So I've been doing pretty good with getting Hercules to walk nice on a leash. We still usually use the prong on the walk for those "just in case" situations (we've encountered a couple of loose dogs). Every now and then I try out the flat collar and he's doing pretty good.
I have employed the technique of stop, don't say anything and wait for the dog to return to you. I then praise when the dog returns and immediately start moving forward. Hercules seems to get it for the most part.
Now I was hoping to help my cousins dog, Murphy. She pulls much worse than my dog ever did. I convinced my cousin to get a prong collar and it's helped slow Murphy down, but wouldn't you know this big lab was still pulling a little while on the prong!? Here's the part that has thrown me off. When she does this I completely stop. She waits, wonders whats goin on then after a minue or so she sits down. Murphy never returns to me, but will just sit there and wait.
I know this is not the same as returning to the dog walkers side (I was walking her yesterday) but she is sitting nicely out in front of me. Does this qualify as the same thing? If it's not the same thing, how long do I wait - or do I have to simply outwait her until she returns to my side? Maybe I should have started out in the driveway instead of being so ambitious for a full blown walk.
