Don't Walk Your Dog!

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[MordorGundogs]

If you like this episode please can you hit the like button on the video and leave a comment! Greatly appreciated 👍

[beksc]

I wish this video were totled correctly. He is not saying, "Don't walk your dog." He is saying, "Do not let your dog walk you. Do not allow our dog to run around like a crackhead while you daydream." Yes. Go for a walk with your eyes on your dog, the same as you would with a 3 y.o. child. Keep your focus on the dog. Ask your dog to do things, occasionally, so the dog stays engaged with you and learns that you are the best thing in his universe.

[tessmonro]

I've always walked my dogs and for me the pleasure of walking is having a dog beside me or off leash running free. However you have to know your dogs, their breeding or natural instincts and you have to understand body language. You have to be aware that training is not a once done thing but a life time of reinforcement in all situations. In other words a walk is an interactive exercise between you and your dog. Dogs need mental and physical activity to keep the healthy, happy and to keep them out of trouble; and they love their walks. My dogs have always had a minimum of 1-2 hours a day with 2 - 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday, sometimes full day walks. The other point is while our dogs have all been high energy or working breeds they have been domestic/family dogs.

[garrypark]

I was sceptical until I followed your advice. My 5 month sprocker was on a harness and extendable lead, and when in fields I let him run thinking "its good to tire him out, he's a spaniel it's what they do".

But he never got tired and it had started to get harder to stop him pulling and being a ball of chaotic energy running everywhere.

I started to feel overwhelmed thinking hes never going to walk properly next to me, I'm never going to be able to relax when in public.

But since watching this video and your others, I changed my mindset and use walk times for training as well as exercise, not to burn his energy off.

The difference it has made is huge and positive. Clifford, my sprocker, is making good progress now and I feel more confident for our future. It'll take time but you have helped set me on the right path.

[jennifermacgregor]

I have just watched your video😮 I always thought I was being kind to my dog letting him off leash until very recently when he is very reluctant to come back when he knows he is going home.
I think I also became a bit slap happy and overconfident that he needed the freedom so was walking on and leaving him to his own devices.
Thankyou so much for demonstrating all my faults through my own ignorance and blaming my dog for being self willed.
He is back on his lead for our walks and have started to take him to different locations so he can explore more smells and enhance his senses. The other thing I have found that the shorter walks make him calmer…. or maybe I am just less stressed.
I am now following your advice and most grateful that I stumbled across your YouTube channel.
This is a ramble but hopefully others will find it useful.

[lisasternenkind]

I used to breed American Bulldogs and I also trained most of them to be working dogs, such as service dogs, rescue dogs, and for doing nosework for mantrailing and for open or excluded areas. When my puppies moved to their new owners, they were potty-trained, walked on the leash close to the handler, came when told, sat and lied down on command, and had started their crate training. They also were used to many different animals and people, to different travel possibilities, various environments, sounds, haptic experiences, and were used to physical handling like in shows, or with the vet. I always started their training with about 3.5 - 4 weeks, because they pick up new things faster, and even intimidating experiences don't lead to anxious reactions while the litter siblings, mom and all the other dogs are around. I always started with the introduction of the clicker, and this always was when they started to eat kibbles. So my puppies really had a very good start concerning their training and their behaviour.
I also used to train dogs in animal rescue centers, who hadn't been socialized or trained at all, so they could be integrated into a normal household of dog lovers.
One of the puppies I had sold, suddenly turned up with his owner when he was only 12 weeks old. Within the three weeks he had had him, the new owner had practically ruined the puppy's paws by walking him almost all day and mostly on pavement!!! Where was his common sense??? This man was told by another dog trainer, that a Bulldog would get aggressive if he wouldn't be "powered out" by walking and running! Since then I hate it when hearing this phrase.
It took 4 weeks to heal the puppy's bloody paws again, while he had to stay most of the time in the crate, and had to be carried around. And it took about half a year of daily intensive training to teach the puppy walking without any problems again. 😢

[blackdog]

I've had 3 labradors all walked on leash fine and allowed to run off leash for several hours when mountain walking and low land walking with me. Average days walk & swim was 2 hours off leash with 4+ hours at weekends. All fit and obedient dogs. None were working lab types ( field or American), they were all traditional (English), stocky show dog types. Maybe there is a difference in the types or I have been exceptionally lucky but I found it was far easier to train when they'd been well exercised.

