Training - how not to!

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
Joined
17 August 2005
Messages
28,980
Location
Devon
Visit site
I'm sure lots of you think I am brutal with my dogs but I must say none of the current lot have ever been whacked, bar the pups bum when it is sticking out of a hen house while she hoovers.
A friend came over today with her lab, who is the same age and related to mine. The pups (10 months) were excited so not heeling very well. She was letting hers range ahead on the lead then pulling back so hard it flew through the air to hit the ground behind her, while yelling heel. Did it several times, which made no difference at all to the pups behaviour. My 3 were petrified. However you feel about physical training it seemed amazing to me that an intelligent well educated person never thought - 'hey, this isn't working. lets try something else.'
Poor pup.
 
I think you did very well not to take the poor little guy away to be honest. That's not about training, that's about working her own frustration out on the dog.

I'm no fluffy, I will smack if mine ignore previous warnings or if it's a life threatening issue (escaping, chasing into the road) - I very rarely have to, to be honest - but this is cruel and has nothing to do with correcting a behaviour you don't want. If I'd been there as a stranger seeing this, I'd have been rude to her!
 
Last edited:
This makes me incredibly sad, as this is effectively positive punishment, and rather than setting the pup up for success so they get it right, let them get it wrong and punish them for the wrong behaviour. I would be desperate to take the pup home with me!
 
Regardless of the methods used, taking your pup, who doesn't know what 'heel' means, for an exciting walk with a pack of other dogs in a new place, is a great opportunity to teach him what 'heel' means, backwards *slow handclap*
 
So true, CC. Mine still stays with me and doesn't pull but does walk slightly in front of the leg and I ignore that as long as she is being generally good. That may be wrong but I do like to set them up to get it right.
When teaching heel I pat my thigh or hold my hand palm towards them so they can see it. A flat hand so they can see the palm is always 'stop' or 'pay attention' here.
I wish they hadn't got the pup - they moan like mad how much exercise it needs and it is in a cage 24/7 unless being walked or taken to the garden to pee. I did tell them they could always rehome her, she is well bred.
 
For me, 'heel' is a formal command which takes a long time to train, IE, your right shoulder to my left knee, stare straight up into my armpit no matter what the distraction, automatic sit when we stop, eventually no handler help (no eye contact, no hand signal etc) and it isn't something I ask for when out on a walk.
For walking on a loose lead, that's a social thing, I use 'follow' or similar and I train it quite simply, if you pull, I stop and we go nowhere. That is a lot quicker to train!!!
 
That is a good way of looking at it, as two seperate things. Off lead mine heel well, we rarely go on a lead anyway, unless going to the vets! I think they pay more attention to where you are when you aren't holding the lead, and I would expect their nose to be level with my knee.
Would also expect sit on stopping (well, not the lurcher, maybe!).
Of course you have a GSD so he is probably big enough to be level with your armpit!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top