Jumping/bouncing/playing during a walk

[LUVMYROTTNBOY]

Hi:

Im having trouble controlling Zeiss on his walks. I walk him every day, he has been through one training course , and we continue to train at home. I have to wait a month or so before I can consider the next level course.

Problem is he is starting to try and pull at his leash to play "tug of war"
when im trying to walk him. He also jumps up and lunges at people if or at me if he gets excited. I can stop this behavior on the walk once it has started. My problem is it keeps happening, and im not sure that he is understanding that its not a game.

I trained him using a flat collar, he walks fine under normal conditions. If he gets excited, or a person runs/walks past, he starts the playing and jumping. I just wonder If I should switch him over to a choke collar. Im sure I could get him to stop his games a bit quicker with that , but do you think it would help him learn that its wrong?

He did not get his walk today, because he jumped up on me, and I got covered in mud, I had to go back inside and clean up before taking off to work.

I know this is a training issue, he needs to learn to listen to me, we have had him since he was 5mo old, he is 9mo old now. He listens to me very well under most circuimstances, but we are still trying to get him to obey all the time not 80% of the time.

Oh, I get him to stop by putting him in a sit or down position, after that he gets back up and we are off with no trouble. until he gets excited again.

I guess I just feel bad that I have to resort to using a choker or a pincher collar on him, he does so well most of the time. He is large enough now that people are cautious of him, and I dont like having to deal with his outbursts with a crowd of people watching.

[RWMURMANN]

What you need to do is get him a pinch collar the ones with the prongs. I know they look mean and hurtful but they work they do not stab the dog in the neck the pinch like if their mother was giving them a nip. To teach you dog what you do not want him to do, give a quick tug on the leash and give a sharp and deep NO. then praise him when he stops. He will learn fast. You never want to use a choker collar they are very bad for the larynx.

[softpawspc]

I agree. One tug with a pinch collar and he will stop the lunging and jumping. They are not as hurtful as they look. RWMURMANN I would like to know where you got the info on the choke collars. Just for my own reading. I like the choke collar. I have never had problems with them but that doesn't mean that there are no precautions so I'd like to read about them.

[Judi W]

Before any recommendations at all, how old is this dog?

[bacca]

Before you go out a get and pinch and if you don't know how to use it you can cause more damage than good. get yourself a gentle leader.

Find someone who will teach you how to use it

[Dante's Dad]

We started Dante with a gentle leader when he was young and jumping like that. It stopped him right away. The gentle leader puts pressure on pressure points in the back of the dogs head when he pulls. We found this did the trick. He is now 14 months and an angel to walk. (there was also 4 levels of training)

[Judi W]

The "more damage than good" applies to a head halter device as much as any training collar.

[Dante's Dad]

Agree there Judi, and training tool if used wrong could cause more "damage than good" The key is finding something that works for the individual dog.

[RWMURMANN]

Originally Posted by softpawspc

I agree. One tug with a pinch collar and he will stop the lunging and jumping. They are not as hurtful as they look. RWMURMANN I would like to know where you got the info on the choke collars. Just for my own reading. I like the choke collar. I have never had problems with them but that doesn't mean that there are no precautions so I'd like to read about them.

I have been told this from several Vets and trainers. When you hear a dog hacking from pulling on a choker it is pushing on the dog’s throat and can cause scar tissue to build up and in some cases cause the larynx to collapse. Also if left unattended dogs have strangled themselves with chokers this can not happen with a pinch collar.

[Bruce Lanthier]

I think the key is "learning how to use any tool" before seeing if it works on your dog. That includes a buckle collar and leash. If this is a young puppy (I have not seen an age yet) Then when it starts to bite the leash, give it slack. Don't make it a tug game. Then get his attention with a treat. make him sit. As far as jumping you can just put your hand on a pup's collar to make him settle.

Damage is done through misuse of a tool, not by the tool.

Edit: I see he is 9 months old.

[softpawspc]

Originally Posted by RWMURMANN

Also if left unattended dogs have strangled themselves with chokers this can not happen with a pinch collar.

This is not absolutely true. I have heard of dogs being strangled by a pinch collar. The reason there are not many is because most people don't leave the pinch collar on unless for training. Even though the same should be of chokers, people tend to leave those on all the time and that is why there are more incidents of choker strangulations than pinch collars. I own a pet store so I get all the stories. Some I could do without but this was one of them. A man had left the pinch collar on his dog and stuck him in his crate and left for the day. Dog got the collar caught on the wire crate and strangled himself.

[Judi W]

The OP still hasn't said how old the dog is. Likely a pup, but how old a pup? I hope it was being mispoken to only consider the next class, next classes should be signed up on the spot. It actually sounds to me like this is a leash manners problem and a problem where the handler is not attentive enough to interupt before the activity starts. Op can stop the behavior but doesn't want it to start in the first place.

The solution is to be alert to what triggers it, and interupt the thought by changing what is going on at the time. The lunging is easy enough. When you see someone coming, put the pup under command rather than leaving it in an informal state, rapid changes in direction requiring more handler attention. Thow in some sits and "good dog"'s and busy the little raskle's mind. Leash tugging can be managed by simply not playing. Freeze and no movement takes place until it stops. Once that has happened a few times, when the dog get's the wind in his whiskers and a light in his eye, stop moving, turn to face the dog and give your ahhhahhh voice. Do not wait until the dog is in action on the undesired behavior.

There are numerous tricks and many that the handler can think of themselves and try out.

[flyballmom]

I think I saw somewhere, but can't find right now, that he's 9 months??

Originally Posted by Judi W

The OP still hasn't said how old the dog is.

[softpawspc]

Originally Posted by flyballmom

I think I saw somewhere, but can't find right now, that he's 9 months??

I had read this also.

[LUVMYROTTNBOY]

Zeiss is 9mo old. I have been through a dog manners 1 course with him, next class has the CGC test at the end. I plan to take him through that class as soon as I can.

I have tried to read him so If I know he is going to act up, I might make him sit, he also knows the "look at me command". I cant forsee all of his outbursts to stop them in time.

Yesterday it rained, it was rain that excited him the whole walk, we both just got soaked. Today I got out my front door and down to the sidewalk, and had to turn around and go back in, no stimulus around.

I guess Im just frustrated that he does seems to be getting worse in this department instead of better. I walk him daily, it used to happen every once in awhile, ,.,,,,now it happens every walk.

I have been through formal training with other dogs and know how to use a pincher, that is the type of collar I would use with him.... If I have to go that route.


Thanks,