Me and Meg again! Two issues

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

We were driving a sedan and had a Kurgo sling hammock in the back for Meg and she did great with it, she loves to be in the car no matter how long.  This week we traded to a crossover suv and were kind of excited about it because it makes the perfect place for Meg.  She is scared of the noise the gate makes when it goes down now and wants nothing to do with it.  I just tried to put her in to go walk in the park and she tucks her tail and keeps turning away.  I crawled in with treats and my husband and I put her in and out a couple of times and had her lay beside me while he opened and closed, after the third in and out she would not have it again.  Any ideas to help???????

 

Second issue.  When I walk Meg I want her walking beside me in a proper walk so we both get exercise, she has never walked right for me on a training collar...pulls against it constantly and it hurts my hand to control her plus wears out my ancient shoulder (already compromised by surgery).  She does better with a Gentle Lead head harness but this morning she even fought me with that.  Here is what I believe is just part of the problem, my husband walks her out toward the fields behind our house and he is happy just repeating 'don't pull' but letting her have the full leash with his arm extended as well, grrrr!  I am struggling to train him AND Meg in a proper walk.  I think I am going to make him and her walk with me at the same time and see if we can not get some sort of a compromise going.  I would love to just tell him it has to be my way but, honestly, he is 72 and teaching an old dog...well, you know.  Besides, he loves her as much as I do and I don't want to take his fun away from her.  Boy do I need help on this issue.

[Adina P]

Oh Meggipoo...

I don't have a suggestion for the car issue.  But for #2 my suggestion is to train Meg to heel on command...it takes some work and I, personally, would not walk her except for training so she doesn't confuse things until she fully understands heel, BUT here's the good part: Because heel is a command, just don't tell your husband about it and he can't ruin the command :-)  Once she's got 'heel' down you tell her to heel when you want her to heel on walks and your husband won't tell her to heel and all will be well. =)

[Bonnie and Kona]

I agree wholeheartedly with Adina. Sadly my DH knows the heel command but doesn't enforce it when he says it. So if you can teach it to Meggie and not have your DH undo it, that will be great. There are lots of uncooperative spouses on this site so we feel your pain. ;o)

It sounds like you have done so much to ease Meg's mind about the SUV. Now I wonder if it will just take constant repetition. Kona is the only dog we have ever had that does not like riding in the car. He goes to the park in it every day of his life and while he is happy to get in, he hangs his head and shakes a little every time. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have taught my Doodles to heel, but my DH "does his own thing" when he walks them....which is far from a heel.  They have learned that Mom and Dad have different rules, and don't seem confused by it. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like the noise is frightening her and she'll need some time to get used to it and understand that it's not going to hurt her.  For now I would try to distract her at the point the gate is being closed....high value treats or a squeaky toy (which may even help with noise).  Try not to say things like "it's okay...you'll be okay".  I really believe that when we do that they can pick up in our voices that we are feeling badly for them which could reinforce that there's something to be afraid of.  I really think in a week or two she'll be fine.

[Wendy and Myla]

Very recently on this forum someone said that when their doodle starts pulling, her trainer told her to walk backward without saying anything and then moving forward again was the reward.  This made sense to me and I started trying it this last week and it is working.  As soon as she moves ahead of me on the leash, I just walk backwards about 10 steps (till she's confused) and then start walking forward saying "walk nice" and she is figuring it out!  She is still pulling when she sees another dog or child but I'm hoping that after a while, all I will have to say is "walk nice" (without walking backward) and she will not pull at that time either!  (I can dream, can't I??? LOL).  It's funny, because after yesterday's walk I was trying to figure out who posted this on the forum so I could thank them as it really works for Myla and I!!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Well, the circle of commonality is getting wider. My DH is trying but the behaviorist told him while I was out of the loop b/c of kidney stone a hugely different approach than Heeling. I an old school person when it comes to training a dog to walk properly...my highly recommended consult and very costly behaviorist ..on this one Ichoose to disagree with him. However as Adina mentioned..it's easier getting the dog to differentiate between Mom & Dad than teaching Old Dad new command. I also see how proud he is that Derby is doing well with his walking style and don't want to discourage the bonding.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Great point, Meg loves DH and he laughs out loud all the time while playing with her and tries to walk her at least once a day because "she keeps asking him to", I would never want to spoil that for either of them.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Yes, my DH loves our doodles more than any dogs we have had. He runs them every day. He even kisses them! A first ever! I don't care if he doesn't know how to reinforce "heel" correctly. I should say I don't want to care. :o)

[Heather]

We just traded our crossover in for a new SUV since I got a second Big Doodle. The crossover lift gate didn't make that noise, but the new Suv does. Oliver would not jump in on his own anymore. He is a Big Boy and I can't lift him very easily. My husband and I worked on it every night for about two weeks. I would get in the back seat and call him with treat bag in hand and my husband would coax him some. Finally we are back on track. Just took some time and patience for him to get used to it and now he's fine. I'm sure in my case it did also help for him to see my Ellie jump in first. But he was Stubborn and held his ground for a while!!!! Just be Patient, she will get used to it~

[BG and Gavin]

I had a problem with Gavin jumping into the back of the SUV after he hit his head doing so as a pup.  I tried and tried and lifted and prodded and had all kinds of resistance.  Then I saw a trainer on TV dealing with this exact issue and he said let him go a different way.  If you get stuck one way, try another.  Coin drop!  I let Gavin get in via the back door instead of trying to force him though the back lift and voila.  Same result, no struggle.  I know you issue is a bit different, but maybe if you change his entry point it will change his mindset.

As for the shoulder issue.  Try tethering Meg around your waist (make a slip knot by threading the leash through the handle and stepping into the loop that you made).  This gives you more power and will save your shoulder.  From there follow instructions above:  if she gets out ahead of you, turn your body and walk in a different direction (back, sideways, like a drunk, or just stop).  You unpredictable movement will get her to pay better attention to you and you never have to touch the leash.