Joined
·
64 Posts
Mine are:
Can't walk in front of me
No pulling
No sniffing
No fixations/staring
Can't walk in front of me
No pulling
No sniffing
No fixations/staring
What are your dog walking rules?
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
Good question! It depends on if I have said "heel" (atttention heeling) or "with me" (just loose heeling). I'm assuming that we are talking about loose heeling, so the dog doesn't need to be making eye contact the whole time.
I'm ok with sniffing as long as it is in a loose leash position. Basically this means she can have her nose down if she is still walking at my side and if her nose doesn't lead her off to where she will hit the end of the leash.
I agree with no going ahead of me.
I don't like lagging behind either.
Definately no fixations.
No holding the leash in her mouth!
For puppies, no heel biting or jumping on me. . .although I don't mind "bouncing" for a treat in puppies as long as they aren't jumping on me or snapping my hand. They also don't get the treat for bouncing, but I won't correct it the way I would if she jumped on me.
Can't think of anything else!
I'm ok with sniffing as long as it is in a loose leash position. Basically this means she can have her nose down if she is still walking at my side and if her nose doesn't lead her off to where she will hit the end of the leash.
I agree with no going ahead of me.
I don't like lagging behind either.
Definately no fixations.
No holding the leash in her mouth!
For puppies, no heel biting or jumping on me. . .although I don't mind "bouncing" for a treat in puppies as long as they aren't jumping on me or snapping my hand. They also don't get the treat for bouncing, but I won't correct it the way I would if she jumped on me.
Can't think of anything else!
Joined
·
7,761 Posts
For just a stroll around?
Assuming I'm not doing heel work, as long as they aren't pulling and are keeping up with me (and not getting me all tangled up)...that's pretty much it. I have no problem with them checking out the neighborhoods (sights, sounds, smells, etc.). Banning that would kind of defeat the purpose of our walks, as walking barely counts as physical exercise for them.
No barking either of course.
I find that our walks are better training/learning opportunities if I don't ask for much, lol.
ETA: My area has leash laws and from what I understand they are enforced from time to time. In either case I abide by them and keep my dogs on lead during our walks.
Assuming I'm not doing heel work, as long as they aren't pulling and are keeping up with me (and not getting me all tangled up)...that's pretty much it. I have no problem with them checking out the neighborhoods (sights, sounds, smells, etc.). Banning that would kind of defeat the purpose of our walks, as walking barely counts as physical exercise for them.
No barking either of course.
I find that our walks are better training/learning opportunities if I don't ask for much, lol.
ETA: My area has leash laws and from what I understand they are enforced from time to time. In either case I abide by them and keep my dogs on lead during our walks.
Joined
·
2,526 Posts
I haven't really had to enforce any rules with Zoey on walks.. She has pulled a few times, but stops if I put her back at my side. I don't mind if she walks in front of me, she still looks to me for directions. I also don't mind the sniffing as long as it's not accompanied by pulling. She can sniff as long as she keeps up.. I want her to enjoy herself on the walk after all.. It's not all about me. It's her outing too, and what fun is it if she can't sniff and explore things along the way? If she were more high-strung though I might need to have some rules.. But she's pretty good all around on the walk.. I'm always proud when she's walking calmly by my side and we pass another person who's dog is pulling and bouncing and leaping to cross the street to see us.. lol.
Joined
·
4,990 Posts
Free-walk (off-leash) - Meaning no real position work or training
-Stay relatively close to me while we're moving. If I'm staying still, as long as I can see him and nothing looks questionable in the environment, he's cool.
-No eating foreign stuff (namely poop, and you wouldn't believe how many half-eating chicken wings or pork chop bones he finds...makes me wonder about the people in the development...) off the ground. Sniffing is fine. "Fetching" it is not ideal, but I won't correct him for basically an offered retrieve. I'd rather him bring it to me than eat it!
