Quote: Jennifer Lee

If a correction causes him to shut down, then it is too high of a level.
Unless they are just out of control, or jumping, stealing food etc it is better to look for alternatives to a correction with a dog this sensitive.

I get the off-and-on sense that you (Simon) are maybe focusing more than necessary on corrections. I'm not a never-correct trainer at all, but it sounds like this dog is very handler-sensitive and anxious too and also being corrected for fearful behavior -- not a productive combo.

The strong, in-charge pack leader is someone standing up tall, pretty much ignoring the dog, walking along purposefully, and being accompanied very willingly by the dog, who trusts him and wants to follow him. I know this is not instant, but it's what your goal really is, much more than leash-popping the dog who is afraid to move.

Maybe not everyone will agree with this, but I'm kinda thinking for now that if your wife doesn't have that demeanor yet and the dog is afraid to continue walking away from home with her, maybe she could just do the potty run for a while and then make it HER decision to return immediately to home (where the dog wants to be).

You are doing better walking him, right? Some fear issues, but you're picking up the pace, etc.? Giving him less opportunity to gaze around fearfully and become anxious?

PS
Let's split the thread. Could you start a new thread about how the food consumption is now that the diarrhea is better?

 Quote: Simon Tai

... I'm all for positive praise and encouragement but I'm afraid to let him have his way all the time and establishing bad habits. So I'm constantly in the middle of picking whether to play caring caretaker vs firm pack leader and end up in many conundrums.

Well, I do understand this, but not walking without receiving a physical correction is a very bad habit.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: simon tai

... I'm all for positive praise and encouragement but I'm afraid to let him have his way all the time and establishing bad habits. So I'm constantly in the middle of picking whether to play caring caretaker vs firm pack leader and end up in many conundrums.

Well, I do understand this, but not walking without receiving a physical correction is a very bad habit.

You are probably right in saying that I am too focused on the corrections. I tend to ditch the encouragements if they're not working immediately and moving straight to corrections. My wife has told me the same and I'm seeing it myself now and am being more aware of it.

The pleasant encouragement/distraction ("clap/clap.. over here!") has worked on the walk last night (wife/me/Louie) and this morning (wife/Louie) in getting him to follow her/us when he tries to turn back in the direction of home. And we have picked up the pace on his walks (esp me) and that's helped at times too. Also incorporated the "let's go".

Part if not most of the walk is actually quite pleasant. Louie will walk besides us (relaxed ears flapping) and there's no pulling. We praise ("good boy" "nice") and everything is fine. This is obviously ideal!

And then there are times when he will go ahead of us although not pulling on leash and if he does pull we use "slow" and pop if he puts his head down and bulls forward and he usually eases up/stops for us to catch up.

It's the times when he's pulling with all his might (usually ears pinned back) when we're walking that I have trouble discerning what my proper response should be. I've tried stopping in place and that turns into a stop and go trip for the rest of the walk (not pleasant for anybody). And I've tried popping the collars, sometimes he'll stop but more often he'll continue trying to bull forward (again not pleasant for anyone esp the dog).

How do we get it so it's always the first case (walking besides us)? Is the 2nd case (walking in front but not pulling) good enough too or is that somehow encouraging him to move into 3rd case (contiously pulling leash)?

I like what you said about the firm pack leader behavior/attitude. Will have my wife read that.

On a somewhat related note, on our late night walk yesterday, we found a dog park (empty at the time) close to our usually route and let him off leash in there while we ran around with him for awhile. Good idea? Should we put a long line on him in that situation or is off leash ok?

You could try changing direction when he starts pulling like crazy. This means you might walk in circles a little bit or not actually get anywhere on your walk, but it might help solve the problem without having to resort to leash pops.


As to the dog park
does he come when you call him?

Is there any chance he could escape?

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

You could try changing direction when he starts pulling like crazy. This means you might walk in circles a little bit or not actually get anywhere on your walk, but it might help solve the problem without having to resort to leash pops.


As to the dog park
does he come when you call him?

Is there any chance he could escape?

I will try the change in direction on the walks and see if that helps.

If I'm running with him he'll come with/to me, but if I'm on one end and call out to him on the other end he doesn't come all the time. And there's no way he can escape. The area is gated in securely. Next time I'll bring a chuck it ball and see if he's interested in that in that setting. (not interested in it at home)

You could try dragging a ball on a rope instead of throwing it, that might be less threatening but still spark his prey drive.