[Squeeker]

I have a 6-month old Brittany pup. Things are going well for her and us, IMO, considering she's my first dog. One thing that's driving us nuts is loose-leash walking.

Libby goes for three walks a day - morning, afternoon, and evening, each for 20-30 minutes. We've had a heck of a time getting her to walk nicely, and we have tried every trick in the book that we have read.

Before we knew better, we were going for walks and she was pulling, but we didn't really know how to fix it. Puppy classes and this forum helped with that, and we started back at square one.

We started going for "walks" without really planning on getting anywhere, covering very little ground and giving lots of treats. We did the "be a tree" method, and the "turn around and walk the other way" method, and using freeze dried beef liver as a treat. However, that didn't REALLY work.

Next, we purchased an Easy Walk harness. We continued to do as before, and it worked great for about a week. Then, I'm not sure, she got used to it or something, and now she pulls just as she did before. At least now she isn't choking herself, though!

The next thing we tried was upping the rewards. We thought that maybe the liver wasn't enough motivation for her, so we started using cheese, hotdog, and the like. Worked for a bit, but again, no staying power.

I guess I should describe her behaviour while she walks. She's completely distracted by EVERYTHING. Sounds, birds, sticks, people, anything. She makes it obvious that we're the lowest on the priority level. If we do "be a tree", she goes to the end of the leash and stops there. If we turn around and walk the other way, she turns around and barrels to the end of the leash every time. She doesn't even really care about the food, either, as she'll drop it at least 50% of the time.

I guess I should mention that she KNOWS how to heel. She does it flawlessly in the house and along the sidewalk directly in front of our house. I should also mention that NILIF is practiced religiously in our house, as well. Libby has to sit before going in/out doors, before getting on the furniture, we do sit/stays and down/stays before we feed her... etc. She's now in Level I obedience (and has attention problems in class, too).

About a week and a half ago we started trying to demand attention from her before we'd move foreward. When she goes to the end of the leash, we wouldn't move until she made eye contact with us, mark, and treat (and since she'd have to come back to us to get the treat, it seemed like a step in the right direction!). This worked for a day or two, and now she's going to the end of the leash, making eye contact, and then going right back to pulling.

Tonight, my hubby and I walked her together (we try to do that regularly so we stay consistent between us) and, at a loss for what else to do, we were trying ANYTHING to get her attention long enough to call her over, and so we started running. She heeled like a CHAMP the whole time, eye contact with us the whole time, until we were both winded and tired. We weren't running fast, but for some reason we have to be actually jogging before she'll listen!

So, my question is, where do we go from here? I know puppies aren't supposed to run a lot, especially on pavement, but we are up to our armpits in snow here in Ottawa and I really can't get into a park right now. She's very high-energy, she NEEDS to go on walks... what else can I try? How do I slow her down? What am I doing wrong?

[Dogstar]

I actually think you're on the right track BUT you're expecting too much, too soon. What I would do for now is manage the problem- minimize the pulling through whatever mechanical means you want- a GL, a EZ Walk, etc. BUT, keep practicing the heeling. Asking a dog to consistantly heel for a whole walk is really tough, evne for adlts- it really doesn't allow them to do much sniffing and exploring, and it's mentally exhausting- but not in a pleasant way. (IMO, of course.) I *would* use the clicker and c/t any good leash-walking you get- either a less formal loose leash walk, or a formal heel (and you CAN reinforce for both- I just wouldn't do it on the same walk, and I'd name each one when you treated for it- basically, c/t and "good walk" or "good heel" depending on what she was doing that made you click. It's sort of indirect, but I've seen it work.)

When you're jogging, it's usually a more purposeful movement- and most fieldy type dogs find running inherently fun, in and of itself. After all you're GOING SOME WHERE! WOO!

I think it might also help to clarify what exactly you want her to do. Walk on a loose leash? Or actually HEEL? `

[TooneyDogs]

I agree! The expectation level is very high. It takes about 2 years for really competent heeling. As you noted, the big, big problem is attention which goes hand in hand with heeling. Many obedience competitors will not show their dog until they are 2 years old and able to focus with the teenage years behind them.
The trick to turning around while walking is treating the instant she gets to your side with lots of praise. A favorite ploy is to put your left hand slightly in front of you, palm down with a treat under your thumb ...your hand should be exactly where you want her head to be while at heel. You're teaching her touch (she should nuzzle your palm for the treat) and you're reinforcing heel position.
As Dogstar said, change your pace for heel, walk and run. When heeling, make it a brisk walk (she has less time to look around/get distracted) and when walking, go slower and let her enjoy the scenery.

[Squeeker]

Thanks so much for the advice, both of you!

I read your replies this morning before work, and I'll be honest, I was very frustrated! I do realize that there is a difference between a formal heel and loose-leash walking, but I don't understand how to reinforce a loose-leash walk if I can't get her attention at all! I don't necessarily want a formal heel, I'd be happy wth loose-leash walking!

However, my husband read this before he took Libby on her afternoon walk (he gets home before I do) and the lightbulbs went off for him!

He took her out and gave her the full 6' of leash, instead of restricting its length to keep her beside him. He walked at a comfortable pace, and let her walk. If she lagged behind, he kept walking. If she surged ahead, he stopped. If she voluntarily gave him eye contact or walked alongside him, he marked and treated.... and he said it went very well! He did the same thing for the evening walk, with the same results. I'm going to try it on our morning walk tomorrow.

We're still going to keep up the "formal heel" on the sidewalk in front of our house, as she does it voluntarily anyway, but we're going to try this new method for now.

I'm actually relieved that we were expecting too much too soon, instead of failing miserably!

Any other insight would be great!

[Annamarie]

if it helps, I have to take my dog directly to the park to burn off some steam before i can expect him to walk politely on the leash. he just has so much pent up energy even with regular walks that he just needs to get that edge off. it's only 1/2 a block to the park but the whole way there he's bouncy and doing this wierd nervous scratching thing (it's almost like some kind of neurotic tic that he can't help doing).

also he's much better when I speed walk with him. if I'm feeling lousy and walk too slow he gets annoyed with me and goes ahead of me pulling on the leash and looking up at me like "COME ONNNNNN!"