LUNGING on walks

[babyjoemurphy]

What fantastic help guys. I know I stress because of the other people. I have started to be assertive more in the house. When anyone comes to the door I take my space and wait till he sits and calms, when he wants a toy I have him sit and calm, and the cat....well that is another story. He gets the zoomies when i stop him from getting her

 

[ruthcatrin]

Lol!!

Apollo's normally VERY GOOD about my cats, they can even walk on him safely. But lately the younger cat (Trouble) has taken to trying to slip out the door. For reasons known only to her she insists on doing so ONLY when I'm bringing the dogs back in. So basically she tries to slip out under their noses....and I'll catch her, under their noses, carry her back in, let her go...and Apollo just goes zoomie nuts after her then around the living room. I haven't figured it out yet!

 

[babyjoemurphy]

I am really hating not walking Murphy. I watch my husband leave with him and I find myself pouting. But on a good note Murphy meet a Sheppard named George, a little shit shui named Daisy and a chuwawa (sp) tonight at the park. On a bad note I didn't get to enjoy his play. I am going to try even harder to be assertive and calm now. I am feeling left out and being the baby of my family it isn't something I like or an use to LOL

 

[ruthcatrin]

Well I'm glad to hear he's enjoying himself, now we just need to get you in there. I know, not that simple....

 

[babyjoemurphy]

I attempted to bring up the muzzle idea again after watching a Casear Millan episode where he said sometimes its about making the owner calm, but hubby dismissed it again. Maybe he is right in thinking I just have to do it. He obviously has more confidence in me then I do.
The other day my son was on his bike in the backyard and Murphy was running beside him. Wasn't attacking the bike but was VERY interested. Does anyone think maybe getting on a bike in a park late at night when there isn't anyone else around might help him? I say no one else around because if he decides to pull me I'm gone, off the bike scrapped knees crying like a baby LMAO

 

[ruthcatrin]

walk him beside the bike first, with someone walking the bike and someone walking the dog but with the him right next to the bike. And then maybe at a trot. And if he's ok with it I don't see why giving it a try will hurt (except maybe your pride and skin), use his flat collar though not the choke. And if you decide thats going to work as a regular form of excercise look into finding a good harness to attach the leash too so you don't choke him if something happens. (I recently found a site that has harnesses for chest measurements up to 50" if you want the link)

 

[ruthcatrin]

We use the WalkyDog bike attachment with Arty, but Apollo refused to have anything to do with it (if you decide on using this you want the wheel attachment, an extra $15, for a dog Murphy's size, the standard attachment he'd pull you over the first time he got distracted).

 

[babyjoemurphy]

Awesome guys thanks. I would have never thought of the flat collar or a harness

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------

what a fantastic idea, I have never seen anyone with this gadget before

 

[babyjoemurphy]

what a fantastic idea, I have never seen anyone with this gadget before

 

[ruthcatrin]

There's several variations on it, some of them quite expensive, the Walky dog is inexpensive, and easy to use, and gives me a way to keep Arty running with out killing myself.

 

[babyjoemurphy]

Here is an update on Murphys walks,
I am still not walking him or even with him except for today. We took Murphy to my Dads (my Dad loves Murphy) and decided to take him back to the beach. This time we didn't go to the BUSY beach but a more suitable leisure part. He did fantastic. I didn't walk with him, but was behind him about 5ft. We encountered people walking at him, around him, beside him, he even tried to investigate some ones picnic. He had no issues even with the people on bikes.
Just about finished the walk and there it is.....He barked at a guy on a skateboard that come up behind him and dropped his board to ride. It startled all of us. But he didn't LUNGE he just gave a bark.
I think my husband has listened to me (you guys) about not putting him in to the thick of people. He actually said he thought it was good for me to be on this forum and have come up with ideas from you all.
I am hoping to hold the lead again soon. Like I stated earlier my 10 yr old son has a better walk him Murphy then I do, he doesn't have the fear that I do and Murphy REALLY responds to him. Again its with double lead.

With that said I have to add. I ended up having to go back to our starting point to get the truck and drive to Murphy. He was not making it back to the start point. It wasn't a long walk but he started to slow down and at any point I am sure he was gonna park his ass in the grass and protest. LOL

 

[Jadotha]

Sounds like great progress, Babyjoe! Way to go!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Woohoo! Progress

 

[Glasgowdogtrainer]

Wonderful news, it takes time but it will happen with the right techniques and handling

 

[Robtouw]

I agree with the use of food as a distraction and reward but I do not allow my boy to receive food from strangers or other people in general. My last OEM, Buddy and my current Pup, both are trained to sit and wait when someone other then myself or husband is treating them and wait for one of us to give him an ok to receive it. For us, its a safety measure.