-No going on other people's property. Obviously he doesn't know what that is, but I'll redirect him off of it.
-Look at me before peeing on anything. He knows how to do this so I require it of him every time. If he does this and it's an okay spot, I'll give the "go ahead" (i.e. go potty cue), otherwise, I'll recall him and bring him to a good spot.
-As always, follow any cues given regardless of anything else.
Off-leash heeling or "migrating".
-Maintain the general position. Doesn't have to be exact to-the-inch perfect, but if his butt is lined up with my leg - that's too far in front.
-If he needs/wants to pee on something, he can give me eye contact while we are moving. If it's steady contact and he's maintaining his position with any decent accuracy - I'll give the "go potty" cue and let him sniff around and pick a spot to pee for 90 seconds, or until he's done investigating and comes back by me to continue walking. (btw, the reason I picked 90 seconds is because of this site and the level 3 "Handling" task is eliminating in under 2 minutes. So I figured 90 seconds would be even better
-As always, all cues/directions need to be followed and he's also has to recognize that I've stopped moving and he's to sit and look at me before we continue. If he's needing help or is just too distracted, he has a "focus" cue I will give him. That means get to my side, sit, and look at me for our next move.
My heel "cue" is me either stopping dead in my tracks (happens when he goes too far out front mostly), or me not moving and just not paying him any attention (so that I don't have to look at him when I need to be looking to see if it's safe to cross the street or if the walk signal is up, etc, my standing still is to be enough, given the context of the situation). I know I probably should have an actual cue, but I also want him to learn to act correctly and independently by reading the context of the environment and what I'm doing (or not doing) at the moment. He's getting better at it.
On-leash is basically the same as the above two scenarios with no pulling or tight leash allowed. That causes an abrupt interruption in whatever we are doing until he's sitting by my side and looking at me. (or sometimes a bit of negative reinforcement in the form of being yanked because of his own choice of direction, i.e. I'm not yanking him, just moving in the same line and it's his deviation that's caused the discomfort, prompting him to get quickly back in line)
Goes without saying that I have my clicker and treats ready to mark and reward successful rule following. No real corrections, just redirection with other cues or Premack style "negotiation" (look at me and you can pee on those leaves)
It probably reads as more dictating than it is if you were to see us out and about. Wally always gets compliments about how good he behaves even when not on leash. One lady was like "how do you do that? If that were my dog, he'd have run away!"
-Stay relatively close to me while we're moving. If I'm staying still, as long as I can see him and nothing looks questionable in the environment, he's cool.
-No eating foreign stuff (namely poop, and you wouldn't believe how many half-eating chicken wings or pork chop bones he finds...makes me wonder about the people in the development...) off the ground. Sniffing is fine. "Fetching" it is not ideal, but I won't correct him for basically an offered retrieve. I'd rather him bring it to me than eat it!
-No going on other people's property. Obviously he doesn't know what that is, but I'll redirect him off of it.
-Look at me before peeing on anything. He knows how to do this so I require it of him every time. If he does this and it's an okay spot, I'll give the "go ahead" (i.e. go potty cue), otherwise, I'll recall him and bring him to a good spot.
-As always, follow any cues given regardless of anything else.
Off-leash heeling or "migrating".
-Maintain the general position. Doesn't have to be exact to-the-inch perfect, but if his butt is lined up with my leg - that's too far in front.
-If he needs/wants to pee on something, he can give me eye contact while we are moving. If it's steady contact and he's maintaining his position with any decent accuracy - I'll give the "go potty" cue and let him sniff around and pick a spot to pee for 90 seconds, or until he's done investigating and comes back by me to continue walking. (btw, the reason I picked 90 seconds is because of this site and the level 3 "Handling" task is eliminating in under 2 minutes. So I figured 90 seconds would be even better
-As always, all cues/directions need to be followed and he's also has to recognize that I've stopped moving and he's to sit and look at me before we continue. If he's needing help or is just too distracted, he has a "focus" cue I will give him. That means get to my side, sit, and look at me for our next move.
