My Labrador is almost a year old now. At home he is the perfect dog, but when I take him out in public he acts so stupid! He pulls on his leash to get to other people and their dog. Not to bite or harm them but to play. In these situations I can barely control him.All I can do is hold him back. I've put prong collars on him but he still pulls just as hard. What can I do to get my dog to be good at home as well as in public?
Have you trained him to heel on command? If he understands the command and breaks it you should correct him. You should decide when its time to play and socialize. Sometimes just a verbal correction will work but you have to catch him before he pulls. When the focus goes to the person or dog you need to redirect his attention to you. This is something basic obedience and being consistent will fix.
Amber Morgan Webboard User Reg: 10-18-2006
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Instead of going from one extreme to another (distraction-free to high distraction) I would work on heeling in public by gradually increasing the level of distractions and keeping the sessions short and setting the dog up for success. It's not unusual to have to go back a few steps when training what is a new picture for the dog (distractions), IMO.
And I personally think that Labs at that age still have more than their fair share of the puppy crazies, lol! Good luck.
Reg: 08-29-2006
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Quote: amber morgan
Instead of going from one extreme to another (distraction-free to high distraction) I would work on heeling in public by gradually increasing the level of distractions and keeping the sessions short and setting the dog up for success. It's not unusual to have to go back a few steps when training what is a new picture for the dog (distractions), IMO.
This worked for me. And a "high distraction" could be something as simple as moving from the back yard to the front yard, and from the front yard to the street.
Quote:
And I personally think that Labs at that age still have more than their fair share of the puppy crazies, lol! Good luck.
Cathy Goessman Webboard User Reg: 12-03-2007
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Quote: russell baker
I've put prong collars on him but he still pulls just as hard. What can I do to get my dog to be good at home as well as in public?
Was the prong fit high and tight right behind his ears and corrections given as pops not pulls? Labs are pretty physically insensitive as a breed. And at his age he's still a puppy. What might help is to teach him a "watch me" command along with heeling. Does he understand what he is supposed to be doing?
Labs are the worst pups I've ever seen. Mouthy little play monsters who just want to see EVERYBODY and everything. They mature into the most wonderful dogs though.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Quote: amber morgan
Instead of going from one extreme to another (distraction-free to high distraction) I would work on heeling in public by gradually increasing the level of distractions and keeping the sessions short and setting the dog up for success. It's not unusual to have to go back a few steps when training what is a new picture for the dog (distractions), IMO. ...
HUGE ditto! And to help along the loose-leash calm casual heel, how about a tiring game of fetch first?
Starting the casual heel in your own back yard (even in a hallway inside) is good. As Sarah said, ' .....a "high distraction" could be something as simple as moving from the back yard to the front yard, and from the front yard to the street.'
Also, during the low-distraction walk, say on a boring street with no pedestrians, how about introducing plenty of releases at your discretion, not his, so he can sniff, mark, be doggy.
Later, as my dogs march along with me, my personal choice is not to make it a strolling looking-around meander. But frequently I will give the stop command, and then "OK!" which is the "You're free!" signal. I don't move and they have the length of the leash to sniff and mark.
Marching along with focus on me is frequently interspersed with that release.
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