My vizsla wont walk sometimes

Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
3
Likes
0
Points
0
#1
We have a 5 month old vizla and he wont walk in some directions. the trainer says to keep pulling him and praising him when he walks. sometimes he just starts to walk...and we praise and its not a problem the rest of the walk, other times he just wont walk no matter what we do. i just keep pulling and he just keep resisting. when we get back to near the house he walks fine.

I dont use treats at all for any training.


any ideas

Thanks
 

Saje

Island dweller
Joined
Dec 26, 2004
Messages
23,932
Likes
1
Points
38
#2
Well first of all pulling isn't going to get you any where. Of course he's going to resist.

Where is it he doesn't want to go?

You need to make it pleasant for him to go with you. I'd use a mix of treats and verbal rewards to coax him to go. You have to use a lot of energy and make it loads of fun so he wants to go. Yanking on him isn't going to make him want to go
 
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
3
Likes
0
Points
0
#4
we dont use treats because i dont want to rely on always having treats in my pocket or whatever. My trainer is excellent and gets everything done by strictly praise. i have a call in to him regarding the issue bit i still havent heard back. we do reward with treats sometimes but not when training.
 

Maxy24

Active Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
8,070
Likes
2
Points
38
Age
32
Location
Massachusetts
#6
You don't have to rely on treats if you use them, just don't lure with them. That means have them in your pocket when you go on walks until this clears up. Don't use the treats to make him walk but if he chooses to walk every once in a while pop him a treat so he learns walking is good. praise alone works for very few dogs, honestly, kind words are not all that great especially when he gets them all the time or he would rather be doing something like playing with another dog. For instance if your dog was running towards another dog and you said come the dog would think "I could run back for a "good boy!!" and not get to play with this dog or I could ignore my owner and get to have a blast with that dog" perhaps not in such a complex thought process but something like that, and most dogs will choose play over happy voice. Super duper yummy treats on the other hand can be much more motivating.

Anyway that's my feeling on treats, I use them and the dog I train does not need them all the time because I don't ever show them to her when commanding her anyway, she has learned she might get a treat even if she does not see it. If i don't have treats she still listens on the off chance she might get a reward and because it's somewhat of a habit now to do certain things when I say certain things. If I do not have a treat I still praise and/or find another method of rewarding (sometimes it's an immediate release from the command and I run with her because she likes that, I allow her to sniff something I think she'll like etc.).

When exactly does the dog stop walking? Many puppies who are growing cannot walk long distances, it is not good for their bones. So try and do short frequent walks not one or two long ones. if he does stop moving try to pretend to run from him (some will want to chase) if he does get up praise/treat and keep going. If he does not chase then simply wait for a few minutes and then try and verbally encourage him and rev him up.
The number one thing not to do is pull, dogs naturally resist pressure, if you push on a dogs side they lean (and if you move your hand away really fast they fall over :p ) if you push a dogs back to get him to sit most dogs will push back up unless you are physically stronger than them or you hurt them :(. Same with trying to force them to lie down.

If you could be more specific as to when he stops it would help.
 

Dekka

Just try me..
Joined
May 14, 2007
Messages
19,779
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
48
Location
Ontario
#7
~mafia the name stealer~

Very few dogs work well for praise alone. It's often just not enough of a motivator.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top