Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

1 lurker | 108 watchers

Helegant Jan 2018 2:33pm, 10 Jan 2018 5,414 posts	0 Helegant According to the trainer I should be in front of the dog anyway!
Chrisull Jan 2018 2:59pm, 10 Jan 2018 12,132 posts	0 Chrisull Yeah when I started, it was with others and he naturally chased them, and then when I went on my own, he continued that behaviour, but now I've not run with others for a while, and just went out with him for the first time in two weeks, and he just lost the inclination to be ahead, BUT if he was walking he would be ahead!
D2 Jan 2018 11:54am, 11 Jan 2018 10,263 posts	0 D2 Interesting Chris, I wonder whether he is just used to the competition and without it would just rather be with you? My dog is still young and therefore keen to race ahead whatever but is getting to understand left and right, I find it great fun and wish I were as fit as I used to be when I did this with previous dogs
Chrisull Jan 2018 12:02pm, 11 Jan 2018 12,135 posts	0 Chrisull That's the thing, when we're on our own walking, he loves to lead, although he does it in that haphazard sniff/wee/dart ahead kind of way. This morning I swear if he'd been running, he'd have been ok, but he does seem to need constant looks around to make sure I'm still there!
D2 Jan 2018 12:12pm, 11 Jan 2018 10,264 posts	0 D2 I suppose it just another skill they have to learn and need reassurance they are doing what we expect. I am trying to be clear with Indi the different types of behaviour I expect from him; Walking next to me on a loose short lead and concentrating on me mainly. Walking with sniffing and darting allowed on an extendable lead with a regular reference back to me/ "running" cani cross style out in front and not darting off for a sniff and pulling me over. I don't do off lead apart from at home on the farm but he and I are lucky that we have this facility for "mad running about" I remember a trainer telling me that you have to teach them to do the same thing in lots of different places too which I found really enlightening!
Mazlin Jan 2018 12:55pm, 11 Jan 2018 4,280 posts	0 Mazlin Rory’s very happy to run out in front, usually in a straight line but he’s not entirely reliable and occasionally does a dead stop/double back/change of direction. I don’t think he really knows I’m back there behind him. Have you done lots of heel or close walking practice since the last time you ran with him? Maybe he needs the reassurance that it’s OK to be in the lead? (Is that exactly what everyone else said?? I’m on my phone nd I can’t look back easily.)
Chrisull Jan 2018 2:15pm, 11 Jan 2018 12,136 posts	0 Chrisull Haven't really done any heel/close walking practice at all. He looks like he needs re-assurance, but any kind of "good boy" means he pays more attention looking back, and advice I've had is to be quiet unless he's going wrong most of the time.
D2 Jan 2018 2:40pm, 11 Jan 2018 10,265 posts	0 D2 I suggest more practice probably with others, he'll get the hang of what is wanted I'm sure.
BaronessBL Jan 2018 4:34pm, 11 Jan 2018 7,026 posts	0 BaronessBL Agree with D2 about training them to do the same thing in lots of different places - for example the village hall we took our bronze and silver tests at were not the same village hall that we had our classes in and we had to go there to practice as there was no guarantee our dogs would down/stay and so on in a different environment. Our instructor used a 'learning to drive ' analogy.. it doesn't matter if you learn to drive in Birmingham or Leeds - once you have passed your test you can drive but if dogs could drive they would have to be taught to drive in Birmingham but if they went to Leeds they would then have to be taught to drive all over again. Luckily they don't learn to drive anyway!
halfpint Jan 2018 9:39am, 13 Jan 2018 24,916 posts	0 halfpint shuffles in looking embarrassed Came home last might from canoe club to find a big pool of vomit in the hall. It looked bloody weird. Then QP found a tub of butter on the floor half eaten/licked. It got left on the kitchen table. His bed was full of sick this morning. Poor pup never made a peep. I'm assuming he will be fine now it's all out. He was very bouncy on his morning walk (as per).