Embarrassed, annoyed and fed up

[Honey08]

I can't count the number of times that I have stopped out hacking to let excited young dogs have a look at my horse because both of our dogs arrived with us as one year old rescues, and both of them went crazy the first time they saw horses, so I can empathise with people who have dogs that haven't seen horses!

Yes it is the dog owner's responsibility to control their dog, but accidents happen, and I think its rude to trot past people with dogs anyway. If my horse kicked a dog I would ask how it was too, even if not my fault!

 

[jendie]

Surely this is just one of those things. ***** happens. Thankfully you were all OK. A word of warning on those long leads though....the lines can do terrible damage when they get caught around anything. My friend ended up with multiple stitches and was left with nasty scars around her legs after being tangled up by the dog she was desperately trying to control. I think it would be safer to link two or three leads together and use those until the dog does a reliable recall.

 

[meandmyself]

Thanks. Sorry for snapping last night. I was feeling pretty crappy.

His long line is made from webbing - basically the same stuff leads are made from. I do take care with it though.

 

[Goldenstar]

Thanks. Sorry for snapping last night. I was feeling pretty crappy.

His long line is made from webbing - basically the same stuff leads are made from. I do take care with it though.

There's so need to say you are sorry , we had a good debate round the issues .
I hope the puppy gets better and remember I meanlt what I said in the pm if you change your mind.

 

[Oberon]

For training recall, I've found with my old rescue and also Salem (who I got as a pup).....I found it helpful to make sure the dog knows it's his job to keep an eye on me for direction.

On the lead, if Salem pulls, I stop. If he doesn't look at me quick enough or run back to my side, I start to walk backwards. When he comes back to my side I will walk on. They want to go on - they really don't like to go backwards, so it's a punishment for lack of focus and attention.

If his excited and full of himself, it may take me longer to get down the road - but it does work in 'switching them onto you'.

Off lead - I am in charge of where we go. He's not allowed to run ahead (even if he's going the way I want). If he starts to run on, I will turn and walk in the other direction or even hide behind something so when they do look they think, "Yikes, I'm lost" and come running to find you.

I will also do a silent recall where I will just stop and silently stand still until he returns to me - this is an extension of the lead exercise.

It all works on making sure they keep an eye on you. If their attention is only focused on doing doggy stuff - that's when they wander off. I can see Salem constantly looking back every 20 seconds or so to check on me.

Some days - if he's not really focusing, was slow to recall or he is being a bit of an arse - he will be lead walked only.

Salem is a husky/malamute/GSD cross BTW - so his prey drive is high .

 

[meandmyself]

Had him back to the beach this morning and he was really good. No horses about though .

Oberon, thanks.