Leash Tugging and Jumping UP

[Jen B]

So...Clara has two issues that we can't seem to cure. We've had dogs all of our married life and always been successful at training. BUT, we can't seem to train Clara to not tug on a leash or jump up on people. We've tried everything we know to think of. Is this a common doodle thing?

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

I think it is pretty common for them.  I never had any trouble with my Danes, they trained to walk easily and verbal commands kept them in place.  I HAD to get a trainer to help with Meg's leash work and then we used a coupler with Polly and Meg basically taught her.  They are perfect on manners on leash but if you come to my door I have to get them in a down/stay before you come in or it is total chaos and they will wiggle you to death.

[Deeann Roesser]

Hi Jen, my 1 year old doodle, Ginger, will pull on the leash if she has a collar on, but when I put on the gentle leader harness, she walks much better.  The leash attaches at her chest instead of the top like most harnesses do.

As far as jumping up on people, she knows she isn't supposed to so she will sit for about 3 seconds, then jump up for a kiss.  

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I use an easy walk harness for Daphne. Oddly, She is the only one of mine that pulls but when that harness goes on (also a front clip) she walks like a normal, well behaved dog. It's so funny to see because they all get excited when I get the leashes out and they know we are going for a walk. They come to me eagerly to get their leash on. Daphne is so happy until she sees the dreaded harness and then she tries to get away. No more happy, excited dog. She just stands there and stares at me once it's on. But she walks like a champ!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Same here! Loki gets excited and then a little shamed when the harnes comes out, so funny!

[Jen B]

Thanks ya'll! I see Clara in all of your responses.  She knows she shouldn't jump and will sit stay for me when someone's at the door, but then when released she just can't contain herself! And she walks like a perfect lady for her trainer (I think she knows she is packin' treats at all times ;)  ) but tugs for us. We can get her to walk with manners, but within seconds she's back to the tugging. Silly doodles!

[Wynnie & Jim]

Jen, I also use the easy leader harness. While my doodle passed the Canine Good Citizen test, I believe that she is always a work in progress. If she starts to tug, I make her sit and refocus. I then remind her to "walk nice" and if she does I reward her with a treat. I continue intermittently treating for awhile to reinforce the controlled walk. When a distraction occurs, a squirrel or a deer, I make her sit and tell her "to look and it's OK." I have used this command since she was a little puppy. Once the distraction is gone, I resume a controlled walk with a treat. Finally, your trainer is "packing treats" and so should you. I think the key for you is to get her to refocus and then treat for good behavior.

As for jumping, Wynnie is well behaved on walks when greeting someone but when someone she knows comes into the house, she is like a "jumping jack." As I said earlier, she always will be a work in progress.

[Jen B]

You are so right. I need to be better about consistent treating, and I like the refocusing idea. Thank you!

[Jess & Stewart]

Get yourself one of these pouches. I have one and use it all the time with Stew. I carry treats, keys, money, etc when I take him for walks so I'm hands free. I use an old crossbody for my phone, a tennis ball etc so I'm not fumbling with a lot of stuff. 

I always have treats on me for Stew, if I didn't I'd hate to think of how even more wild he'd be! 

[Jen B]

Thank you! I have a treat bag that clips on and kind of springs closed, but it seems to spill treats a lot. This one looks better!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

You can also use a chalk pouch for rock climbing, they have a draw string that pulls closed really tightly, that's what I use because I was having so much trouble finding a treat pouch lol

[Harrison & Brodie]

gentle leader is the way to go.. As far as jumping, we always had Harrison and Brodie on a leash when meeting new people so we could pull them down and say "Off"

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I have had Siberian Huskies, several of them and none of them were as hard to train to not jump up as Roo. Tigger is Roo's full brother, never jumps up, was easy to leash train.  Roo was really difficult.  He finally got the whole walk on a loose lead thing but not the don't jump up stuff.  Gentle leader, the one that goes around the nose,  made a huge difference in Roo's and my life.  It took about a year for him to not fuss about it going on him, but about three days to nearly stop his jumping up.  Watch the enclosed video carefully two or three times, as the gentle leader is meant to correct with no work on your part except having the correct amount of leash out, unlike a collar which requires active use by you.

Hope it works as well for you as it did for Roo and I !