally as fast.

[Cole's Mom]

How do we train other humans that think it is ok to let their dogs off leash everywhere? That can making walking a big nervous dog tough. Last week while walking Cole a man on a bike with his three kids was letting his dog run free. I yelled when I saw them approaching to leash your dog. Then the following day three dogs got out of their backyard and circled Cole and I (Cole hid behind me). I screamed so loud and lunged at the dogs I think I scared the crap out of the dogs. Lady didn't even apologize.

I totally understand where you are coming from. Walking is always an adventure I think the best advice is to be prepared and try and stay calm when other people and dogs are around. If you feel the situation approaching is going to get ugly turn around or give her lots of treats and keep her focused on you and not the distractions. Good luck

[Mac45]

I agree, work on both methods.
There's been times at Petsmart where we've been boxed in, and couldn't walk away.
So we keep her occupied with a treat.
And then there's been a couple of occasions walking in the neighborhood when other dogs have gotten loose and tried to run up to us.
Time to turn and walk away.

[ToBScholarly]

We have had to revert to the chain collars. For both of them. While I love the look of the fabric martingales, the D rings do not stand up to the pull of a 140 pound dog. We may try the gentle leaders again but the dogs find them so distracting that focusing them on commands is near impossible.

[mezmerelda]

How long did you give them on the gls? And how long are you walking them?

[krb0471]

Try taking them to a new park/field where the smells are new to them and use the gentle leaders. Hopefully the distraction of new will be enough for them to forget they are on?

[ALDOGMOM]

All dogs find them distracting at first...Bogey acted like a two-year old...I swear he had a tantrum...LOL..
Start with them at home (supervised) so they get used to them...