I'm taking Berman and Lucy to my grandparents tomorrow and we're staying the night. I will probably keep them on their leashes the entire time I'm there because I'm afraid they will take off and either run away or get hit by a car. When I take them for a walk, I wait till we're inside before taking off their leashes because I'm so nervous they will run past me. They are really fast and there's no way I'd ever be able to catch them.
I'd like to train them on staying by my side when they are not on a leash or in the very least, stopping in their tracks if I yell "stop" or "hault". I'm not sure of the best way to do this. I have a very small back yard so there's not a lot of room to work with. Any suggestions?
I need to do the same thing. Maybe doing a search on line for tips on how to proceed?
Have fun visiting - I don't blame you for wanting to keep them on the leash - too much new stuff to know how they will react - have a good time !
My mom has a big pond in her back yard and there's another dachsie that lives just down the road that comes over and chases rabbits. I wish Berman and Lucy could do that, but again - I'm too nervous to let them loose!
I don't let ours of leash unless at my mums where they have 3 acres dog proofed or on country roads, plus it is ilegal in our state. I use zipper leashes that give them some freedom.
The word I use if they are to stay is WAIT, and if they move EXCUSE ME. WAIT. As it is the only word I can get a deep enough tone in.
Amy even of leash at my mums is like velcro to me. Some one once told me they are more afraid of losing you, so hence if they run don;t chase them sit or shout get their attention and walk in the opposite direction.
Roberta
After a couple of heart-stopping episodes where Ozzy got outside and ran off, we decided that he needed to be leashed at all times when we went outside. However, we did train him such that the third time he accidentally got outside of the house, we yelled "NO" at him. He promptly stopped and rolled over on his back, thus allowing us to pick him up.
Amy did let him off the leash one time, and he did pretty well, playing in our back yard (we have an acre lot), and if he got too far away, Amy was able to call him back. After a few minutes of play time, they went back inside, then Amy was surprised to find Ozzy sitting at the front door, acting like he needed to "go" out. She realized that he did not "go" while outside NOT on the leash, so she leashed him and he went outside and promptly "went." :crazyeyes:
We also have a "fall-back" plan that, if Ozzy did not obey our "NO" command, I'd run to my car, throw open the door and call to him, "Let's go for a Car Ride!"
Since we live in the county, we can let Ozzy run free on our own property, but state law requires a leash in all parks.
Even though Hallie is pretty reliably trained to heel by my side for shows, I never walk her off leash. It is never 100% reliable and it only takes one time they see a cat or something and run across the road after it at the wrong time....plus I have saved her more than once from a dog racing up to her threateningly by pulling her to me with her harness and flexi leash. One time I had my last doxie, Jessie, off leash in the park and a jogger and her dog got between us and scared Jessie, who would never normally leave my side, and she ran off in a panic and we couldn't find her for two hours. :meme: I'd suggest taking obedience classes to teach them the basics but then still keep them on lead when there is no fence just to be safe.