ASK THE EXPERT

How to teach your dog to walk politely on leash

By Jamie H., Dioji Manager and Trainer

Summer is in full swing, and that means we’re spending a lot more time outdoors with our pooches. But walking and hiking can be very unappealing with a rowdy pup who doesn’t behave on leash. Here are a few tips for training your dog to walk nicely on leash. You don’t need any treats or fancy harnesses or prong collars to teach your dog not to pull. Think about things from your dog’s point of view: “Hmm, that tree over there smells AWESOME! I want to get closer and check it out!” So he pulls towards the tree. If you follow him, and he actually gets to sniff that tree, he is getting what he wanted. He learns that by pulling, he gets rewarded!

If, on the other hand, every time your dog pulls, you move farther away from that object, he will learn that he only gets rewarded for walking politely. To practice, put your dog’s normal leash and collar on. If you use a retractable leash, keep it locked at 4-6 feet. Watch the leash as you start walking forward. If the leash goes taut, pivot your body 180 degrees*, and start walking in the opposite direction. Your dog may put on the brakes, but just keep moving at a steady pace. You don’t need to jerk on the leash at all, just a gentle steady pressure until your dog begins walking with you. Once he is walking on a loose leash again, you can turn and continue on your original route.

As with any training, the more consistent you are, the quicker your dog will learn. If he gets away with pulling when the kids are walking him, he will likely continue to try pulling when you walk him. If, on the other hand, you practice this every time you go for a walk, your dog will learn very quickly that pulling gets him nowhere.

Once your dog has mastered loose-leash walking in your neighborhood, try venturing out to more distracting areas, such as the beach or the front walkway at Dioji! The more your dog is tempted to pull, the more you can practice walking the other way.

*If you have a very large dog, you need to be careful you don’t hurt your shoulders when you turn. Keep your arms in close to your body, and pivot sharply. Don’t extend your arms out when your dog pulls, or you will feel it the next day!

Back to top

DID YOU KNOW

When choosing treats for training, you want to consider these things:

Scent
The smellier the treat, the easier you’ll be able to get your dog’s attention

Size
Small treats are easy to chew quickly, and you can give a lot of them without worrying about your dog getting full

Texture
Soft treats are much easier to chew than hard ones. They also don’t leave crumbs that your dog may get distracted by

Value
Many dogs will work for kibble in low distraction areas, but if you want to get them focused while out in a distracting environment you will need something of a higher value to them

Variety
Many dogs get bored with one type of treat all the time. Try mixing a few different types and storing them in a Ziploc bag, so you can grab a handful quickly.

Back to top

Barkimonial

Dolly

Dolly wanted to send a quick thank you to all of her aunts and uncles at Dioji. Though she wishes she could hang out with Mom & Dad all day, every day, she knows someone needs to pay for daycare so there's no other place on earth she would rather be than at Dioji. Mom & Dad would like to say a special thank you to Meghan, Ayres and all of the other team members that have had the opportunity to help mold our little girl into the perfect young lady. Your constant supervision, training, and advice have been priceless to our family! Thank you for everything you do!

- Jenn

Email info@dioji.com if you have a barkimonial you would like to share.

Inside the Club

Saturday, July 17th, 4:30pm
Agility Demo @ Dioji

The Goleta Valley Dog Club will be in the Dioji play yard after our normal business hours to set up some agility equipment, do a demonstration and help you & your dog try your hand at agility! Spaces are limited so sign up at the Dioji front desk or call 685-6068 to reserve your spot. This free event was a hit last September!

Sunday, July 18th, 10:45am
Dioji Adult Basic Obedience Class

New six week course begins for dogs over 7 months of age who have either never had a training class or could just use a refresher.

Saturday, July 24th, 4:30pm
NEW!!! FUNdamentals of Freestyle Class

Have you ever wanted to try dancing with your dog? Canine Freestyle dancing is a fun sport that matches your dog's tricks to music. In this beginning class you will learn basic freestyle moves. Positive reinforcement will be used to teach your dog to spin, circle, weave, backup, and heel more consistently.

For this class prerequisites are basic obedience skills and good rapport with other dogs. Class runs for 4 weeks and costs $120. Call trainer Andrea Bratt Frick directly to book: (805) 708-1418

Sunday, July 25th, 9:30am
Dioji Puppy II Training Class

A six week course begins for dogs who have either completed our Puppy I class and would like to continue learning or for puppies 4-7 months new to training. Includes 2 days of puppy daycare!

Saturday, July 31st, 9am
Dioji Puppy I Training Class

A six week course begins for puppies needing to learn basic commands including help with potty training and swim lessons in our giant pool. Includes 2 days of puppy daycare!

Outside the Club

August 29th, 2010
Wags n' Whiskers Festival

Mark your calendars for the second annual Wags n' Whiskers Festival at Girch Park (previously at Tuckers Grove). Further details will be in the August Tribone.

Back to top

Product of the month

Real Meat Treats

From New Zealand, these soft treats are all natural, 95% meat, no fillers, artificial coloring or preservatives. Raised on the pristine New Zealand ranges, the meats used in these treats graze on a natural grass diet. These are GREAT FOR TRAINING. These come in a resealable bag with approx 750 treats in a bag.

Available in Beef, Venison, Fish & Venison, Lamb, Lamb Liver and Chicken & Venison

Back to top

The Dioji Family

Rebecca

Dog Associate

Hometown: Goleta

Pets of my own: Queensland Healer/McNab mix named Nabler

Something people may not know about you: I rode my bike across the country — from Maine to Vancouver, BC

Favorite activity with the dogs: I really like taking one of the dogs for a "walk" around the perimeter of the yard and inevitably other dogs will come join us and before I know it we are an entire herd walking around the yard together. No particular place to go but we're having fun :-)

Favorite Dioji moment: Sitting on the hill in the middle of the yard with the dogs spread out all around me as we all take an afternoon break in the sun

Ideas for future Tribone topics? Email susan@dioji.com.