emily w asked:
He is a 5/6 year old Lab/Collie cross and is a lovely natured dog. He only has one problem, he tends to get awfully excited on walks and decides he wants to take us for a walk instead. We have tried lots of things with him when we go to visit him (we get him on Saturday) but nothing seems to be working. Any suggestions?
He is a 5/6 year old Lab/Collie cross and is a lovely natured dog. He only has one problem, he tends to get awfully excited on walks and decides he wants to take us for a walk instead. We have tried lots of things with him when we go to visit him (we get him on Saturday) but nothing seems to be working. Any suggestions?
(It is my mother who will have the dog and walking it in the morning and afternoon, but I will be giving him his beach walk at night. I just want to make sure he doesn’t drag my mum around the streets though!)
instead of a normal lead, try a harness. you can get one that goes over the shoulders, or one that goes over the head (not a muzzle, dog can still open mouth). The harness will give you more control over the dog and he wont be able to pull. They are great for even the strongest of dogs
A body harness is about the worst thing you can do. Get a prong collar or a head harness and have a professional trainer teach you how to fit and use it.
There are two devices that would suggest One is called the gentle leader and the other a snoot loop; both found on line. These fit over the dogs head and make it almost impossible for them to pull. There will be an instructional dvd that comes with the gentle leader and paper instructions with the snoot looop. Also, take some basic training with your dog. It’s a great way to bond and your dog will thank you with better behavior!
Try using a Halti or Gentle Leader on him. It will prevent him from pulling. Always make sure you put them on tight enough too cause they can sometimes work themselves out or chew it up. You can get them at Petsmart
don’t forget that the excitement is probably caused by the joy of the walk and that given more extensive love and care he will settle well. My dog used to be over-eager (he was a collie x too) but when he had regular and satisfying walks he was like a lamb. Good luck – I’ll be thinking of you Saturday and happy that a dog has found is ‘forever home’.
Collies are notorious for pulling on the lead! However consistent training will improve his walking. You need to establish pack dominance as a dog that pulls in frontv thinks he is in charge of the walk. My trainer would advise lots of time spent practising walking to heel in the garden on a training lead held across the body so you have two hands on the lead – when the dog pulls forward retreat and go backwards until the dog is back by your side. When the dog returns to your side start off again. This takes time but will work as the dog wants to go forward and will start to realise a slack lead and being by your side means you go forward. Join a dog training class – read Jan Fennell – as dog walking will be much more successful when you establish your authority with the dog’s eating – even when greeting the dog etc.
Good luck with your new dog – you definitely have the best of breeds in your cross – but also the challenge as collies have a keen intelligence and labs have a great learning nature too!
The quick fix is a Halti, gentle leader or lupi harness,
in the long term get yourselves off to training classes (if your in the UK) one registered by Kennel club , you need to find a proper trainer who is APDT (Association pet dog trainers) registered.
Your dog will love being with you and i would imagine be extremely excited about being rehomed.
Things will take time but the training will pay dividends in the long run
yes a halti or gentle leader will do it good luck ,x
A halti is a god send for dogs that pull on the lead. My own lab cross wears one while at the same time i train him to the heel command which is coming along nicely. The halti works in the same way a horses headcollar does in that it gives you total control over there head. I used to have a lab x collie who pulled badly and before we tried the halti we used a harness that went around his body, leaving his neck free. We didn’t feel this was very effective as our dog was pulling his weight into it like a husky pulling a sled. The halti is effective and safe and is availiable in all good pet shops. Congrats on rescuing your dog and i hope you have many happy years of his company.
a decent obedience class will sort him out. It takes time patience and perseverance on your part.
a harness is good for smaller dogs but I find a head collar better on a bigger dog, there are all sorts of ones out there but we stay with the cannin gentle leader, I thread the lead through the collar clip and then attach it to the head collar, you still get the same effect so if the dog starts pulling it pulls his head round but you have more control, you just need to make sure the lead clip is small enough to pass through the collar clip, I have rotties and with a head collar on its like having a feather on the end of the lead,
agree with 1st answer..