Letting go of the lead
BY SIMON GOODALLHow has the training been going with your dogs?
Last time we worked on the "gentle" reminder idea and getting the trust with your dogs. Today we'll send shivers down your spines and cause whoops of delight. Yes, because today you're going to let go of the lead while walking.
Now for a lot of you this is the first time you'll ever do this but, all going well, it won't be the last. I think I'll also add a disclaimer of all care and no responsibility! Anyway, hopefully you've been working on the table tennis hand, which is a little tug to remind the dogs. We don't use chokers, don't recommend them and all round would prefer you to leave them at home.
When out walking today I want you to bring the dog right beside you and put the lead on the dog's back. Every time the dog goes slightly ahead of you, say "ahh" or "toothpaste"; all I'm saying is it's not the word that counts, it's the tone. Put your finger inside the ring and use the table tennis hand. When the dog goes forward, try again. Try this for five minutes and see what happens. All going well your dog will learn to heed both your voice and your table tennis hand.
This is best tried when the dog is tired and there are no cats around because, let's face it, we are not miracle makers quite yet. We need some more time to try that out. What you're doing here is taking the first steps to having a fully trained off-lead dog.
Now when you do this your heart is likely to race; don't be afraid, you're not going to keel over. It's simply to be expected when doing this for the first time.
Let us know how you get on or if you're going to try it out. If you know of someone else who may be keen, make sure you flick them this blog and see if you can challenge them as well.
My words for the day: "Don't aim for the clouds, aim for the stars."
Simon Goodall is the director of Dog Guru, which has branches in the North Island and the South Island. Simon is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. On Facebook? Check out Dog Guru.
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Picture: Reuters
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I wonder if this should be encouraged in the first place Simon? I am aware that dogs need exercise, but after recently being attacked by 'one of the friendliest dogs in the neighbourhood', whilst they were off the leash (my dog wasn't,), is it really fair on other dog owners and general members of the public who don't like dogs, to have them running loose? They can be trained to heaven and back but at the end of the day they are still animals with instincts.
Instead I take my pup to a large enclosed area occasionally for a run, whether it be a dog park or mates well fenced paddock.
Can I just ask why you don't recommend slip chains/chokers?
The gundog breeder who taught me recommended using a metal link choke chain lead.
(Used properly - not as a torture device!)
A gently tug (make sure you put it on the dog teh right way up with the ring on the "bottom" of the loop - gravity should make the chain loose) of correction soon teaches them to walk at heel nicely.
The dogs learn to associate the sound of the links running with the correction - after a while you can walk them off lead with the chain in your pocket. If they start to wander or misbehave, just rattle the chain and they miraculously return to normal!
People should be aware of the dog bylaws where they live before trying this. In Wgtn, a dog must be on a leash unless in a designated dog off lead area.
Dogs should be able to be let off their leash if accompanied by an adult/owner. Just because a few bad owners (not the dogs themselves) have led to some dog attacks should not mean that all dogs should be punished. I find it amusing that we punish an entire species for a few bad seeds.
In most places, having your dog off leash is illegal, however I enver had problems letting my dog off leash, although she like me on a lead when people are around so she doesn't lose track of me. In fact she likes to run around both of us to tie us together and keep track of the pack:-)
Katie #7, it's not illeagal to walk your dog on the footpath off leash in Auckland (I don't know about other regions as I live in Auckland). However you have to carry a lead with you.
I hardly ever use a leash on my dog. It's called training them and letting them socialise with other dogs so they don't just run off every time they are let off.
Ed #4, my Mums dog is like that, she carries the chain becasue when he starts to be a fool (he's a 10 year old boxer, he still gets his "how far can I push" moments!) she gives the chain a light shake and he stops, and comes back to heel. I think a lot of people use them incorrectly, so they have now got a bad reputation, but in good hands they can be an excellent tool.
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I would have few qualms about trying this with my older dog - in fact in the last 6 months while we're at the off leash park she has tended to naturally walk along beside me anyway. At the tender age of 2 1/2 she's turned into a snobby old lady who doesn't want to run and play with other dogs anymore!
My 8 month old on the other hand I'm not so sure.... he's not really a morning dog and I have enough trouble getting him to sit before crossing the road - he just stares at me like I'm speaking a foreign language. So maybe we'll just try it with the girl to start with.