Knowing that it's easier to show the dog what you DO want, as opposed to what you don't...what do you do when you have to get them to STOP doing something?

The behavior in question is twofold. Roger will randomly stray in front of my path while we are walking, or (worse yet) running. This is dangerous for obvious reasons and I already stepped on his leg once. I thought that would discourage him, but no.

Also, when I give the "run" command, he will go from running out in front of me & slightly to the side to stopping right in my path and looking/jumping at me. This caused me to take a serious fall in the middle of a full sprint across our local golf course.

Whenever either of these things happen I stop the "playtime" vibe but I am awful short on answers about how to get him to stop. Am I hoping for too much from a 7-month old Mal?

I want to give him (and myself) the exercise he deserves, but this isn't making it easy. I fear he is learning bad habits and if I can't run him safely, I don't know what else I'll do to exhaust him.

About the straying into my path: At home, where there is no big danger, I will walk right through the dog. I will step on (with a little not-obvious care), walk into, and in other ways demonstrate my non-awareness of the dog, and his required awareness of me.


As for the "run" command, more details?


Others will have much better suggestions. It's NOT a rare behavior! LOL

Ouch! I feel your pain as I am sure do many. I'd say the behavior is typical pup playing as a pup will play. That is a good thing; he wants to engage. I agree with Connie in the walking through when you won't cause any harm but in a sprint you're both in harms way.

Have you done any work with a target stick? (can be any object he can touch with his nose including your finger but in this case you want something a little longer to put some distance between you and Roger)

I won't go into detail in case you already are familiar with this but basically you hold the object and mark and treat when Roger touches it with his nose. You can almost immediately add the command "touch" because pretty much any dog I have ever seen tries to sniff an object you put in front of them. As he gets the hang of it start using it to teach direction. I now say Thor's name he looks at me and I say "that way" and point in the direction I want him to go.

It's a very practical command IMO keeps your collisions with him to a minimum also moves him away from loose dogs, loose kids or quickly add distance when you moved too close to something when you are working on distractions.

Just a thought what happens if you just pick up pace with out using the "run" cue. The cue itself may be amping him up I personally don't use a cue to increase speed I just do it, and if the dog is paying attention they will also. I do use a cue to bring the pace back down, while jogging I use "walk" which is similar to "heel" as far as the dog is concerned with out the fixed focused part. After the cue I slow the pace and so does the dog. Another thing before you increase speed greatly try just lifting your knees higher, pump your arms and get the dog used to your faster moving posture, and then add the acutal speed. Good Luck

Thanks all. Very helpful as always.

The "run" command (more of a prompt) is so I may potentially get him to move quickly without me at some point. Also, the terrain we walk on is incredibly challenging in some places. Being able to give him the command to bolt ahead is quite useful, as he is already strong enough to give me quite a boost when I am behind him, climbing rocks or walking up a hill.

@ Sheila, I did think about a target stick lately, actually. It might be time to think a little harder.

@ Kyle, Roger doesn't need me to sell the running with any exaggeration of body movement. All he needs is a little slack in the leash and he's off! I use something similar to "walk"--I have "slow." Which is different than "heel" because it applies to him wherever he is. I also use it when he's getting crazed and zoomy.

..anyone experienced a "crash"? Dog running back to you on recall that didn't..um...gracefully come to a stop?

 Quote: hilarie coby

..anyone experienced a "crash"? Dog running back to you on recall that didn't..um...gracefully come to a stop?

Ha ha ha!

No. This has never happened before to anyone (from waist level all the way to shin level) and there must be something wrong with you and/or your dog.

 Quote: ross rapoport

All he needs is a little slack in the leash and he's off!

Does this mean he is pulling you everywhere if that is the case start over and get the loose leash walking down first, I know you your end goal is to use the run cue for him alone with out you at his side, he first has to understand what it means.
What i meant by changing your posture was because maybe its your change in motion that excites him, and thinks your going to play, hence the in your face and jumping on you. If that is the case, you want to desensitize him to your running posture then he can learn the run cue then you can use it however you want.
If I learned anything on this forum it is take very tiny baby steps, teaching the cue with him by your side is not going to hinder you when you want him to do it on his own. example if you taught him to sit in front of you "sit" doesnt mean sit in front of me it means put your butt on the floor.

..thanks Connie! I feel like an idiot -it was a true (stupid!) NFL moment

..one of the doctors said, "...get a little dog next time.." -uhh..torn ACL, ruptured MCL, hairline fracture -the dog is fine -LOL!!