pulling and jumping

Gemma is an adorable, friendly and loving six month old. I have always had dogs, but never one as hard to train as Gemma. She loves the neighbors and their dogs, and is almost impossible to hold on the leash when she sees them. She wants to jump and lick the faces of the people and the dogs. With the family, she hardly ever jumps. What kind of collar is best, and how to curb her enthusiasm? :?
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the best thing to do is get into a good obedience training class. soemtimes it takes a village :lol:
Our Bailee was a rather exuberant young lad hinself. His only real flaw was his jumping up on people like your guy is. We took him to a trainer who suggested we use the Gentle Leader. It was a miricle! His jumping was greatly lessened. He walks well and does not pull at all. Some folks on this forum do not like the Gentle Leader but many do, so the choice will be yours. I know in our case it was the right choice. Of course in the long term the idea is to train him to walk and not jump without the need of the Gentle Leader and with Bailee that is a work in progress but he improving.
Ah, that's the sad part! We already did a puppy class! We tried the harness, and she seemed to hate the gentle leader so gave up on that. She is just incredibly strong, and I am trying to be firm but patient. I think she may need a one on one class. Gemma is progressing with encounters on the sidewalk, but it's the people/dogs she is familiar with who present the challenges.
How did you get your pictures to appear with your entries?
a puppy class is a good start, but only a start. My dogs are four and one of them is always in a class. A gentle leader or a harness is also only a temporary fix, you really need to work with a good trainer on walking on a loose lead. One thing to try is to walk in the opposite direction of where she wants to go and change direction if she starts to pull again.

BUT the best thing to do is find a good trainer (one whose students have good control of their dogs coming into class is a good test).

It takes work, consistency and someone with a boat load of experience and a number of training tools to watch her and help you find what will work with her.
I've been taking Tiggy to obedience class pretty much weekly since she was 4 months old, she's 21 months old now and has been gradually "getting it".

She stopped (mostly) jumping on people at around 9 months old. At first I had to make her sit whenever anyone approached us but now she will stand and not jump. I wish I had have cottoned on to making her sit earlier as it worked better than anything else.

She doesnt pull as much unless she sees another dog running then its a case of hang on and dig in my toes but I'm waiting for the magic 3 year old brain to happen. :lol:
my boys hate the gentle leader too but they do get use to it.. keep trying that collar in the long run you will be happy you did
I can't really say my dog has gotten "use" to the gentle leader b/c quite frankly she hates it, but... I love it! I can enjoy my walk, and she can come along. That's what matters to me EVEN THOUGH the truth has been stated that these leashes do not fix the problem. They'll always do it if off the leash ...just ask my husband who always insists on NOT using it and then complains. I would recommend one to anyone having your problem though!
A gentle leader is a tool - if you can't walk your dog without it without problems - they are learning nothing. With a dog this young I would rather see them pursue real training rather than a crutch (and yes I did use a gl on Marley and Morgan, but they learned nothing.)
A good trainer is needed, as well as an owner who listens and follows through with what the trainer says. If you let them get away with pulling, they will pull.

Gentle leaders or haltis - you all know my view - they are stupid - the dog can wear it for 3 years and know not a single thing more about manners and being behaved in that whole time. It just makes it impossible for the dog to pull without causing serious damage to their necks and spines. Hardly gentle......

The key is training and working as a team. While Chewie has weight pull titles from 2 diffrerent organizations (just pointed out to those who don't know, and also to prove he seriously knows how to PULL), he never pulls on lead and heels just as well off lead in crowds as he does in private. It didn't happen by magic - we worked at it right from the start.

My dogs all learn heeling is the way it goes, not dragging, not jumping on people, all that naughty stuff.
And the best way is to reward the behavior you want. These dogs are smart, if you are consistant and work a bit at it. It isn't magic, just takes a commitment to it. Considering the lifespan of our dogs, this is well worth it.....

ok, off my trainer's soapbox now....
got sheep wrote:
ok, off my trainer's soapbox now....



NOOOOOO!!!!

We need that perspective - I was hoping you would show up while I was still treading water :wink:
I really appreciate ALL of the input about pulling and jumping. It sounds like I shouldn't get too frustrated as this may take a while. I met a man the other night who had a five year old sheepdog, and he said they tend to be a bit "thickheaded", and I don't think he met stupid. Gemma is incredibly alert, notices everything and responds - I have had other large breed dogs but never one quite like her. :)
There is NOTHING like a OES!!
gemma of the crest wrote:
I really appreciate ALL of the input about pulling and jumping. It sounds like I shouldn't get too frustrated as this may take a while. I met a man the other night who had a five year old sheepdog, and he said they tend to be a bit "thickheaded", and I don't think he met stupid. Gemma is incredibly alert, notices everything and responds - I have had other large breed dogs but never one quite like her. :)


Of course there is nothing like an OES, she is an alert herding dog. FInd the right trainer and you can fix the problem in a very short time.

as far as them being thickheaded. someone asked me the other day who was more stubborn, my male or my female :lmt: I still haven't answered them.
They are BIG BOUNCEY ENTHUSIASTIC dogs, they need a controlled owner.

I would not bother with Harnesses it gives them more pulling power for less discomfort.

I would only use a normal collar - never any corrective collars that inflict pain.

Always pull to the side when correcting, don't let her pull forwards, correct to the side before she gets ahead of you.

