Skip to content

Any leash training tips?

Basenji Training
  • @Malik, I like your approach. Too often I see people out walking their dogs (or their child, for that matter) with their nose buried in their phone, paying no attention to the animal (or child!). You need to engage with your pup and build that bond. You might try teaching your pup to look into your eyes on your command. Easy to teach with a clicker, but can be done without. Use whatever word you want once the behaviour is established. I used "eyes", but whatever. Some obedience trainers spit treats at their dog to get them to look at them, which I think is ridiculous unless you want the dog focused on your mouth, not your eyes! (not to mention it's the wrong message and can be dangerous if the dog gets to think what is in your mouth belongs to them!).

    Staying "present" with your dog is so important!

  • @malik said in Any leash training tips?:

    Great Job Malik! Perfect!

  • Anything along the lines suggested by Malik or eeefarm. I'll just add that treats can be useful as well.

    However, you're right that at four months your pup needs to explore. Twigs, sprinklers, clumps of grass are all new an exciting. So at this point you may not want to overly focus on how they walk on a leash.

  • @malik This is awesome I love it!! I'll definitely try these methods out, I have a feeling the search game will be her new favorite!

  • This post is deleted!
  • @tanza said in Any leash training tips?:

    And in fact note that many will say "my dog is friendly" when in fact the owner has no clue that their dog is invading another dogs space on a lead...

    Dogs on leads feel vulnerable and that is the time NOT to allow your dog to approach too closely, regardless of what the other owner says. We aren't even in a 'smaller community', elbrant, we are deep in the countryside. But we still try to avoid other people and other dogs. On the rare occasions we meet others out on the myriad public footpaths which abound around here - both or all dogs are grabbed or reined in and one party backs right off down a side trail if there is one, behind trees if there isn't. Or even just a discreet distance out onto the field.

    If one dog is on a lead and another free, the tethered dog will feel vulnerable and so the owner of the free dog has to control it NOT to approach too close. This is done with patient training - recall being to me one of the most important things a puppy should be taught. Mku (aout 17 - 18 weeks now) will brake and come back to a whistle (I can do that extremely piercingly). Sometimes he gets a treat and sometimes inordinate praise. He is always hopeful for the former !

    On the lead, going up through the village, he pulls, I stop. He stops, we go on. To drop the lead and stand on it - I might miss it and have him under a car in seconds ! My arm is quite strong enough to hold him - LOL

  • @zande said in Any leash training tips?:

    To drop the lead and stand on it - I might miss it and have him under a car in seconds

    The idea isn't to drop the lead, but (stop and) stand on a section of it between the leash handle and the dog collar. IMO, body weight trumps arm strength against a pulling dog. (Dog age, size and breed makes a difference.)


    @zande said in Any leash training tips?:

    Dogs on leads feel vulnerable

    True, I've noticed this myself. A tight leash-hold is a clear indication that the other dog owner/walker is not interested in any interaction. I use a "leave it" command which I use for things like trash, (other) dogs solids, or dogs that I want her to pass by and ignore.


    @tanza said in Any leash training tips?:

    many will say "my dog is friendly" when in fact the owner has no clue

    LOL, too true!

  • @malik said in Any leash training tips?:
    It sounds as if we both have the same walk philosophy. It is HER walk, for her enjoyment, so as long as she is not in danger, I let her sniff and check out what ever she wants. she loves it and never wants the walk to end. My dog too loves to watch for other people or animals coming and will "freeze" up to where I cannot budge her! Usually I can stop and pet her a little and she will then start moving again, But I have had to pick her up and carry her twice because she just would not move. I love this idea "We also have a game where I say "search" and throw a treat on the ground. It's great, because the treat bounces and she loves to chase it" and Iplan to do this with her.

  • @malik said in Any leash training tips?:

    I've also done a lot of additional training at home. Impulse control is important. Not eating before your say so, place treats on the floor etc. On walks, I often stop her and ask for her to sit and to give paw etc. We also have a game where I say "search" and throw a treat on the ground. It's great, because the treat bounces and she loves to chase it with her eyes or nose.

    If I was doing this with a dog I would not use anything edible, but something she can "find" and trade for a treat. Maybe a toy the dog likes, or something along that line. Dogs are natural scavengers and will gobble up most anything (edible or not!) that they find on the ground. Personally I want to discourage, not encourage, that behaviour. Dogs can and do sniff and ingest things that make them ill. The owner may not even realize that something encountered on a walk is what is making the dog sick. I do like the idea of playing games with the dog, but I would want to be sure the games are safe. For the same reason I have a problem with people allowing unlimited sniffing around. Before you know it, the dog is eating something it shouldn't. If you want to let your dog sniff, please be very observant and ready to intervene if the situation becomes unsafe. You do not want your dog sniffing other dogs' feces. It's a good way for them to pick up something nasty that may cost you a trip to the vet, or worse!

  • This post is deleted!
  • @malik said in Any leash training tips?:

    so she isn't able to sniff around where I can't see.

    Honestly, "doodle's" nose is becoming legendary. I'll think she's smelling the bush (or urine on it) and she'll come out with a bagel in her mouth! (yes, this actually happened!) I have learned that she can find all manner of things that are clearly obvious to her nose and undetectable to my eyes. If your pup is intent on what she's smelling, there's a reason for it.

  • This post is deleted!

Suggested Topics

  • Crate training

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    ZandeZ
    Exactly as it should be ! Happiness well deserved :grinning_face:
  • Training Question

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    elbrantE
    Just a suggestion: When you see him "misbehaving" by chewing on 'less than ideal' items, offer him one of his toys and use the word "trade". In other words, 'chew on this instead', and when he accepts the toy - praise him. And when you see him get the toy on his own, praise him again. It could help him understand that certain toys are just for those times when you want to "rip someone's head off*". (*not meant literally, only in doggy world play)
  • Recall training

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    Shaye's MomS
    I also have a Verizon air card USB - the video may use it all up. Also, instead of using the laptop with the air card, I used my home computer to call it up and found you have to subscribe to something in order to watch - it's my policy not to do that. So, even though the video may be great, you do have to sign up with something to do so.
  • Off leash??

    Basenji Training
    46
    0 Votes
    46 Posts
    36k Views
    LindaHL
    We were very selective with the places we let Maxx off lead. We own acreage south of Phoenix, Arizona that is 5 miles from any main road, and requires traveling nothing much more than a goat trail for the last mile or two. We used to go out there and let Maxx off lead. He was very good about staying close…he'd stop occasionally and look around to make sure he could still see us. He was also good about coming back to us when we called him. We found another place on the Oregon Coast where there as a very deep beach far from a road, and since it was after Labor Day, the beach was empty of people. He had a ball chasing sea gulls...that is, until he finally figured out he'd never be able to catch any! Again, he was good about coming back when called.
  • Show Training

    Basenji Training
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    Have you tried to contact anyone in the Tucson Kennel Club? http://www.azdogs.com/tkc/ They don't have much of a website, but do have email addys for the President and Secretary. There are likely other kennel clubs in the area also
  • Puppy training tips…

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    7k Views
    firefoxkatanF
    @Mantis: when Cairo cries in his kennel ( in there with Caesar) it means he has to go to the bathroom….i have found that immediate potty once out of the kennel is a great way to help with the potty training.... yes I take her out after sleeping in the crate and when ever she has a nap it helps ~Kat