Playing Reward Training Walk & Sit

I've got a GSD here for some retraining. I had the owner take the pinch collar home and pick up a flat buckle collar for her. She couldn't care less about food rewards, but loves praise. Not having seen the video until just now, I did a variation of this technique to stop her incessant pulling. Every time she started to pull, I'd stop, wait for her to turn her attention to me, praise, then start walking again. Within a half mile walk, she was very, very much improved. Our next session I'm going to use the technique I'm seeing here, go back to square one and start with one giant step. I've been training dogs for many years, and even though I have lots of tricks in my bag, I'm always looking for new ones. How funny that this video showed up just at the very moment I needed it!

Amy Samida
Naughty Dog Cafe
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-929-9977
www.naughtydogcafe.com

Brilliant! It works wonders it does!

Claudia Estanislau - Faro - Portugal
http://www.itsallaboutdogs.net

I agree, you're technique is absolutely brilliant.  I love it!  I have a 5 yr old Lakeland Terrier who is very focussed on other dogs when they come into his view.  He will whine and vibrate the whole time the other dog is within his sight.  I generally will walk the other way with him dragging behind me.  Is it in my best interest to work on the reactivity first before I can expect him to walk nicely on a loose leash? 

I ask this because I started experimenting with your method just 2 days ago inside the house and on my back patio...wow I couldn't believe that my little guy was actually doing what you predicted.  He would look ahead and walk quickly as my speed increased and look at me as I slowed and when I stopped he would sit.  I was thrilled.  Never before have I had this type of response.  Today when I got home from work I immediately loaded up with treats and leashed him up and we once again practiced in the house.  We reached the back door and then I ended the training session early because there was a very unhappy vocal dog behind us who was tied to his patio while his owner worked in their yard.  It was very loud and distracting and Gus stopped offering me the sit or any attention at all the closer we got to the back door.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jackie