This is usually one of the key problems a client comes to me with: How can I stop my dog pulling on the lead? The solution for me right now is to stand still. I kept three puppies from Lupins final litter. No problem I thought with my dog listening skills. Hmmm… I do basically have a permanent potential puppy party.
I followed the dog listening method of teaching them to walk on a lead individually. Then we got to the point when it became practical to take them all for a walk together on the lead. We either go to the dog paddock which is 1 min across our yard or up onto the croft land which is 1 min through a gate at the side of our house. To get to these gates they all have to be on lead because of the rabbits and free range chickens who in the croft yard.
Herewith was the problem, three, now very strong Springer puppies, all on separate leads held by my one hand, arm, back, legs! Although they walked on a loose lead on their own TOGETHER the party was at full strength not a smiley lead in sight. In fact, three were at full stretch all going in different directions.
For awhile I thought lets just roll with it, its one minute on home turf. I just needed to get to the gate and then they could go off lead and run around. However, my 50+ year old body began to hurt and the puppies were getting stronger and more determined. Rosie started doing a very irritating high pitched bark. On several occasions I had to return home and leave her there to calm down. Clearly things were not getting better.
Doing stop start change direction wasn’t working like it did with one puppy because they were all going in different directions already! Then the penny dropped I just had to do the STOP and stand still.
I remembered doing this with Lupin in Seaview village standing for ages as she went from rearing and lunging, to tail wagging, ears dropping and calm stillness before I could step forward. What had muddled me now was that I was at home, these three puppies were traversing the same piece of home ground over and over again so surely they couldn’t find it stressful?
However, one worry from one of them and all three went bonkers. It was as if every day each chicken was a dinosaur! As a human I just couldn’t believe it. I was doing everything perfectly at home and they waited for me to step out of the front door first. Once out their world suddenly became overwhelming. One day it was so bad after we got inside I took Rosie back out on her own. Out she trotted on a loose lead, no screaming, no lunging just a sweet innocent puppy following my lead!
So we continue to do many hours of STOPPING, standing still together, waiting for everyone to calm down, because we will walk as a pack for the rest our lives. At home they are adorable together, off lead they are adorable together…its just confirmed for me how much dogs really do hate leads! Its reminded me that its not the distance its how to walk the walk that is important. A one minute walk took us 45 mins, two weeks on we are down to 10 mins but still a long way to go!
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