who walks who

[lisa72]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

so who walks their dog and who has a dog that walks them.

is it just me or do people seem to find it really hard to actually get their dog to walk nicely on the lead. my lots have always been so easy - needed consistency but always listened and respected it .

i see so many people being dragged down a street. just how is that walk enjoyable . ?

 

[Mad Murphy]

As someone with two hunting breeds I know that they walk nicely until theres a scent or a beastie running across our path. Then its tally ho and they are on full tracking/ hunt mode.

If I want a peaceful walk I stick to the park or lane if I feel fit we go to the woods..

I knew it would be this way hunting breeds do what comes naturally.

 

[arealhuman]

Our dog walks nicely on the lead but he certainly decides where he wants to go!

 

[JudyN]

Neither of us walked each other - we went for a walk together.

 

[foxcocker-93]

It's easier said than done to be honest.
I think it's also breed dependent. I have a spaniel and he does pull like a train sometimes, especially when he's onto a scent.
Some people also don't know what harnesses/leads collars are best etc.
I don't know really I reserve judgement because dogs are alot stronger than they look.

 

[excuseme]

I have had Cocker Spaniels all of my life, I was 17 when I bought my first one (a show type), I then discovered after 2 more show types that there was a "working" type too, that was in about 1984/85 I think!
I am 75 now and still have the working type.

We have only ever had one dog that we needed to use a Halti on.
He always used his nose whenever put on the lead and we discovered that the Halti worked well for him and us, he would walk with a slack lead and could be gently held between a finger and thumb, just about perfect!
We do work our lot in the shooting season, just in the beating line and NO picking up! Here we use a very convenient slip lead if required otherwise they just walk with us off lead.
They never pick up on a scent and take off!

Collars are worn at all times with identity discs, and are used as part of an every day collar and lead combination.

We all go out every day and walk together, none of them go too far and if we change our direction without any warning they are still with us.
We never let any of our puppies or dogs run wild.
They are always considered family members, they live and share the house with us and all grow up knowing what is right and what is wrong!
Pulling on the lead is not aloud and this is learnt from a fairly young age.
It is no use saying that he or she is only a puppy and that they will learn later as by this time it is often too late and they have already learnt to pull.
Children / young families are often no help either and I have noticed that this is where a lot of pulling appears to start.
The modern fashion seems to be the harness, most of these dogs are pulling and lead the way, they are not walking with their owners they don't know how to!

Some animals are used for pulling, and to help them pull comfortably they are PUT INTO A HARNESS

 

[foxcocker-93]

Hi - "excuseme"
Milo is a working cocker - he has a halti he still has a knack for pulling when onto something.
Have you got any suggestions for a better harnesses etc?
We've tired slip leads/head collars etc.
Hes great off lead, recall is great.
Thank you.
Edited to add - he's not a working dog.

 

[JoanneF]

Sorry @excuseme, but I don't completely agree about the harness contributing to pulling.

Some dogs (sled dogs are the obvious example) are bred for pulling, and the harness means their shoulders, rather than more delicate areas of the body like the throat, are protected. But I don't think they cause pulling, rather they prevent injury if a dog does pull - whether that's through design like the sled dogs, or like here - where the dog hasn't learned to walk nicely.

@foxcocker-93 see if anything in this thread might help - Loose Lead Walking

 

[Hemlock]

As you ask the specific question - and as a retired professional, I have trained countless dogs to walk politely on the lead - I'd recommend you to find a trainer whose methods you like and who is recommended (word of mouth is the best way). Chat with people whose dogs you see walking nicely to get some trainers' names. Go to see the trainer in action to be sure you like their methods before you part with any money. Some dogs take longer than others, but all of them can be trained to walk properly by using kind reward-based methods.