Help with dog pulling & barking!

bettyboop61 · 18 August 2009 at 10:00AM

Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East Mids
Post Count: 165
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Hi everyone

I have a sprocker which is a cocker/springer cross, but to look at she def takes most of the strain of springer in her, she is the same size as one and has the same colouring markings of a springer, and whilst out with her most people assume she is a springer.

Anyway I digress here, my problem with my dog is that as soon as I get her lead out or even fill a bottle of water which I take with me, when walking her she goes beserk, she gets that excited that she barks incessantly all the way to the field until I let her loose. She is brilliant off the lead, she never bothers other dogs, she goes straight to tracking mode, nose to the ground sniffing and running, as I'm sure many of you are aware, springers need plenty of exercise, she comes when I call straight away, she will fetch her ball and return with it straight away.

I also have the pulling problem, she's so excited that she pulls and barks all the way to the field which is embarrassing:o I walk my king charles cavalier at the same time so its a nightmare, trying to keep belle (sprocker) at my side whilst walking(ruby) cavalier.

I did buy a canny collar which did stop the pulling, but doesn't stop the barking, plus she doesn't like the canny collar as it fits over her nose and she is constantly trying to push it off with her paws as we are walking along.

I have tried treats, but she is just so excited she's not interested and as I say she is a dream when off the lead, I have come to the conclusion she just doesn't like the lead and justs want to be free, but I would like to take her out early in the mornings, but i can't as she would wake the neighbours with her barking:rolleyes: and the trouble is now my cavalier has started to bark now when i get the lead out, its like she's learning from my sprocker.

Any tips would be gratefully received

Thanks

Betty

elsien · 18 August 2009 at 11:55AM

Does she like carrying things? My friend's dog does the same as yours - he sounds like a demented seal. She hasn't managed to stop him from,doing it but by giving him a tennis ball to carry while walking to the fields, it does muffle the racket a little.
Of course there's always Option B. (the gaffer tape.)

Raksha · 18 August 2009 at 12:46PM

The number of dogs who go ballistic when the lead appears is amazing.

What's even more amazing is that the solution is simple - as soon as the dog kicks off, put the lead away. Even better, once the dog is not barking, tell them what you'd like them to do (for my dogs it's get on the stairs so I can clip their leads on easily) Do this several times a dog so the dog stops looking on the lead as the pre cursor to something really exciting.

bettyboop61 · 18 August 2009 at 1:57PM

Thank you both for your replies...... she does like carrying the ball....but not on the way....she's just sooo excited......she's barking and jumping up and down so much!! Thank you Raksha I will try ur method it does sound soo simple, I have tried turning my bk on her and ignoring her, she does go quiet, but as soon as I turn around with the lead she starts with barking again.....looks like I will have to practice several times a day...... once again thank you.

musogirl295 · 18 August 2009 at 6:16PM

My dog does the same thing. He's a Lab with a condition on his vocal chords so his bark is squeaky, so embarrassing when you're trying to get him out at 7am without waking up the neighbours.

We've found one thing that works. Whenever he starts barking (in this situation not just when he's having fun in the garden!) we make a loud "hup" noise and hold a hand out in the stop sign infront of him. After a couple of tries he gets bored of having to wait to move and quietens down.

Muso x

Hughesy84 · 20 August 2009 at 2:03PM

If a dog is pulling, you simply turn around and walk the other way. Keep doing it and telling the dog 'no pulling'. Eventually (it will take time) the dog will stop and listen to you.

MoneySavingStudent_2 · 20 August 2009 at 2:13PM

I think your dogs just excited to be going for a walkies. I would suggest standing by the door with your dog and making her sit. Then walk away and sit on the couch or something. Then after afew minute walk towards the door again and make her sit at the door. If she behaves and shes doing it right then hold the lead and do it. Then when she barks go and sit back down. Once shes calm again and has got board of being excited, slowly get up and walk towards the door and stand there with the lead.

If shes excited then go sit back down again until shes calmed down. Keep doing this until she eventually sits next to you at the door while your holding the lead. Once she does that put the lead on her without making eye contact or saying anything. If shes excited keep the lead on her and walk back to the couch and sit down. Wait until she calms down then walk with her slowly to the door.

Once she calmly walks with you, open the door and wait. If she bolts out the door pull her back in and get her to sit. YOU SHOULD BE FIRST OUT THE DOOR.
She needs to learn to follow YOU. Once shes calm sat at the door you must then walk out of the door first and then tell her to come.

She needs to be calm before a walkies

Then when your walking if she starts going ahead of you simply say no (or make a noice like ah) and pull her back next to you. Wait until shes calm and stood or sat next to you, then start walking again.

This worked with out dogs (ridgeback X and a german shep X) and i can now walk them both together without them pulling. Your other dog is copying the misbehaving dog. When you correct one the other will probs follow.

Hope that helps abit

x

The_Next_Verse · 20 August 2009 at 7:08PM

I know exactly how you feel, my two do exactly the same thing.

It's not easy to cope with as the methods above, I've tried and unfortunately failed. However, this could be me making mistakes rather than the pups!

I use a canny collar on both of mine which helps alot, as they're just unwalkable on a collar or harness as it would appear to be all systems go!

Good luck.

~The Next Verse

bettyboop61 · 20 August 2009 at 8:41PM

Thanks everyone for your input, I am going to try them all, on a weekly basis and see which works best, I have a canny collar for my sprocker, it does stop her pulling but it doesn't stop her barking, or jumping up and down lol, and also she's constantly trying to push it off her nose with her paws, and we get into a right tangle with leads and everything.

So here goes I will update you and let you all know how I get on and which method works the best, currently I have been trying Raksha's technique of getting the lead out and putting it away again until she quietens down, but its a long wait, because even when the lead is put away, she goes on barking and running round the house and jumping up and down me, I'd say this goes on for 5 mins, it doesn't sound that long but it feels it when both dogs are barking and running around like lunatics.

Cheers everyone and watch this space lol

Raksha · 21 August 2009 at 7:39AM

Did she used to carry on before? If not then this is because she's confused and convinced that barking is needed for you to carry out the next step. When what a dog has done in the past has got a reaction which suddenly stops, they believe more of that behaviour is required to make the reaction happen again - this is called an 'extinction burst' and means they have realised something is changing, so it's a positive sign. Success usually follows shortly afterwards (although it will depends on hos ingrained the unwanted behaviour has become)

arkonite_babe · 21 August 2009 at 1:22PM

Raksha wrote: »

The number of dogs who go ballistic when the lead appears is amazing.

What's even more amazing is that the solution is simple - as soon as the dog kicks off, put the lead away. Even better, once the dog is not barking, tell them what you'd like them to do (for my dogs it's get on the stairs so I can clip their leads on easily) Do this several times a dog so the dog stops looking on the lead as the pre cursor to something really exciting.

The next step to this is attaching the lead to the collar and then you going and sitting back down (have a cuppa, watch telly for a while). Let the dog realise after a while that just because the lead is out or on them, doesn't really mean that it is walk time. Then you take the lead off and put it away again, it's the same process as getting a new puppy used to a lead in the first place.

HTH

Help with dog pulling & barking!

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