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I've just bought a Springer Spaniel who is almost 12 months old. My poor Cocker died at the age of 8 due to cancer and I love having a dog around. Now, the little fella who I've just got is a typical Spaniel so full of energy and ever so slightly insane. He's not a problem most of the time and is fairly obedient.
What I need help with is getting him to walk to heel. What is the best way to go about this? I won't let him off his lead yet but even if I did there are still bits where I wouldn't be happy with him off his lead anyway. So, how do I do it? Over to you lot.
What I need help with is getting him to walk to heel. What is the best way to go about this? I won't let him off his lead yet but even if I did there are still bits where I wouldn't be happy with him off his lead anyway. So, how do I do it? Over to you lot.
To get my two to walk to heal I used treats; so have the dog on your left, lead in your right hand across your body and something tasty in your left hand.
Hold the treat by your thigh (mine are Dobes so thigh height you might have to adapt that bit) and walk telling the pup it's a good dog; then every so often give the dog the treat and replace it with a new one.....
Eventually they get the idea
Hold the treat by your thigh (mine are Dobes so thigh height you might have to adapt that bit) and walk telling the pup it's a good dog; then every so often give the dog the treat and replace it with a new one.....
Eventually they get the idea
13th said:
To get my two to walk to heal I used treats; so have the dog on your left, lead in your right hand across your body and something tasty in your left hand.
Hold the treat by your thigh (mine are Dobes so thigh height you might have to adapt that bit) and walk telling the pup it's a good dog; then every so often give the dog the treat and replace it with a new one.....
Eventually they get the idea
I tried that today but the little bugger just had the treat and then started pulling again. Maybe I need tastier treats.Hold the treat by your thigh (mine are Dobes so thigh height you might have to adapt that bit) and walk telling the pup it's a good dog; then every so often give the dog the treat and replace it with a new one.....
Eventually they get the idea
moleamol said:
13th said:
To get my two to walk to heal I used treats; so have the dog on your left, lead in your right hand across your body and something tasty in your left hand.
Hold the treat by your thigh (mine are Dobes so thigh height you might have to adapt that bit) and walk telling the pup it's a good dog; then every so often give the dog the treat and replace it with a new one.....
Eventually they get the idea
I tried that today but the little bugger just had the treat and then started pulling again. Maybe I need tastier treats.Hold the treat by your thigh (mine are Dobes so thigh height you might have to adapt that bit) and walk telling the pup it's a good dog; then every so often give the dog the treat and replace it with a new one.....
Eventually they get the idea
Keep the treat just out of reach! Only reward the pup when it's walked for a bit.
Honestly it works.
I used either mini sausages or cheese, my two would kill for either so walking to heal was a sinch!
moleamol said:
Jasandjules said:
What is he doing? Pulling in front? Weaving?
Both, and he's strong for a wiry little bugger.A dog in front can be just excited (pretty likely for a spaniel) and/or looking to lead the pack i.e. he is not dominated by you as yet.
Also, before you take him out, does he sit and wait patiently or does he leap out the door first? You need to get him to settle down and wait for you to leave the door first as well, to establish that YOU will be leading this walk.
My 2 springers are 6 this year and I still have trouble walking them on a lead! I find they're better off the lead but there again I'm lucky to live out in the sticks with lots of places to walk them and not need a lead too often. They're certainly mental buggers as you've no doubt found out. Good luck!
if the dog is confident in which way you are going then a springer is likely to want to pull.
If you vary your direction, sometimes surprise him by turning left of right without warning. He'll soon get the message that he needs to follow your lead.
if you use commands at the same time then that will reinforce the message so eventually the command will be enough.
i know what Susie is saying about treats (and they do work) but i dont like using them....it basically means the dog is focussed on them instead of you.
If you vary your direction, sometimes surprise him by turning left of right without warning. He'll soon get the message that he needs to follow your lead.
if you use commands at the same time then that will reinforce the message so eventually the command will be enough.
i know what Susie is saying about treats (and they do work) but i dont like using them....it basically means the dog is focussed on them instead of you.
I shall try all of the above. Thanks for all your help so far.
I know part of it is definitely excitement but the reason for him being sold was that they couldn't give him enough attention so I don't think he's been walked much. Will he still learn fairly easily at 11 months or is he a bit old?
I know part of it is definitely excitement but the reason for him being sold was that they couldn't give him enough attention so I don't think he's been walked much. Will he still learn fairly easily at 11 months or is he a bit old?
Edited by moleamol on Tuesday 25th November 19:25
moleamol said:
I shall try all of the above. Thanks for all your help so far.
I know part of it is definitely excitement but the reason for him being sold was that they couldn't give him enough attention so I don't think he's been walked much. Will he still learn fairly easily at 11 months or is he a bit old?
He should be plenty young still - our dog was well over a year and untrained when we got him and he's pretty obedient now.I know part of it is definitely excitement but the reason for him being sold was that they couldn't give him enough attention so I don't think he's been walked much. Will he still learn fairly easily at 11 months or is he a bit old?
Edited by moleamol on Tuesday 25th November 19:25
Harsh said:
i know what Susie is saying about treats (and they do work) but i dont like using them....it basically means the dog is focussed on them instead of you.
Totally agree with you Harsh, but in the early stages treats were a Godsend for me as both my Dogs are totally tummy orientated and by having the treat sometimes and not others they learnt to focus on me.Now they never quite know what I have in my pocket and as such I have their 100% attention.
erm unless a squirrel runs past in which case my Boy will stay by my side but my girl............ oooops! Luckily only when I am walking on open ground!
But bless them, I wouldn't swap them for the world!
It's easier to train a younger dog, but it's not difficult to train an older dog, we just rescued a 5.5 year old mutt three weeks ago who didn't know sit when we got him, he does now (well, in the main!).
If the dog is focussed on the treat in the short term I don't think it's a terrible thing, but correcting him when he is in the wrong is the important bit. I disagree with telling him you are changing direction etc.. because then he just waits to hear you. When he's sat at the kerb, you just walk across when you are ready, he will have to follow, and when you change direction (180s now and then) just do it, and again, he will soon learn he has to keep an eye on you..
If the dog is focussed on the treat in the short term I don't think it's a terrible thing, but correcting him when he is in the wrong is the important bit. I disagree with telling him you are changing direction etc.. because then he just waits to hear you. When he's sat at the kerb, you just walk across when you are ready, he will have to follow, and when you change direction (180s now and then) just do it, and again, he will soon learn he has to keep an eye on you..
Springers are well known for being a bit excitable, which is why they are often rehomed 
.
11 months is still very young and so he should be fairly easy to retrain. The basics for getting to stop him pulling is that he learns it gets him nowhere. There is no quick fix unfortunately. You could try the change of direction as previously suggested, along with just stopping when he leans on the collar / lead. When the tension slackens, you can then walk on. Walks can often take a while!
I use a non-pull harness on my foster dogs and a double-ended lead - one end clipped on the collar and the other on the harness. I find I have better control and can train while I exercise them. Makes for a much nicer experience all round!
.11 months is still very young and so he should be fairly easy to retrain. The basics for getting to stop him pulling is that he learns it gets him nowhere. There is no quick fix unfortunately. You could try the change of direction as previously suggested, along with just stopping when he leans on the collar / lead. When the tension slackens, you can then walk on. Walks can often take a while!
I use a non-pull harness on my foster dogs and a double-ended lead - one end clipped on the collar and the other on the harness. I find I have better control and can train while I exercise them. Makes for a much nicer experience all round!
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