SamSpade
Well-Known Member
I've watched enough episodes of The Dog Whisperer to get the basic idea that just like walking is recognized as basically good exercise, walking your dog is basically good simple training for your dog.
I've finally come to set up some kind of routine for dog walking that fits with my schedule. It seems strange sometimes to me that I spend time with them, bring them with me on most yard work and errands, and they have all the time in the world to do their business in our big back yard - but the biggest purpose in walking them has little to do with them finding a place to eliminate or spend time with me. So far, the major benefit has been to teach them to obey me, bond with me and follow my lead. I'm hoping a major benefit also will be to expose them to other people and things, because outside of our friends that they know, they tend to jump, bark, growl or otherwise act up when they see something new or meet someone they're unfamiliar with. I can only think this is because they spend most of their days in our back yard with only each other. I have to hope that the more often they see other dogs, the less likely they will want to attack them. I'm also trying to teach them to halt when they see a car, because at the moment, they have ZERO fear of them.
And the two of them couldn't be more different. So far, I walk them separately, since I haven't found that they can be controlled at the same time. One is a bit of a dragger, and the other a lagger - and they cavort and play too much together. I'm surprised at how much Jingle, the female, is being a good dog while walking. Most walks, she stays right at heel position, stops when I stop, and walks patiently next to me. Last night she got all unwound by a neighbor dog barking at her. I could tell from the sound of the bark that this dog was probably half of Jingle's size, but she would have none of it. The rest of the walk, the "good dog" went away. Jangle is another matter - he's now almost 70 pounds and much bigger than his sister. Were he much bigger, and I've have a hell of a time controlling him. He drags almost all the time.
I'm hoping someone will have some helpful advice with the dragging bit. Right now, he pulls so much it's hard to signal to him with a tug that he needs to calm down. There's no chance he will get away - I am much stronger than he is. But I don't know how to convince him other than voice commands and tugs that he needs to stop pulling.
I think it would be great to be able to walk them both at the same time, but until I can calm HIM down, there's little likelihood this will work. Anyone have ideas? Someone who walks more than one dog at a time?
I've finally come to set up some kind of routine for dog walking that fits with my schedule. It seems strange sometimes to me that I spend time with them, bring them with me on most yard work and errands, and they have all the time in the world to do their business in our big back yard - but the biggest purpose in walking them has little to do with them finding a place to eliminate or spend time with me. So far, the major benefit has been to teach them to obey me, bond with me and follow my lead. I'm hoping a major benefit also will be to expose them to other people and things, because outside of our friends that they know, they tend to jump, bark, growl or otherwise act up when they see something new or meet someone they're unfamiliar with. I can only think this is because they spend most of their days in our back yard with only each other. I have to hope that the more often they see other dogs, the less likely they will want to attack them. I'm also trying to teach them to halt when they see a car, because at the moment, they have ZERO fear of them.
And the two of them couldn't be more different. So far, I walk them separately, since I haven't found that they can be controlled at the same time. One is a bit of a dragger, and the other a lagger - and they cavort and play too much together. I'm surprised at how much Jingle, the female, is being a good dog while walking. Most walks, she stays right at heel position, stops when I stop, and walks patiently next to me. Last night she got all unwound by a neighbor dog barking at her. I could tell from the sound of the bark that this dog was probably half of Jingle's size, but she would have none of it. The rest of the walk, the "good dog" went away. Jangle is another matter - he's now almost 70 pounds and much bigger than his sister. Were he much bigger, and I've have a hell of a time controlling him. He drags almost all the time.
I'm hoping someone will have some helpful advice with the dragging bit. Right now, he pulls so much it's hard to signal to him with a tug that he needs to calm down. There's no chance he will get away - I am much stronger than he is. But I don't know how to convince him other than voice commands and tugs that he needs to stop pulling.
I think it would be great to be able to walk them both at the same time, but until I can calm HIM down, there's little likelihood this will work. Anyone have ideas? Someone who walks more than one dog at a time?
