-
Using YOUR Rump!?! – Video Demo
Here’s another “trick” for gaining leash handling strength and balance when you need it. I don’t use this one often, but when you’ve got a “beast” ????on the other end of the leash, it’s great! ????????
1:42
-
10 Replies
-
This is a great tip! I am constantly workshopping my walkers on leash handling and using their bodies. I currently have a bit of a challenge:
A family that has 4 Dobies (and 16 birds). The two older walk together and I am target training them. The younger (8 mos and 1.5 yrs) are trained by the breeder using “Yes Ma’am training, which I can’t quite figure out), but not trained at all to be in the world. I am working with them long line, target training, reactivity, working on clicker training separately, but I do want to get them moving outside of the training exercises and neither one of their owners can walk them. What are your suggestions for walking two dogs that tend to pull and have very short attention spans and keeping your head in a good place?
-
That is a challenging situation for sure. What kinds of gentle harnesses or halters have they tried yet, if any?
-
We transitioned from choke chains on all to a 2 Hounds front and back clip harness and we are waiting for a second harness for the older of the two.
The Owners are very open to suggestions. I am working them through a loose leash protocol and the owners can’t walk the dogs due to physical limitations. They are not confusing the training, but my walks ( twice daily during the week) are their only exercise outside of a deck and small yard out back. (Another factor: they are way under stimulated in terms of physical activity and being in a changing or natural environment so they are very distracted outside.)
-
@Jenny Are you walking/training the two younger ones at the same time? That would be a handful! Would it be possible for the owners to play with the dogs one at a time with a flirt pole to burn off some energy? Or retrieving?
-
I am working on training one at a time but am trying to get at least a little walking in together. I will definitely suggest a flirt pole! There is not a lot of room for retrieving as the whole downstairs area aside from the dining room and office is full of bird cages.
-
Sounds like a challenging environment! I think you’re on the right track with clicker training, too – shaping games can be really fun and mentally stimulating. These are working dogs and need jobs! Teach them to load the laundry, pick up their own toys, low-energy tricks like playing Dober-dog hopscotch (I just made that up – 3 down-stays and one jumping over… then that one lies down and the next one goes over the three…. lol – ONLY if they all get along!)
-
I bought 4 buckets and have agility targets, so now that I have taught them “No Mugging” and can dispense treats by name, I am going to target train them two at a time to a color on a bucket and then use that as a way to manage their transitions. Also make some fun games with the targets since we have limited space!
-
OMD – BRILLIANCE!!! Would it be too much to BEG for video of this in progress!?? We’d love it! (You’d have to get permission, of course!) @Jenny
-
-
-
Good info, Jenny, it is great to hear that they are open to suggestions and switching off of harsh collars. Good for them and the dogs! It sounds like you are doing a great job with a situation that has a number of challenging factors and limitations. As trainers we can never make it perfect, but clearly you are only helping them to make everything better and that counts for a lot.
-
-
-
-
Thank you for demonstrating this technique @david! I’ve called it the Emergency Break when working with shelter dogs. Sometimes the handler just needs that break to refocus while walking a powerful puller.
I’d love to hear your Pancake story. The most dedicated and skilled puller I ever worked with was a HUGE white Malamute/German Shepherd mix who was very well named as Yeti!
Log in to reply.