"pack walk"?

TegansMyBoy

I was just curious as to how many of you actually do the "pack walk" thing Cesar claims is to effective to establishing that you are the leader...?

I know Cesar has mixed reviews around here, and I myself have only been reading/watching/listening about dog training for a few months... but I don't completely buy this theory. I agree with a lot of the other stuff he says, but I just don't see how walking a dog next to you or infront of you would matter- as long as he's not pulling and walking at a reasonable rate, it's a little crazy to suggest they should lumber along at human pace instead of adventure a little at the end of a leash.

Tegan always walks behind me, but I attribute this to the fact he smells EVERYTHING and waddles cause he's over weight (which we're working on... ) haha

Tell me what y'all think about this...

pawsforthought

when on the lead (which i do appreciate is alot more often for anyone in the States than it is for a Brit like me) i think it's more appropriate for monty to walk next to or behind me. this is because i want to make sure he understands that i go first, not him. i apply this in all situations. ESPECIALLY at the door. and this has greatly helped us. if the front door is open, he will not go outside now (not that we leave it open at all) which is good because our road is just off a main road in the area and quite a few cars pass through.

however, monty is let off lead as much as possible when we are in the local park (which means he gets about 2 hours of off lead exercise each day) and he runs around all over the show. i think when dogs are OFF lead it's a bit too much to ask them to stay with you or behind you!! i LOVE cesar millan alot, but i'm not blind enough to miss any flaws i think he has!! (not flaws in him personally, but in his methods!! haha)

anyway that's just my opinion. because monty is quite big (he is JUST within the height range for male aussies, and he hasn't finished growing yet!!) i like other people to see that he is under control!!! (he's very friendly, but he does jump up so i like to sort of 'show off' the fact that monty is well behaved on the lead, if you know what i mean!!)

Criosphynx

as long as the dog isn't pulling Iam fine with it.

If you watch enough Cesar he has to use a long stick that he puts infront of the dogs to keep them where he wants them...to me, even if I did buy the whole leader/pack walk thing...would think its odd he has to force the dogs to walk next to him buy putting a staff in their faces.

Mikey

Ditto Crio I also don't really buy the whole 'me before him' through doors especially-because dogs don't know what doorways are-neither do wolves or ponies for that matter!...it doesn't make sense. Also in reading up on it-the 'alpha' pair in a wolf pack do not stay in front-so again does not make sense.

If I were to guess-the dog is in front becasue they want to 'go' and they are excited for their walk and maybe a little that they want to protect me-not because they think they are the boss

I think it looks silly to have your dog behind you -hahahah especially if I were using a stick to do it In front is fine, like Crio said as long as he's not pulling Beside is great too-but I don't have him heel on walks-he heels when we do heeling. Walks are his time

ScentHound

If you try to pack walk two real scenthounds at the same time you run the risk of dislocating a shoulder. My luck would be they would go in opposite directions and tear my bad should out before I could call them off the scent. Might look like something from loony toons. They are voracious when it comes to tracking.

Sarah

haha I know what you mean. I occasionally walk my moms beagle... I always just hope she doesn't come across a wild rabbit. Really it's just all down hill from there, and really no stopping them.

ScentHound

A strong harness, and boots with good tread. Cleo pulled me off my feet one day when I hit a patch of ice. She was able to drag me about 3 feet while I was still on the ice. We were tracking a coyote that day. She was having a great time, trying out for the part of sled dog.

espencer

I do the whole walk besides me but is not for leadership purposes but because i always find that the Dog can have a better control if he is ACTUALLY watching me. I dont let my dog walk in front of me because this facilitates the dog to start forgetting that he is attached to the owner. Walking besides me actually also promotes the brain to get into "exercise mode" which is really important if i want to burn a Malamute's energy

catahoulaowner

why do u say a dog doesnt know what a door way is? If they know what a door is, i would think they would know what a door way is?

Criosphynx

she means, they don't view who gets out the door first as a power play