Forget loose leash walking.... I've decided to teach my dog to pull, pull, pull! Okay, so I'm not going to let her pull all the time... and I do continue to expect a loose leash in many situations... but I am also working to perfect her pulling technique! Lately, I've been more and more drawn to activities that allow my dogs to do things that they really love to do. Nose work is one new pursuit that is bringing us all a lot of joy. I think that activity is what prompted me to allow my Australian Cattle Dog, Myrtle Mae, to pursue another of her passions... pulling!
To create clear contrast in expectations as well as for both of our comfort and safety, I purchased a pulling harness, a bungee attachment, and a skijoring hip belt. Ironically, the first time I got us all geared up and started jogging, for the first time in her life, Myrtle made no attempt to pull out ahead despite my brisk pace! No problem... I just held her close, threw a treat as far as I could, then said "pull!" and released her. Viola! My dog pulled! I had to repeat this several times before she got the idea... who knew it would take so much effort to teach a committed puller to do it when you WANT her to?!?!
Now I can take Myrtle for longer runs because she is helping to move me along, and she gets tired faster... because she is pulling some of my not insignificant weight! And the joy in her body when she is pulling (note: I can't see her face because she is ahead of me!) is wonderful to see. I also hope that this outlet for her desire to pull (as well as the increase in exercise it involves) will make it easier for her to walk nicely on leash in other situations. She really does try, but she is a young and energetic dog with more zest for life than can easily be expressed within the radius of a 6 foot leash! Oh, and another nice bonus: with slight verbal encouragement, Myrtle will continue running by even when dogs are at a fence barking at her. Although she has improved greatly in the year we have been together, Myrtle is reactive to other dogs and worries quite a bit about nasty sounding dogs that she can't see. With a fun and doggy-type job to focus on, Myrtle finds it easier to ignore things that upset her. It is easier for her to stay on a nose work search or keep pulling me when other dogs are around than it is for her to focus on even fun "training games" such as targeting my hand or even "find it" with food on the ground.
So, why not forget the loose leash walking/heeling for a while and really focus on teaching your dog to pull! Make sure you and your dog start working at a level that is safe for both of your fitness levels, that you use the right equipment, and that you practice in safe locations (your dog IS running barefoot!)... and then start having fun!
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AMEN!!
Excellent article. When do we get video of this?
The most common cause of pulling that I see is not enough walking. And people don't walk, because they think they can't let the dogs pull. Catch-22!
The pulling harness is a great way to allow pulling, without damaging the dog, but a traditional flat collar that is large enough to fit low on the neck can work just as well. A collar that is placed too high will cause coughing, a sign of potential trachea damage.
People with shoulder, back, or neck injuries should NOT use a belt or leash tied to their waist, nor should they allow the dog to lunge or pull if they hold the leash by the handle. For these people, multiple tools & leashes may be necessary to keep all the critters in the equation safe, comfy, and happy.
RE: pulling
We put pull on cue with our last dog, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (mix). The purebreds were bred to pull. Soe when we were huffinf and puffing up the hill, we'd just say "Luna, show me the way to go home" and she'd take the leash in her mouth, arch her back and with tail wagging madly, she'd pull me up the hill to our house. Other than that, she was pretty boring on the leash. ;-)
Great Thinking!
I sometimes suggest to my students to do just that - teach their dogs to pull on cue, then I figure it is easier to teach nice leadwalking as it's the contrasting behaviour. BUT I think it's important to have some basic rules such as always use a different harness and lead when allowing the pulling to when expecting relaxed leadwalking.
You could argue that the principle is the same as when one wants to teach a quiet cue, some techniques require that we teach a dog to bark on cue first. Simples. :D
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David Gripenstam
Hund & Husdjur (Sweden)
www.hundochhusdjur.se
makes me want to leave the office right now!
What a great idea--sometimes I get so concerned about walking with a loose leash that I forget all the natural things my dog wants to do. She loves to direct me around with her nose taking me to all sorts of interesting things (sometimes really interesting, and sometimes just downright gross). Why not give her an outlet for her to do what comes naturally--and also balance that with the things I would like her to do.
Jason and Maggie
http://therapydogblog.blogspot.com/
all i can say is dog powered scooter, anyone?
has anyone tried something like this with young, strong, healthy pullers? i am tempted.... http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com/
Dryland Mushing
There are lots of dryland mushing disciplines available that are well suited to teams of one or two dogs (a one dog teams consists of the dog and his or her musher). Canicross (running with the dog on a skijoring rig), skijoring, bikejoring, scootering, and even skatjoring (with a skateboard or roller skates) come to mind. There are also some very nice wheeled rigs available on the market for those who wish to add a few more dogs to the gang line.
You can get a lot of good information on dryland mushing options, as well as traditional mushing on snow, at the Sled Dog Central website, www.sleddogcentral.com.
Swanny & The Stardancer Historical Sled Dogs
A good dog is so much a nobler beast than an indifferent man that one sometimes gladly exchanges the society of one for that of the other. William Francis Butler
dogs pulling
The nice think about dogs pulling in a pulling harness is they can learn the difference from the pulling harness and collar/leash work. So if a sled dog can learn to walk on a loose leash so can the everyday pet learn to walk on a loose leash but also have an outlet to pull.
It is addicting though--scootering, bikejoring, dog sledding.
Helen
www.prairieisledogtrekking.com