Comments on: Loose-leash walking: Days 5-6

By: Ty Brown

Ty Brown — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:57:45 +0000

Yikes. I thought Utah was cold. You need to move somewhere warm!

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:39:08 +0000

Yeah, I can totally see how that would be a challenge, Biggie!

By: Biggie-Z

Biggie-Z — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:17:57 +0000

Loose leash walking is so hard for us because we couldn’t really do the baby steps. It was either in the apartment and puppy class (perfect; no distractions) or potty walks on NYC streets, nothing in between!

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:07:12 +0000

Thanks for putting things into perspective, Suzy.

My old golden had a problem with anxiety and would cry and howl when she was nervous, which was anytime we took her somewhere or if someone came over. It drove us nuts her whole life. Now that she’s gone, I’d do anything to hear her again.

I imagine that years from now I will look back and wish I could see Ace obsessing over a tennis ball.

By: Suzy charto

Suzy charto — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:17:00 +0000

We worked on polite walking all of our dog’s life. He was usually quite good but the sight of the lake where we took him swimming was always just too much. He never could contain himself. Now he is old and sick. I don’t have a tight leash because he is always behind me, walking painfully slowly. I know soon I will be walking by myself. I can’t believe I am saying that I miss the days when his body was quivering – trying to listen to me but not being quite able to ignore the squirrels who were just out of reach. Time passes too quickly
Suzy

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:44:13 +0000

Breaking things down is almost always the key to success. Can't wait to hear how your adventure to the dog park went. Brrr...10 degrees? I hate winter. It's not that cold here yet, and I'm already ready to hibernate. LOL Maries last blog post..Today is a good day!

By: Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:32:51 +0000

Thanks for the tip, Lindsay. That red collar looks wonderful on Ace, by the way!

Mayra Calvanis last blog post..Interview with Author Michele Scott

By: Saint Lover

Saint Lover — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:38:11 +0000

Good article! baby steps for over excitable dogs is very good advice. Too many people don’t assess their dogs and work with in their limitations. Just because a dog cant do something today doesn’t mean it wont be able to in a few weeks or months with adequate work and training.

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:54:44 +0000

Haha! Nice work with Gus.

By: Apryl DeLancey

Apryl DeLancey — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:48:57 +0000

Yeah – good point about being embarrassed. It is absolutely vital to have repetition with a dog so that they can remember the behavior.

I’m excited that my Gustav knows that he always walks on the street side of the sidewalk when we are in the neighborhood. It didn’t take long and he does “forget” sometimes but I just move him to the correct side. He always stays by my side and I keep him off of people’s yards by always having him on the street side. This way, when he does his thing it isn’t so horrible for the “victim’s” yard and not so embarrassing for me. (I say victim since picking up after him is like picking up after a horse!)