I have an adopted (permanent) rescue (been here for nine months or so) who was an untrained, unsocialized, chained-outside-for-years dog.

He's doing great. Potty training was a challenge, but even that's 100%.

The issue:

If he is in my path, he will race out of the way by running in front of me (same direction), kind of leading the way. This isn't an on-lead thing; he heels fine. It's more of an in-the-house thing.

I want him to step aside the way the other dogs do.

The other night in the dark yard, he did this, and then he stopped to smell something, and I almost tripped over him/trampled him. AARRGGHH!

Anyone have any quick tricks aside from actually stepping on him? (I had a challenge when he tried jumping up on people, months into his tenancy here, once he discovered that he liked being petted and so on. He has two herniated discs and I didn't want to do the usual stepping back or otherwise making him go off-balance. Weeks of standing on the leash and then marking and rewarding when he didn't jump up finally worked, even though the not jumping up was physically mandated by the leash. )

P.S. He's not dominant, not aggressive, and no longer timid or fearful.

My Dobe was notorious for this type of thing, especially in my long hallway in the house. If he was sleeping in the hallway he would always run to get out of the way, but ended up being more in the way as a result. I kept a tether on him and would just grab the end of it as I approached the hallway. If he started to run ahead I could hold him and prevent it, then I asked him to sit until I walked by him, and released him when I was several steps ahead. Now if he sees me coming he just automaticly sits and waits for me to pass before following me. Hope that helps

 Quote: Kristel Smart

My Dobe was notorious for this type of thing, especially in my long hallway in the house. If he was sleeping in the hallway he would always run to get out of the way, but ended up being more in the way as a result. I kept a tether on him and would just grab the end of it as I approached the hallway. If he started to run ahead I could hold him and prevent it, then I asked him to sit until I walked by him, and released him when I was several steps ahead. Now if he sees me coming he just automaticly sits and waits for me to pass before following me. Hope that helps

QUOTE: he would always run to get out of the way, but ended up being more in the way as a result. END

EXACTLY! He's not trying to precede me in a top-dog way; he's just kinda .... well ..... he's not a genius.

I knew someone here would have a quick and easy trick for a behavior that's driving me crazy but doesn't signify a real training issue.

THANK YOU!

I never thought of the drag line, even though I have his little thin drag lines from when he was being trained.

I saw your question right after you posted. I thought about it all day because mine did the same thing. He's a clinger. If I go he thinks he has to go.

There wasn't anything that I really trained for that particular habit, but a behavior carried over from some of our groundwork that cured this problem for us.

When we were training to walk on the leash I would mark and reward with forward progress only when he was beside my leg. If he would get in front of me, pulling or not, I would stop and eventually he got to where he would walk backwards to get beside my leg so he could continue walking. Never in front of me. Also whenever I would go to the door he would run in front of me and try his best to push the door open and squeeze out. I wouldn't do anything until he got back beside me and then I would mark and reward with an open door.

Now when we are going anywhere he's just found a comfort zone beside me. If he is in front of me going the same direction he will sidestep and wait for me to pass and then walk beside or behind. Even if I'm just standing there and he is in front of me he will back up to get beside me.

I guess indirectly I trained him that I only make forward progress when he is in that spot. You can tell that this behavior is really set in and almost seems superstitious about it.

You are always so helpful so I wish I could give you step by step instruction on how to fix this, but I can't. Maybe it'll help you find a solution.

Well, all good points!

He heels well, though, and no longer tries to precede me out the door or on the walk.......

It's just this way he moves out of the way inside the house, which puts him right in the way.

I have taken out a little light drag line to remind myself to put it on him indoors tomorrow.

I'm hoping I can get the message across in a day or so. Famous last words.

Unfortunately, YOUR heel-training result of "If he is in front of me going the same direction he will sidestep and wait for me to pass and then walk beside or behind" was not a result I got from Oliver.

It's funny that he's the first dog who did *not* figure out that moving out of the way doesn't mean race along in front of me...... kinda like running on the tracks to outrace the train instead of just stepping off the track.

Maybe he likes to live dangerously.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

It's just this way he moves out of the way inside the house, which puts him right in the way.

Preferably when you are carrying something really heavy.

 Quote: michael_wise

 Quote: connie sutherland

It's just this way he moves out of the way inside the house, which puts him right in the way.

Preferably when you are carrying something really heavy.

LOL. Been there, done that. Lear always did that but now at least stands off to the side, but then turns his head which ends up being in my way. Sometimes he will walk a few steps in front, stop and move his head in my path, which basically blocks me in a doorway. I shuffle ahead to move his head out of the way, he just moves forward a little, then turns his head again. I'm now somewhat convinced it's a herding thing with him, that he actually wants to "be in the way" but only dares to stick his head in my way instead of his whole body.

Another annoying habit he has ( ) is when I call him out of a room and wait for him at the doorway, giving him a wide space to go through, he'll inevitably choose the narrow space between me and the doorway. Doesn't matter if it's 6 inches narrow, that's the way he wants to go. No matter than he bangs his head or shoulders on the door jamb...he's rather impervious to pain I guess.

Well, I am doing it. Oliver has the little drag line on.

My progress through the place has been a tad slow today, but I think he's catching on about which way to move when he gets "out of the way."

As clear as you are with advice on this forum, I can only imagine that this new dog will catch on to concept of "move it" pretty quick now that you've got a plan.

Thanks for adopting, too. My dogs that I have right now wouldn't be good candidates for bringing other dogs into the picture. Hopefully one day I will be able to do the same.

 Quote: michael_wise

Thanks for adopting, too. My dogs that I have right now wouldn't be good candidates for bringing other dogs into the picture. Hopefully one day I will be able to do the same.

I betcha you will!

Especially older dogs -- so far each one has fit really well into the pack (and I always always use Ed's intro protocol to the *letter* -- no shortcuts) --- I think it depends on the individual human's tendencies, but mine won't allow me to foster and then give up the dog. I totally admire those who do that.

So my own thing is to adopt older dogs so they can have great "golden" years.

But I do understand people who hesitate about adopting a dog who might die much sooner than the owner would like.

Of course, I am very fortunate that the GSD sees each addition as "ho-hum; a new one."