Dog Too Spoiled To Walk On Leash

Written by Adam G. Katz


Dear Mr. Katz:

I have a 4 month old female pup, AmStaff/Boxer (we think - she was a rescue). She responds well to all training, EXCEPT for walking and heeling.

We've practicedrepparttar loose-leash "turning on a dime" technique described in your book and audio tape at length, but she refuses to cooperate.

It's not a matter of distraction - when I attempt to train her in this style, she pulls back with all her strength. Whenrepparttar 125724 loose leash is snapped, she sits, paws braced, or lays down on her back. These responses are immediate.

I've tried instantly righting her, and continuingrepparttar 125725 training, but she responds as above just as quickly. This can go on indefinitely. I've tried correcting her with a low "No," and praising her if she responds correctly for even an instant. I've tried using treats to get her to at least walk with me briefly...... all to no success.

What else should I try? Thanks, Geoff

Dear Geoff,

It's a good question you've asked.

First, you DO NOT want to workrepparttar 125726 dog around distractions at this point inrepparttar 125727 game.

Second, you should not be tellingrepparttar 125728 dog, "No!" and jerkingrepparttar 125729 leash for this behavior. Instead, you need to simply gluerepparttar 125730 leash to your belt and keep walking.

Now here's where your problem will arise: You've already inadvertently taught your dog that if she kicks and screams long enough (or rolls on her back and throws a tantrum)... that eventually you will stop walking and come to see what's wrong.

The only problem is... NOTHING IS WRONG!

It's like if I take you in a helicopter and drop you off inrepparttar 125731 middle ofrepparttar 125732 desert and tell you that I'm going to leave you there, but will eventually come back and pick you up in half an hour (or 2 hours, or a whole day!!!) ... you will simply sit there and not attempt to remedy your situation, as you know that I'm coming back to pick you up. Eventually, this situation will end and I'll come back and your problems will be over.

However, if I instead drop you off inrepparttar 125733 middle ofrepparttar 125734 desert and tell you that I'm never coming back... then all ofrepparttar 125735 sudden you're in a position where you MUST START TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS TO BETTER YOUR SITUATION.

Handling Dogs Who Eat Their Own Feces

Written by Adam G. Katz


I have a cousin named Leonard who was inrepparttar Army during Vietnam.

He and his fellow soldiers would often be inrepparttar 125723 jungle for several days at a time. The Army would supply them with MRE’s. (Meals Ready To Eat.) These are kind of like T.V. dinners… packed in foil bags. Afterrepparttar 125724 novelty of eating out of a foil bag wears off, you come to realize that MRE’s are some ofrepparttar 125725 most bland-tasting food you will ever eat.

Leonard once told me that he and his buddies would pack small bottles of Tobasco sauce in their bags. That Tobasco sauce became a real life-saver.... inrepparttar 125726 culinary department, that is… as dousing enough Tobasco sauce on any meal would make it edible.

I always think about Leonard whenever somebody tells me that their dog eats it’s feces and they’ve already tried seasoning it with Tobasco sauce.

Some Con-Man came up with this as a remedy for a dog’s fecal appetite, but it always seemed like a pretty good way to make it more appetizing forrepparttar 125727 dog, if you ask me.

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