My heel "cue" is me either stopping dead in my tracks (happens when he goes too far out front mostly), or me not moving and just not paying him any attention (so that I don't have to look at him when I need to be looking to see if it's safe to cross the street or if the walk signal is up, etc, my standing still is to be enough, given the context of the situation). I know I probably should have an actual cue, but I also want him to learn to act correctly and independently by reading the context of the environment and what I'm doing (or not doing) at the moment. He's getting better at it.
On-leash is basically the same as the above two scenarios with no pulling or tight leash allowed. That causes an abrupt interruption in whatever we are doing until he's sitting by my side and looking at me. (or sometimes a bit of negative reinforcement in the form of being yanked because of his own choice of direction, i.e. I'm not yanking him, just moving in the same line and it's his deviation that's caused the discomfort, prompting him to get quickly back in line)
Goes without saying that I have my clicker and treats ready to mark and reward successful rule following. No real corrections, just redirection with other cues or Premack style "negotiation" (look at me and you can pee on those leaves)
It probably reads as more dictating than it is if you were to see us out and about. Wally always gets compliments about how good he behaves even when not on leash. One lady was like "how do you do that? If that were my dog, he'd have run away!"
Joined
·
6,005 Posts
Well, my dog doesn't go outside of my yard without a leash on. That's rule #1. I don't really walk with my dogs. I roller blade with them. They have a difficult time getting in front of me. When we are walking, they stay right by my side at all times and are not allowed to sniff or explore unless I give them permission to do so.
I would never walk my dog off leash simply because I don't trust the other dogs in my neighborhood.
I would never walk my dog off leash simply because I don't trust the other dogs in my neighborhood.
Joined
·
4,990 Posts
The dogs are actually out and about in your neighborhood? They aren't often out and around here. On occasion, there's a few others walking their dog(s), but not too often.
I do keep the leash on me, though, just in case some situation looks questionable. I can pull it out - put it on with no fuss and keep going.
I do keep the leash on me, though, just in case some situation looks questionable. I can pull it out - put it on with no fuss and keep going.
Joined
·
691 Posts
My dog is also on leash at all times. I don't put up with pulling, and she does it very rarely, it's a huge pet peeve of mine. She walks using a harness, and I trained her from the beginning not to pull as it won't get her anywhere. I can't stand when people say harnesses encourage pulling - if you put the time, effort and training into it, they simply won't.
As long as she isn't pulling, I don't really care if she's in front of me, or sniffing. She's a dog, she's out getting exercise and having fun. I could care less if I stop for 15 seconds for her to sniff the ground. I'm not training a police or military dog or anything.
Chloe is a great, well behaved dog, and really why should it matter - if she walks well on a loose leash - if she's to the right, left or front of me? She will stop at my command and sit and stay if I ask. I think walking should be fun for both parties and if I don't ever let her stop how boring that would be.
Also, I never ever let her go on other people's yards. I hate finding poop in my grass, and even though I pick up after her, I don't want her to use my neighbor's yard as a toilet.
As long as she isn't pulling, I don't really care if she's in front of me, or sniffing. She's a dog, she's out getting exercise and having fun. I could care less if I stop for 15 seconds for her to sniff the ground. I'm not training a police or military dog or anything.
Chloe is a great, well behaved dog, and really why should it matter - if she walks well on a loose leash - if she's to the right, left or front of me? She will stop at my command and sit and stay if I ask. I think walking should be fun for both parties and if I don't ever let her stop how boring that would be.
Also, I never ever let her go on other people's yards. I hate finding poop in my grass, and even though I pick up after her, I don't want her to use my neighbor's yard as a toilet.
