I have had no luck training my dog on the leash. please help!

1832 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Lucillle, Jul 22, 2016

tiabia13

Discussion Starter · Jul 10, 2016

I have a English springier spaniel/lab mix who is what feels like impossible to train. I have tried giving treats every time but she began to assume she would always get a treat. after that i tried to mix it up and not always give her a treat
but always giving affection. That only worked for a little while, she began to want nothing to do with training or tricks once she couldn't smell treats. I have tried to just use affection as a reward but she didnt seem to care much. i have just bought a clicker, and so far it only works while inside the house for basic commands. walking on a leash, she looses focus. If shes not nose deep in something (in which i cant pull her out of unless i physically move her) or just stares straight ahead almost like shes ignoring me. Any tips? shes a very smart dog, about a little over a year old. is there a way of keeping her focused instead of her nose going wild? She would be a brilliant sent tracker if i knew how to train her to do so.

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Shandula

· #2 · Jul 10, 2016

Hi there! Welcome to the DF!

Can we have a little more background on your dog? As in, what have you tried, and what does your dream walk look like? Personally, I don't care what my dogs are doing, as long as they aren't pulling me or switching sides like crazy. I encourage them to sniff since walks aren't really physical exercise for dogs (us two-legs are so slow!), but definitely more about mental exercise.

You need to start teaching loose leash walking inside your house to start, where the distractions are very low. Then work up to your backyard, driveway, sidewalk in front of your house etc.

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Besoeker

· #3 · Jul 10, 2016

tiabia13 said:
I have a English springier spaniel/lab mix who is what feels like impossible to train. I have tried giving treats every time but she began to assume she would always get a treat. after that i tried to mix it up and not always give her a treat
but always giving affection. That only worked for a little while, she began to want nothing to do with training or tricks once she couldn't smell treats. I have tried to just use affection as a reward but she didnt seem to care much. i have just bought a clicker, and so far it only works while inside the house for basic commands. walking on a leash, she looses focus. If shes not nose deep in something (in which i cant pull her out of unless i physically move her) or just stares straight ahead almost like shes ignoring me. Any tips? shes a very smart dog, about a little over a year old. is there a way of keeping her focused instead of her nose going wild? She would be a brilliant sent tracker if i knew how to train her to do so.

Hi and welcome tiabia.
Are you in a place where you can let your dog off the lead/leash?
Could you try that?

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tiabia13

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 10, 2016

Besoeker said:
Hi and welcome tiabia.
Are you in a place where you can let your dog off the lead/leash?
Could you try that?

I take her to a five acre field daily. She comes back when called,and is overall a good dog off leash. Its when I put her on the lead that she starts pulling like crazy and doesnt listen.

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tiabia13

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 10, 2016

She does good in the house, so we moved to a park that she knows very well with little distractions. I havent tried the driveway do to us being on a busy highway. I thought it might distract her.

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Besoeker

· #6 · Jul 11, 2016

tiabia13 said:
I take her to a five acre field daily. She comes back when called,and is overall a good dog off leash. Its when I put her on the lead that she starts pulling like crazy and doesnt listen.

We go to a big park, 17 hectares, and ours is fine there. We do put him om the lead to take him across the car park at the start an finish. He can pull and he is a big, strong chap. It happens if he is anxious or excited about something. It such situations I ask him to sit and we stay for a few moments until he regains his composure. Works for us.

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TheNerdiestRedneck

· #7 · Jul 21, 2016 (Edited by Moderator)

Sounds like a gentle leader would definitely help!

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Aspen726

· #8 · Jul 22, 2016

Reminder: this is a positive method training forum. Recommending aversive methods are against the rules.

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Lucillle

· #9 · Jul 22, 2016

Shandula said:
You need to start teaching loose leash walking inside your house to start, where the distractions are very low. Then work up to your backyard, driveway, sidewalk in front of your house etc.

I like this idea for this particular dog.

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