Help with getting terriorists to WAIT!

[Ranyhyn]

Every morning when I take the dogs to check the horses, we run into two issues: both caused by the same root problem I think - over excitement!

I have to come out of a big heavy gate on my back garden and then cross a tiny access lane and then again through a heavy access gate onto the farm.

By the time I am at the first gate the screaming begins and because the gate is heavy the waiting and postponement of the run is just far too much and my two totally switch off.

I tried treats to get them to sit and wait, in fairness this kind of works with Roly - he will sit and wait while I open the gate but Lil well... she just spits it out! Once Roly has eaten his treat he then just resumes his bolt out to the field!!!

When I do eventually get into the farm, the first port of attack is the chicken house. Entirely my fault - I let them rat hunt under the coop once and now mass hysteria has ensued...

The second is the sheep - they aren't chasing them to attack - they are just running with sheer excitement through the sheep - but of course frightenning the living daylights out of the ewes - as soon as that initial blast is done, they ignore the sheep entirely. But obviously it needs to be sorted.

Chicken safety netting was due to be hooked up to electric anyway so Im pretty sure that problem will sort itself out

But how do I sort the issue out effectively please? As my treat and wait scenario. As a guide:

1) Food is hit and miss
2) Toys spark ridiculous chase-me-chase-me behaviour from Roly, so not a good idea
3) The lane we cross IS in use, so cant always rely on being able to fart around there


As you can imagine the retriever is disgusted by the whole scenario...

Hope that wasn't too bitty - wanted to get all the info in!

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

I Would stick both on the lead and take them to the gate, get their attention by asking for sit and wait, open the gate, if shrieking begins shut gate and tell to sit and wait. Repeat, until you have quiet. If they get excited when through the gate, then take them back to the beginning.

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

Forgot to add, if you've made it through the gate successfully (i.e with some decorum!) don't let them off if excitable, only let one off at a time and don't let them off in the same place repeatedly. C

 

[Ranyhyn]

Thanks BS - only problem is, I need two hands and all my body weight to open the bloody gate!

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

Tie them to the gate and just keep opening and shutting until they are civilised or replace the gate with a lighter model!

 

[CorvusCorax]

As BS says, sit and wait and they do not get what they want until you get the behaviour you want. You can do this in the house as well. If the gate is an issue, get a walkybelt thing and some carabiners and clip them to you, this will also give you the strength advantage.
If treats are not doing the trick, don't feed them or give them a half ration before they go out.