Lunge line walking *cries*

M

MollyMoomin

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Leeds, West Yorkshire
www.petandanimalfeeds.co.uk
Tell me it's worth it. *criesharder*

Background; Herman is a 11 month old Weimer (he'll be a year on 13th April) and we've been having 'issues' with his recall. Clicker training has worked wonders off lead when there are no dogs around, so I decided this morning was the time to try on a lunge line on the Chevin - a big forest park near where we live, absolutely covered in dog walkers/riders/runners.... [NB, he is good with other dogs, I swear on my life he wants to play, but a stupid big dog gallopping at you/your dog is rude and intimidating.]

Anyway. Firstly I managed to drop the bloody thing and he took off. Thankfully no other dogs AND he recalled straight away - click treat. 'ooohhhh. We're playing THAT game' he thought, and so he went through his range of tricks that he's been made to do for clicks/treats. So he sat. Then he went down. Then he looked at his bum (we're working up to roll over). Then he sat back up and waved at me. Then offered his paw for a shake. Something we've been teaching him is boxing - that came next and when all that failed, he did cuddles. Which is where he jumps into my arms. For this trick I need to be aware that he's about to do it and actually have asked for it. As I had done neither, he sent the pair of us flying. It rained a LOT here last night.

Never mind, no one saw. (I checked!) So we carried on. Lunge line loose, puppy recalled, puppy came, puppy treated. All good. Treats thrown about for puppy to sniff and generally not found *rubbishgundog*

Practised walking to heel and a few downs. Let him off for 10 minutes (could see on the path quite far ahead, no dogs) and he was really good - although to be fair, I don't think he realised he was off lead. Put him back on for the hilly bit (a bit narrow and at the top is the junction to 3 bridleways and you can't see too far ahead). Told him to run on - as am trying to teach him the commands which allow him to run on and when he has to stay close - and walked off with him. Sadly, I put my foot on the moving lungeline. Yup, ended up on my arse again. Do you think the horrid creature came back to see if I was alright? *cross* So gathered it all up again, got the puppy back, treated him and sent him off again. Called him back, not realising the line was caught up in a HUGE branch. Neither did the puppy till he ran back then got the fright of his life when he realised a tree was chasing him. Puppy RAN. I did not. My bottom is going to be rather bruised tonight.

By this point the lunge line is wet, covered in gravel and heavy. See a horse coming towards us and get him close. He is not concerned by horse in the slightest until the rider started trotting. But he stayed close and didn't bark. Did get a bit tiptoey but didn't jump up either. So pleased with him for that. He has no horse sense at all and as the dogs on my yard aren't the friendliest he doesn't go up that often to get used to them. And mine is not a fan of dogs.

Anyway, he stays on the lunge line, he recalls, he sits, he goes down, he runs about a bit, he is generally a Good Boy.

And do you think we saw any other bloody dogs? Did we hell. I am stiff already!

(I am rubbish at remaining upright though - I am partially deaf in one ear and my balance is appalling. This is why I can't ride either LOL)

If I thought I could be confident of seeing another dog before him, I'd just take him up there off the lead and put him back on if I saw anyone, but chances are, he'd see them before me.
 
Oh that post has made me giggle :D Especially being unaware of cuddles commencing :p

Anyway...on a more constructive note: it will get better! And I don't think today was a complete disaster (your bum might think otherwise!) Puppy sounds like he had fun - he DID come back, you didn't lose him for 45 mins with long rein attached (been there) and he coped well with the horse. All good! It's all about building on positive experiences so just keep going!

You just need some decent weather...and to not end up on your bum! Meeting with other dogs will come, but you sound like you've got a good foundation to work on...and excellent for a Weimy, all the ones I've ever known have had NO recall whatsoever! :D
 
I think I'd be feeling slightly less bitter if we'd actually seen some other dogs LOL.

He's now BORED and has too much energy to go to sleep which is what he normally does, so have filled up his twister game and buried treats about the office. Obviously he is ignoring all those for an empty plastic bottle.

The most irritating noise in the WORLD is a dog playing with a plastic bottle. I actually can't hear myself think.

(I am pleased with him, less so with myself, I was grumpy and miserable - ropeburns, should have learnt about them from the horse -by the time we got back so he probably didn't get enough fuss and clever boys as he should have done. Tomorrow, however, we're off to the Father in Laws arable fields. The dog needs to run before I go demented!)
 
Dog + plastic bottle = nails on a ruddy big chalkboard! :D Deepest sympathy!

Mine has taken one look outside and has attached herself to the radiator and will not be shifted! There's a strong possibility she's melted to it... :o How do I explain that one to the vet?! :D
 
With lots of sympathy and with compliments on your ability to retell in a amusing way, I can only say that as with most dog training, it involves some owner training too, though sadly not always the sort of training we had intended...

5_second_hug_by_Droneguard.gif
:D
 
Lmao! This post made me giggle lots! Poor you! Well done Herman for your flawless attempts at being a good boy! :D x
 
The dog is asleep! Only taken 6 hours....

I can't move. I was meant to be riding tonight. Do you think because I fell 3 times on the walk, that's it, I'm ok for falls now or do you think the horse will ditch me too? LOL

Tomorrow he's going for a run offlead to the fields, then we might try again on Friday. Thought my bum was padded enough, but think it just made me fall harder and faster!
 
It can be a nightmare!
In attempts to teach useless sheepdog Nap to be able to be a proper dog took him out on long line.
It is my advice that you walk dog on long line whilst trailing on floor when OH has just muck spreaded the field, result = V. DIRTY LEAD when you have to pick it up again.
More advce is to throw ball for dog whilst lead is trailing daydreaming, lead wrapped round ankle and floored me very quickly onto lovely muck. Also did the customary look around, did anyone see?
New successes with the long rein is Winston the puppy removes long line from Nap, dog realises, buggers off. Or puppy leads dog around with it. Nap loks rather un impressed
 
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