Help with 1 year old english springer

Caroline_a

I don't think you need to rehome, I think there are solutions. You have what seems to be a generally obedient dog, so you're obviously doing a lot right. I wouldn't let the kids walk the dog - when my kids were younger I considered the dog my responsibility, and mine were'nt allowed to walk any of mine until they were at least teenagers, and even then, only the well behaved ones. It may not necessarily be your dog that causes the problem - if there was a fight and your dog was attacked by another dog, or several others, you really wouldnt want your children wading in to help your dog.

Have you thought that it might be your dog walker who is the problem? You spend all your time walking your dog and if she/he lets him pull then you're basically wasting a lot of time and effort!

Lifeisbutadream

Caroline_a wrote: »

I don't think you need to rehome, I think there are solutions. You have what seems to be a generally obedient dog, so you're obviously doing a lot right. I wouldn't let the kids walk the dog - when my kids were younger I considered the dog my responsibility, and mine were'nt allowed to walk any of mine until they were at least teenagers, and even then, only the well behaved ones. It may not necessarily be your dog that causes the problem - if there was a fight and your dog was attacked by another dog, or several others, you really wouldnt want your children wading in to help your dog.

Have you thought that it might be your dog walker who is the problem? You spend all your time walking your dog and if she/he lets him pull then you're basically wasting a lot of time and effort!

I dont think the dog walker is the problem as she drives either 2 or 3 dogs to a river walk. SHe is quite tiny (in fact smaller than my daughter) so I dont think she would be standing up long if she walked him on the lead!

I dont know what to think about the children - he belongs to all of us, not me - my husband works 14 hours a day so he can walk him during the week, but in our house we share the jobs between us - walking the dog is one of the jobs and the children want to do it - the field near us is quite close with only one quiet road to cross.

I have taught the kids about what to do if he got attacked (i.e. dont try and help him - run off and get help), but anyway they cant walk him at the moment as he is too strong for them. We live in a very quiet village with lots of dog owners (who all know each other) so I have not really worried about the safety of the children and the dog - I will have to give that some thought.

vax2002

We went to the coast a few years ago, ours had never seen the sea, the tide was in, now anything wet and dirty and BINGO he is in dream land, we walked past the steps where there is a gap in the wall and down I went backwards and in to the sea with him on the lead . boy was he in trouble when we got out. Much to the amusement of the gathering crowd ..

bagginslover

There are plenty of trainers who will come to your house, or have you at theirs at your conveinence, yes they cost more, but if you really want to fix the problem....

I'm not asking for answers, you are by starting this post, I offered my opinions a d advice at your invitation, you owe me nothing, but not answering my questions you are not helping me, or other to help you.

You certainly wouldn't receive any 'stick' from me for working away from home all day. Both my partner and I work full time (though only 2/3 of the year in my case), and our dog is home alone and happy.

If you just wanted a lift, you didn't say-you asked how to stop your dog pulling, how to stop him deficating in certain areas, and how to stop him going in rooms where you don't want him. I have asked what you do when he displays unwanted behaviour. Vax2000's insights are spot on, knowing that will you continue to leave doors open when you go out and blame the dog?

If you answer my questions I can offer you some more specific advice, but you don't have to.

Lifeisbutadream

bagginslover wrote: »

There are plenty of trainers who will come to your house, or have you at theirs at your conveinence, yes they cost more, but if you really want to fix the problem....

I did this for 4 months - at £15 a session. Sorry for saying that I have done this, but I have - it worked whilst I was doing the training and then he just went back again afterwards/in between

I'm not asking for answers, you are by starting this post, I offered my opinions a d advice at your invitation, you owe me nothing, but not answering my questions you are not helping me, or other to help you.

I dont know how else to answer you than by the truth - ie if I have tried it already I will say so, if I am out during the evenings when the training sessions are on, I will also say that.

You certainly wouldn't receive any 'stick' from me for working away from home all day. Both my partner and I work full time (though only 2/3 of the year in my case), and our dog is home alone and happy.

If you just wanted a lift, you didn't say-you asked how to stop your dog pulling, how to stop him deficating in certain areas, and how to stop him going in rooms where you don't want him. I have asked what you do when he displays unwanted behaviour. Vax2000's insights are spot on, knowing that will you continue to leave doors open when you go out and blame the dog?

I didnt leave the doors open once I found out that he was going in the rooms he shouldnt ???? I didnt say that I didnt do this??


If you answer my questions I can offer you some more specific advice, but you don't have to.

I believe that I have answered your questions.

bagginslover

Erm really? How about the ones further up where I was trying to help? Questions are recognisable by the question Mark at the end, there is one in the post you just quoted.

Forget it, you don't want help, you want to be told you are doing everything right and that your dog is untrainable. No point replying to this as I won't be back to read it.

suki1964

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Thanks - I had a bad back for months earlier this year which didnt help lead training, but he is perfect in that he doesnt go far - off the lead he is a dream - its like he is on a string - I just call or whistle and straight back he comes.

I would probably have more luck training him to walk next to me without a lead!

