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General => Pets Corner => Topic started by: ACE on January 04, 2009, 15:42:57
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Flynn, my border collie is over 8 years old. He comes to work with me every day, but he has never had to be put on a lead as I taught him from an early age to walk to heel.
Now he is well known aound here and the dog wardens have never challenged me for having a dog off the lead. I want to take him with us on our caravaning trips, but the law states that a dog must be on a lead when on the street. So I am trying to get him used to it.
As soon as I put the lead on he pulls away and no amount of stay/sit/heel commands will work. I have been out twice a day and use the turn around or stand still until I am ready to go method. After a couple of days it is starting to work, but if my attention is taken by one second he is back to square one. He has never worked for treats, but loves the 'goodboy' and a pat system.
He is so clever and will learn a new trick in minutes, but why won't he walk with a lead?
Any tips anyone?
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He is so clever and will learn a new trick in minutes, but why won't he walk with a lead?
Perhaps he thinks he's a cat. ;D
G x
PS Sorry, I have no solution but I couldn't resist.
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Border collie's don't take to leads, as you've found out!
Mine are both "bitzers", but with collie in them. Like your Flynn, they don't need leads - the younger one has taught herself to walk to heel and is totally aware of what's going on - but the traffic round our way is so fast & frantic that if I walk them any serious distance around the streets I have to put them on leads for their own safety. Have you tried a Halti, which slips over their nose? Mine now - very grudgingly - walk as a pair to my left, so that I've got both hands on the leads.
But none of us like it! I'd rather see dogs off the lead and motorists who treat side roads like Brands Hatch be the ones who are restrained!
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I tried a Halti a few years ago, as my wife wanted to take him for walks. He will not do anything for her, but would protect her with his life. Anyway the halti was not liked by him and when we she let him run in the forest, Flynn 'lost' it.
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A dog after my own heart....
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I use a halti with one of my springies, but the other one wouldn't take to it at all. There are harnesses available that sit in a certain way that will stop them pulling. It may be that he'll feel more comfortable with something around his body rather than his neck.
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He is big, very big for a collie. A harness would work if I had a dog sled to fix to it. ;D
(http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/29305/2758581470062644071S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2758581470062644071TpXOOi)
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Try leaving a short lead on while round the house and garden.This may familiarise the dog with the lead.
Lots of praise and a treat every time he does what you want him to do.
Collies rule OK ;D
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Jill
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I think the pair of you should be reported to Dan for posting pornographic photos! They are seriously gorgeous dogs!
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Try leaving a short lead on while round the house and garden.This may familiarise the dog with the lead.
that must be worth a try. Thanks
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I think the pair of you should be reported to Dan for posting pornographic photos! They are seriously gorgeous dogs!
All border collies are seriously gorgeous, and seriously intelligent. I wish I wish ... :-\ :-\ :-\ Unfortunately I have cats who hate dogs. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
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ACE, what a beautiful dog, it reminds me of my first dog, Jan. He was a collie mix. He was called Jan as my ex-husband found him (dead) under his van on January 1st. He had gone to the pub and left me 'home alone' with a baby (his of course). We bought him in, a frozen lump, (the dog, not my ex) and put him in front of the fire and he thawed out. Fed him cat food, took him to the police station, never claimed and had him for 14 years. Still have the scar on my finger when another dog attacked him in the park and I tried to separate them. Park keeper (had them in those days) took me home, pushed the pram, and me dripping blood and the doctor actually came to my house and I had to have stitches. I was pregnant (again) at that time so I suppose I had the sympathy vote. Second dog (Basil Brush) was an alastian mix, bought in a pub for a double whisky, by ex-husband. Had him on an extended lead as he attacked any dog in sight, but good with people and children. Gave up on holidays when we had the dog unless we took him with us, remember being dragged out of a tent as slept with Basil Brush and he got up early and went round the other tents and nicked everyones breakfast, especially the sausages. I an afraid if you have a dog you have to pick a holiday to suit the dog, not you.
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we've been watching 'dog whisperer', I know silly name but he's seriously good and we've stopped Maisie pulling on her lead by using some of his tips :)
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Is that the abrupt turning?
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we pull her sideways, she doesn't like it :)
hope you can sort your dog out, Ace :)
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A bit of an improvement today. I put the lead on and let him run in the garden to get rid of the excitement. Then I would not go out until he let me through the gate first instead of his usual pull through. Every time there was any tension on the lead, I stopped. After half an hour he was getting fed up and started realising he was told he was a good boy when the lead was slack. Every time there was a narrower gap to go through I made him sit, then I walked through and then told him to follow.
After his run along the cliffs without a lead it took him 2 minutes to get back as I wanted him. Then I walked 1 mile home perfectly. Well apart from him wanting to thingy his leg on every post/bush/tree etc.
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How is it going?
Progress reports please :)
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Back to square one yesterday, we could not even get through the gate, three time we tried. So three time he did not go out. He got the message this morning. Calmed down as we got to the gate, then a walk alongside me, just a few tugs, but he checked himself.
Naturally he wants too rush off and smell the territory each time. But I think the free running that comes halfway through has made hm start to think twice.
He is clever enough to realise these things. We had a couple of seasons work in a country park and he used to come along. I growled at him if he wanted to chase the animals, so he stopped and would completely ignore them.
The big test will be when my wife takes him out.
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Sounds like he is doing well.Clever boy.
Dog that is,not you ;D
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Like you ACE, I taught mine to walk without a lead but some times it's safer alround to use one. When I'm walking her off the lead there are places she will stop until the lead goes on. There are 'lead' places and 'no-lead' places and she knows them all.
Stick to it. Repetition will work in the end.
Ken.
PS. Sounds like an intellegent dog. The loose short lead used every day will work quite well eventually.
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We have a springer spaniel collie cross (sprollie!)
Have to say that he is amazing off the lead, but once on it he could take your arm off if he tried >:(
Am still perseveering with the lead training but I find that if he has had a good run before trying, he seems to accept behaving a lot more.
Haltis do make things a lot easier, but if left his own devices, even for a while, will try and sometimes manage to get it off..
Good luck..
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While I was rummaging around in the shed, I found his old choke chain. I tried it out and had a great walk with him. He did not bother to pull as chain made the lead another 6 inches longer. So I got a longer lead and he is as good as gold. I reckon he was uncomfortable walking by my big feet and had to be just a few more inches further forward. I do remember once I did tread on his paw, he must have had it somewhere in the back of his mind.
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Good-O ACE ;D
Thats made life a lot easier for you both ;D
Happy caravaning holidays coming up for all of you ;) ;D ;D ;D
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While I was rummaging around in the shed, I found his old choke chain. I tried it out and had a great walk with him. He did not bother to pull as chain made the lead another 6 inches longer. So I got a longer lead and he is as good as gold. I reckon he was uncomfortable walking by my big feet and had to be just a few more inches further forward. I do remember once I did tread on his paw, he must have had it somewhere in the back of his mind.
Border's are lead dogs. They hate walking to heel, but they will walk ahead by just a few feet.