Leash Manners trouble.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Hey. Well, we just completed puppy kindergarten, and we have accomplished a lot. However, he is still struggling with heeling at our side while walking. All the teacher said was "guide them gently" but that doesn't seem to be working. We just gently pull him back to our sides as he pulls, but it doesn't seem to affect his behavior. We tried a gentle leader, but he hates it and continuously drops and rolls around until he can get it off. Are there any less... abstract techniques we can use?

[JoAn Ellsworth]

have you figured out the leash problem yet? If not I have a few tips that worked great for me.

[Camilla and Darwin]

We have gotten him to heel when he is at home with us. However, if we are ANYWHERE new, he is pulling pulling pulling. We stop when he pulls, tell him to heel, use treats as a distraction, etc. Any tips you have would be awesome!

[JoAn Ellsworth]

I did the stop and sit if any time Saddie goes in front of me and leaves the heel... I would just stop and stand there and not talk to her or anything until she sat next to me in a heel. then I would take one step and stop again. and have her sit. then I would take 3 steps and do the same thing. It took about 200 yards of stopping anytime she pulled on the leash and making her sit. Sometimes I would give her a treat when she was sitting next to me. Sometimes I would give her a treat when she was walking good in the heel postion. It is suppose to work that the walk is the treat, and she only gets the treat of walking if she stays behind me in the heel position. It takes a one on one time with planning on not going on a really long walk but mostly a sit a lot walk. Saddie figured it out pretty well. Any time she pulled I stopped told her to sit and then ignored her. I practiced going in circles both ways, and walking forward.
I do have to admit if I am going with friends and we get to talking... Saddie will sneak out of the heel and get a head... she knows when I am not paying attention. But she is great on a one on one, and she is great on a run. Stays right next to you. Hope this helps...:) Labradoodles are so worth it!!

[Azure & Muppet]

what she said :-)
JoAn's response is really good. Although it would be easier if we could SHOW each other rather than try to explain it. I know it would help me if I could actually SEE it instead of trying to read it and imagine how that would look. Another great reason to try and meet together, to get this kind of coaching and feedback.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks. As Darwin is a puppy, we haven't taught him to sit automatically when we stop. But he definitely knows how to sit. I will try this, thank you.

[JoAn Ellsworth]

yippee for labradoodles. I am thrilled we can get a Utah group going. I have talked to Katie Schmidt... Her dog Cash was my dog Saddies' Stud... Puppies due first week in Jan. We are all so happy about it. We think a good Doodle romp would be great fun... But we need to find a good place they can run and play... any ideas?

[Azure & Muppet]

and may I also add . . . yippee for goldendoodles too!
I know some areas north of Salt Lake, but that may be too far to drive for some people who are further south, so I'll try to find some options that would be more in the middle. I'll start a new discussion to get everyone's input or suggestions on finding a good location.