Joined
·
3,809 Posts
It depends on the walk. If we go to the park they can go all about and sniff around and pee on stuff and do dog stuff, depending on the park they are either off leash or on a long line. If we are on what I call a "working walk" then they have to be walking next to me, loose lead and we work on various commands throughout the walk. Just a casual walk through the neighborhood, then as long as they keeping a loose leash, not tangling up and not walking way out in front or behind me (I worry about cars coming out of driveways) they can sniff around and stuff.
Joined
·
673 Posts
I love the NO leash walks where she can run and still keeps her eyes on me but in town I think it's too many distractions and she's too young yet so hopefully soon she will learn to walk on a leash with NO pulling. My dream is as she gets older never using a leash except in areas where you have to
Joined
·
2,291 Posts
I haven't really taught Donatello to "heel"...
He doesn't pull, unless I instigate him to chase off a wild cat.
He walks in-front of me, but I don't find that disrespectful at all... It's his walk, I let him walk way out to my side, or way out in front, as long as he's behaving. (I have a retractable leash, so if he does get out of hand all I have to do is call him back to me, lock the leash and start off again.)
If he lags behind, lingering over a spot, all I do is say, "C'mon, let's go!" and he quickly runs to catch up.
As for "sniffing"... I could never tell Donatello to not sniff! That's like his thing, he's got Terrier in him and like a Hound, when he picks up a scent he's on it!
He doesn't pull, unless I instigate him to chase off a wild cat.
He walks in-front of me, but I don't find that disrespectful at all... It's his walk, I let him walk way out to my side, or way out in front, as long as he's behaving. (I have a retractable leash, so if he does get out of hand all I have to do is call him back to me, lock the leash and start off again.)
If he lags behind, lingering over a spot, all I do is say, "C'mon, let's go!" and he quickly runs to catch up.
As for "sniffing"... I could never tell Donatello to not sniff! That's like his thing, he's got Terrier in him and like a Hound, when he picks up a scent he's on it!
Joined
·
64 Posts
lol Sandler's still learning so sniffing is a big NO NO because he then gets fixated, or starts walking off, or stops listening to me.
Because he's in training (and so is Nova!), they have strict rules on our walks It's good for their walks to be mentally stimulating which I think I accomplish by laying down rules and challenging them to follow them.
I had Sandler by himself today on a short walk to the mailbox and back and we worked on the whole grabbing the leash problem at the run. I fixed it at the walk and he does it once in a blue moon, but I couldn't go faster than a walk, or do a fast walk, or get him excited in ANY WAY without him trying to snag the leash from me. It'll be a work in progress but after a few yanks and loud "AH-AH!"s he finally got the message. When I slowed to a walk and then started jogging again, he started his vice up again but I just need to keep practicing it with him and break him of the habit, and of the temptation, to take the leash from me. I learned that when he looks up at me while we're jogging it's him contemplating haha.
Because he's in training (and so is Nova!), they have strict rules on our walks
It's good for their walks to be mentally stimulating which I think I accomplish by laying down rules and challenging them to follow them.I had Sandler by himself today on a short walk to the mailbox and back and we worked on the whole grabbing the leash problem at the run. I fixed it at the walk and he does it once in a blue moon, but I couldn't go faster than a walk, or do a fast walk, or get him excited in ANY WAY without him trying to snag the leash from me. It'll be a work in progress but after a few yanks and loud "AH-AH!"s he finally got the message. When I slowed to a walk and then started jogging again, he started his vice up again but I just need to keep practicing it with him and break him of the habit, and of the temptation, to take the leash from me. I learned that when he looks up at me while we're jogging it's him contemplating haha.
Joined
·
4,967 Posts
I don't have many walking rules. As long as they're on a loose leash I don't have a problem with it. I think denying my beagles the right to sniff on walks would be like taking away a part of their souls.
It depends on the walk and what we are doing.
Atka is almost always off leash. If I am asking for "by me" with attention, then she is to focus on my face, and walk in heel position. This is intense. She is to sit when I stop and move her self into proper position if/as I turn.. and keep looking at my face.