[janetallen]

Good advice. Not needed for our first cockapoo, but boy oh boy, it was exactly where we went wrong with our second cockapoo. Such a challenge to get him back under control. Took over 2 years of very hard work. Have a good dog now, but wish I had seen this video when he was a youngster.

[mosha]

Great information. Ive just taken ownership of a 8 month cocker with the bad habits of running up other dogs and going completely deaf. As you say a walk is not just strolling through the woods on your phone etc but being aware of your your dogs surroundings and their body language, making you the most interesting thing and stopping behaviour you dont want before it happens, not just for you n your dog but but for other not so sociable dogs. 3 weeks in and he's starting to get the hint "im no1". Many people say their dogs are their children and its true, you get out what you put in and if you cant give that especially with working breeds then maybe get a cat instead. Will be following and look forward to seeing more videos and waffles progress

[OpinionatedMonk]

Really useful advice. Something I've learned about owners is they don't know when to stop. My Dobermann just wants to 'get there', and he needs to learn nope, you can stop now and wait until I say to carry on. Too many owners let themselves get pulled about, reinforcing the dogs' idea that they can go where they want and get what they want.

[smasome]

Waffle running off is exactly like my 10 year old rescue English Cocker. This is the first time I've had any hope of training Charlie to come when called. Charlie is my 8th dog (I'm 72, usually 2 dogs at a time) and I've ALWAYS had great control over them. Not Charlie. I've had him for 3 years and I laugh about our symbiotic relationship. He is really a good little dog, smart, affectionate, responsive. But comparatively independent and stubborn. I'm sure many would scold me for the harness and extendable leash, and even more for letting him loose with the lead in a fairly controlled environment. I just wish I knew more about his life before I got him. He was found on a back road in West Virginia, just skin and bones, major flea infestation, covered in scabs, barely any fur. He had lyme disease and a broken leg. I got him from a Cherished Cockers foster mom when he had been rehabilitated to the point that he could be adopted. He's always been a charmer. I just feel certain that I have fallen short in teaching him. It felt too overwhelming to do the teaching required when we were doing so well overall. But now I have hope. THANK YOU. I'm a subscriber now.

[tumblyhomecarolinep]

Ohh this is brilliant… we have always had springers and are about to get a puppy.. I thought I would refresh my training memories. This is a joy to watch and it is so helpful. Thank you for doing these!

[nishnosh]

Really good advice and tips. I've been doing this for the last few months with my 16 month cocker and she's learning fast. Hoping it continues! 📈

[charlottewebster]

Not sure how I ended up here but anyway. I understand and agree that dogs shouldn't be run ragged to the point they're exhausted, manic and their brains fried but in 30+ years of owning mostly collies, I have always made sure they learn to walk on the lead and can have time off lead to sniff and have a potter around and catch all the smells and do their stuff.

We work on recall and what I call the emergency stop training from day one but they need time off lead in a safe, secure space to learn how to behave and stay under control without the giddiness, jumping and getting distracted by everything and just legging it. Always being on a lead means they're not reliable off it and never being on a lead means they aren't as reliable to come back should they end up loose for whatever reason. I just feel happier knowing they only trot and tootle so far off lead and will come right back when called, sit or lie down next to my side and wait to put their head in the loop of a slip lead.

I get what you're saying but think it depends entirely on the dog and what level of experience and confidence the owner has. Waffle is gorgeous by the way😊

[cynthiamarston]

You know when they need SOMETHING. They “ act out”. Different dogs have different needs. True. Be WITH the dog.

[jboback]

Great video, my field cocker is my first. I have always had pointing breeds and we encourage distance. But my breeder said to keep him close in the beginning. Now I get what she was referring to.

[aloha]

I have a shiba inu and he was running away like you said when he was a baby. Your tip to engage and to have them to run at you is so very true. Thanks for posting. Malybe easy dogs don’t have problems to run away but anyone having a chaser type of dog, your tips are formidable!

[vicicooper]

Oh my god how true is this. My daughters terriers are manic and super fit and wo betide if you miss a day. The most they have exciting runs the more they crave them.

[danypark]

Thank you so much for this video, my husband is stressed out every day because he thinks he has to walk our 2 year old kelpie and let him run some energy off, he wouldn't listen to me so i put this video on for him and its made him realise that he is training rueben to want to go running free every day, he's now going to follow your advice thank you so much❤

[hugobosswood]

Great stuff I’ve had 2 jacks one now passed away but both walked everywhere off lead from about 18months old I could walk through our local market and both at my heel. The one I have left is 16 now.