When walking if lunging stop walking, reel her into your side, talk to her to distract, you need to be calm all the time obviously, try not to let her feed on your excitement, once she has settled, then tell her to come along - or what ever command you choose, when she behaves praise her, repeat as neccessary, it takes a lot of your patience, but little by little she will learn what is required, part of her exercise should envolve some spirited activity to reduce her energy levels.

How much exercise does she get daily, as a tired sheepie is generally easier to control than one that's batteries are fully charged.
Chauncey is very intellegent and is not food driven, it was a tough training period...still in progress. Maturity has been a big help.
My husband takes him on long walks 1-2 times a day and complains about him wanting to go a certain route ( :roll: and he lets him ), or pulling and jumping at passing cars. I can't physically do the long walks as often but if I go somewhere I will take him with me. We go to Petsmart, Petco or other places with parking lots and other dogs and distractions and he's wonderful. In fact he seems to like shopping alot more than I do.
The jumping took awhile, but one day, my then 6 year old grand-daughter just squared off on him and in a very firm voice, shoulders back, and chest puffed commanded him to off & sit, and he did it.
Another thing I've been told works well is to put a bended knee up when they are coming at you. I didn't use this method. I have used a Halti and it was more trouble than it was worth, and not as sucessful as a a firm 6 year old. :D
Thanks for the tips. I am taking them all in. We are seeing a slow progression, but when she really sees a friend she wants to approach, be it man or beast, there is almost no holding her back. Where is Chauncy in Maryland located, and where did you get him? Maybe they are related! It sounds as if in a year and a half or so we might be in good shape.
We are near Hagerstown and Chauncey came from near Shippensburg, PA. We are about 65 miles from DC. If you are close PM me and maybe we came arrange a play date.
That is why you have to read your dog and reign her in before she gets into her stride, I am 215 lbs and have been pulled over by Archie when he has caught me unawares - so be very vigilant :lol: (he wanted to lick a cat!)

It does get better........
One of my very large boys Quin was a puller....
We adopted him at 18 months and he enjoyed
PULLING!!!
Quin went though probably 2 years of pre novice classes..

Every week, for pretty much all of that time.

I used a normal Martingale on him, so he would not slip...
if he pulled in one direction we went the oposite.
Sometimes I was dizzy! :lol:
If in the park and another dog was acting wild, I put him in a sit stay
with lots of praise and treats!
That sit/stay didn't come easy, it does take work!

There is a basic "touch" excercise where your dogs learns to
follow your hand,
To watch you....
Sometimes it can be a pain :lol:
My dogs always think I have a treat but, I do have constant attention! :P

This is a pic of Murphy following his Dad through a class!

Image

Good Luck and please do ask any questions!!!
I have been taking all the responses to heart and trying a variety of techniques, mostly a lot of patience and consistency. I make Gemma "wait" when people or dogs walk by and stand off to the side. She's pretty good until the person/dog is right past up, then lunges once when I loosens up but moves on forward. The worst part is still pulling to get to a puppy friend, and I literally have to plant myself and hang on. I'm not sure how to pull to the side because I can't get up next to her. She's trying and things are getting better. She is my little shadow, funny, entertaining, cuddly, loves to play, and is making me walk at least three long walks a day. She also loves to go in the car and is incredibly patient, doesn't sleep but watches everything out the window. It's been a lot of work, but is worth it.

And Chauncey, Gemma is from Shippensburg, too. I see a resemblance! Tell me more. Maybe we can get these relatives together!
^^^
when she pulls - make and abrubt change in direction - even the opposite way and walk with purpose she should follow.

If she reacts when dogs get right opposite her - walk the other way abrub\ptly. And I have to say the sitting and letting other dogs walk past NEVER worked for me - my dog got more and more reactive. We worked with an excellent trainier and were trained to use the prong collar appropriately. Two weekends ago we were at a dog show, this week we go to an agility trial and tomorrow night we have a fly ball class. Each dog has their own needs and solutions and you need to find the right combination.
A quick question about pulling her the other way -
Sometimes I like to let her play a bit with a neighbor dog. There are a couple of other young dogs she adores. Can't I give in to her now and then and let her mingle with them or does it send a mixed message? Do we always have to walk away?
Frankies a 7 mos old very sweet boy. He is the same way, he's ok with my husband and myself but when I take him to daycare, he drags me through the pet store up to the pet hotel. If no one in the hotel pays attention to him he starts to make sheepie noises. Then he will attempt to jump on them to give them hugs and kisses. Same thing goes for other dogs waiting in line. I tried the gentle leader he walks very well on it but hates it so much he rolls his face around trying to get it off he does sommersaults and everything hoping someone will help him. My day camp offers private training lessons and I'm thinking about trying that. I hear the trainer is very good.
gemma of the crest wrote:
A quick question about pulling her the other way -
Sometimes I like to let her play a bit with a neighbor dog. There are a couple of other young dogs she adores. Can't I give in to her now and then and let her mingle with them or does it send a mixed message? Do we always have to walk away?


He really shouldn't get to decide its play time. If he pulls - he shouldn't get to play. Three things to remember that all training has to be to be effective: fair (in dog terms), consistent (no exceptions) and immediate (they need to make the connection and it needs to get a result).
Yes, that's my girl, who is now 7 months, too. Maybe it's just a stage???
^^^
well if it is it lasts for years, unless you train them now. It only gets harder later on,
:D again I am not alone. I love this site and the more I read the more I realize Molly is not disfunctional just loving :lol:
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