If she is loose walking (not under a heel position command) she must walk ahead of me (so I can see her.. I do NOT want to be looking behind me for the dog). She is not to get stuck on anything she is sniffing. She is to stay near by and she is to wait for me if I ask for wait. She is to check on my where abouts. She may be randomly asked to sit, lie down, stand and wait. She may be 100 feet from me and if I ask for ANY of those things she is to do them where she is (not come back to me and THEN do them). She is to recall reliably. She does all of these things.
On the rare occasions when I leash her she is to walk on a loose lead. If I ask for her to walk in heel position, she is to look at my face and ignore everything else. She is to sit when I stop. Most of the leash time the leash is over her back and I am not holding it.
I want my dog to work without need for a leash. It is important to me. My last dog never wore a collar because she was that reliable w/o a leash. She went in stores and everything and did as told.. no leash necessary.
Atka is almost always off leash. If I am asking for "by me" with attention, then she is to focus on my face, and walk in heel position. This is intense. She is to sit when I stop and move her self into proper position if/as I turn.. and keep looking at my face.
If she is loose walking (not under a heel position command) she must walk ahead of me (so I can see her.. I do NOT want to be looking behind me for the dog). She is not to get stuck on anything she is sniffing. She is to stay near by and she is to wait for me if I ask for wait. She is to check on my where abouts. She may be randomly asked to sit, lie down, stand and wait. She may be 100 feet from me and if I ask for ANY of those things she is to do them where she is (not come back to me and THEN do them). She is to recall reliably. She does all of these things.
On the rare occasions when I leash her she is to walk on a loose lead. If I ask for her to walk in heel position, she is to look at my face and ignore everything else. She is to sit when I stop. Most of the leash time the leash is over her back and I am not holding it.
I want my dog to work without need for a leash. It is important to me. My last dog never wore a collar because she was that reliable w/o a leash. She went in stores and everything and did as told.. no leash necessary.
For just a normal walk around the block, so to speak, I don't allow barking, fixations, or pulling. They can sniff, chase gasshoppers, and do whatever they want as long as they stop when I tell them to and keep slack in the lead. If I stop, they must stop and wait patiently. If I give them a command, they must follow it.
Joined
·
644 Posts
Mine are the same but I do allow sniffing. Also if we come upon another leashed dog I ask if my puppies can say hello and if they're okay with it, I'll let them greet the other dog(s). They LOVE meeting new doggies and they love smelling things so I don't want to take that joy away from them unless I have to!
Joined
·
4,990 Posts
This is what I'm striving for also.
Unfortunately, I can't practice with stores (no dogs allowed in most, and even PetCo requires leashes *sigh*)
But this is what I want - I want Wally to work with me without having to be attached, physically, to me. I want him to literally have the free will to go anywhere he could - but have him still eagerly choose to follow and work with me.
Joined
·
4,281 Posts
Why the control freak imitation? Why do you think they have something like 200 million scent receptors in their noses (compared to humans who have 5 million)? Fixations/staring? What does that mean? What if the staring is to make sure there's nothing around that's a threat? Or what if he's staring at a cute poodle? And why no walking in front of you? Is your dog's behind so unattractive that you can't bear looking at it?Mine are:
Can't walk in front of me
No pulling
No sniffing
No fixations/staring
I concede the point on pulling - there's no reason to allow that unless the dog is working (e.g. pulling you on a sled) or pulling you from a burning building or towards a sale at Petco. But the other stuff? As Seargent Hulka would say, "Lighten up Francis."
Joined
·
3,174 Posts
The only rules I have for leash walks are no pulling and no peeing in other peoples yards. Our walks are very casual, they normally walk in front of me on a loose lead, sniff what they want, and greet other dogs if the owner says it's ok. If I need them to do something specific for a specific situation that arises, I'll give a command for it.
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