You prolly will tbh

Mine was also a back injury so I couldnt walk him on the lead during that time he needed the training so much - I couldnt even have helf a loaf of bread.

Thing is once the lead goes on its like they have to find the end of it - see how far it gives.

Is there no one thing that your dog loves more then anything in the world? A toy? Sausages? Cheese? Liver?

As I say with my lad its a ball. he carries one - i carry the other and he always right on my heels waiting for me to throw the other - which obviously doesnt happen till we are in a safe place. This lad I have now doesnt walk the nicest off lead and he can also play deaf at times and cross the road ( luckily we are in the country) if he thinks theres something hes missing out on but his stop command is pretty good so Its all manageable with him.

You need to chill out a bit about it as well i think. I think its become such a battle that you are fighting him the minute you walk out the door ( been there got the tee shirt). If you can possibly find 5 mins 3 or 4 times a day to practice the lead walking you will get there - with time. Just try for small goals - like the first lampost without having to turn about.

My local vets have ads on the boards for dog classes - they arent wild expensive. Perhaps theres some in your area where you could pop along and get shown the basics again. Sometimes we do tend to get muddled and a fresh pair of eyes and hands can make a huge difference to our skills

Lifeisbutadream

suki1964 wrote: »

You prolly will tbh

Mine was also a back injury so I couldnt walk him on the lead during that time he needed the training so much - I couldnt even have helf a loaf of bread.

Thing is once the lead goes on its like they have to find the end of it - see how far it gives.

Is there no one thing that your dog loves more then anything in the world? A toy? Sausages? Cheese? Liver?

As I say with my lad its a ball. he carries one - i carry the other and he always right on my heels waiting for me to throw the other - which obviously doesnt happen till we are in a safe place. This lad I have now doesnt walk the nicest off lead and he can also play deaf at times and cross the road ( luckily we are in the country) if he thinks theres something hes missing out on but his stop command is pretty good so Its all manageable with him.

You need to chill out a bit about it as well i think. I think its become such a battle that you are fighting him the minute you walk out the door ( been there got the tee shirt). If you can possibly find 5 mins 3 or 4 times a day to practice the lead walking you will get there - with time. Just try for small goals - like the first lampost without having to turn about.

My local vets have ads on the boards for dog classes - they arent wild expensive. Perhaps theres some in your area where you could pop along and get shown the basics again. Sometimes we do tend to get muddled and a fresh pair of eyes and hands can make a huge difference to our skills

I think I do need to chill out - its not the end of the world that I have to drive him to where we are going, TBH its just a shame as I have been out 3 times today and would have taken him with me if it had been easier - he would get about 6 walks as opposed to 3!

Another problem that I have had before with the classes is when I took him before (to both the personal trainer and the class) - he was perfect whilst we were there and then seemed to forget when we were on our walks!

Youdontseeme

Im not sure if it is on anywhere at the moment, but have a look episodes of It's me or the Dog with Victoria er... Sewell??

I prefer her later methods and she seemsed to have great results in just a few days.

Very (very, very) basically when the dog starts to pull, turn around and go in the other direction, you might really have to drag him, but once he stops pulling, turn back and try again (this may be on YouTube somewhere) keep going until your pup gets it, may take a while and you will look a total t*** walking your dog for a few days, but keep at it as it actually works!

Victoria Thingymabob also has a website, perhaps my have some clips of the show on?

Lots of rewards (doesn't have to be treats) big cuddles, lots pf praise, a squeak etc..

Good luck they are wonderful dogs and if you keep at it you will get there, he is still young enough to learn how to walk well on a lead, but I would put a tenner on the best trained dogs in the world kipping on the sofa while your out, so perhaps dont sweat that one!

YDSM

Lifeisbutadream

Youdontseeme wrote: »

Im not sure if it is on anywhere at the moment, but have a look episodes of It's me or the Dog with Victoria er... Sewell??

I prefer her later methods and she seemsed to have great results in just a few days.

Very (very, very) basically when the dog starts to pull, turn around and go in the other direction, you might really have to drag him, but once he stops pulling, turn back and try again (this may be on YouTube somewhere) keep going until your pup gets it, may take a while and you will look a total t*** walking your dog for a few days, but keep at it as it actually works!

Victoria Thingymabob also has a website, perhaps my have some clips of the show on?

Lots of rewards (doesn't have to be treats) big cuddles, lots pf praise, a squeak etc..

Good luck they are wonderful dogs and if you keep at it you will get there, he is still young enough to learn how to walk well on a lead, but I would put a tenner on the best trained dogs in the world kipping on the sofa while your out, so perhaps dont sweat that one!

YDSM

I tried this and I am not joking, this is where I think my dog has some sort of brain deficiency - he just pulls when going the other way! so I walk along, being pulled, then I turn back and he pulls me the other way!! it doesnt matter which way I walk, its like he just needs to pull!!! if I let go of the lead he stops...

I totally know he is a wonderful dog - this thread has given me a real insight into how their little minds work as well !

What I might do, is train myself up so that I am faster than him - then pull him along!