Your Licks: Tracy Christensen Responds


Posted on May 23, 2008
By Glenn Close

Comments(1) I'm curious if you have any tips for training a young pup to stay close when off a leash. I've seen so many dog owners who walk comfortably around town with their dogs close by. Any suggestions would be helpful and thanks! - Daniel      


As far as the advice on the young dog and being lead-free, this is what I think. I have never been asked for advice before and I do not clam to be an expert trainer, but here are my thoughts on the subject.

Time, Consistency & Tone.

Young dogs take a lot of work, the three big things I would work on are:

Time. Know that it takes lots of time to get a well-trained dog. The best advice I can give you is train every day. Just 10 minutes a day will improve you and your dog. Remember the best gift you can ever give your dog is some of your time!

Consistency. This starts with a good training collar and lead.  Make sure you start with your dog on the same side every time. (I always like my dog to be on my left.) Use the same commands every time and expect the same results every time. I like to think of it this way, my dog is working for me, I am not working for him. Practice fast walks, slow walks and sometimes running. Make changes in direction, left, right, and try up stairs and down ramps when you are out walking. When your dog has slack on the lead make sure you reward him with lots of praise as you are walking, do not ever let him lead you by pulling on the lead. When this happens, I like a short, sharp correction with a command of heel, once your dog returns back to your side make sure you reward him with lots of praise.

Vocal Tone. Think about what you are saying to your dog. When I give a correction the tone in my voice is low and almost growl like. When I give a command, it's natural and sharp, no bargaining with my command voice. The best of all is my praise voice -- high tone, happy and excited. Try changing the tone of your voice with your dog and watch how he responds, I promise it will work!

Try these three things and see how they work for you. The time you spend with your dog will develop trust. The consistency will allow your dog to understand what is expected. And before you know it your dog will be lead free with a few vocal tone commands along the way.

Just a reminder, never leave home without a lead and a collar on your dog. The conditions are always changing; unfamiliar dogs, loud noises from unexpected places, strangers with strange objects. Trust me, you never want to be stuck in a bad situation without a way to keep your dog next to you, and in many places it's against the law not to have your dog on a lead.

There are times when I let my dog run ahead of me on a trail, other times he is on a heel next to me lead-free, and at times, he is on a lead around town. No matter what the situation we are both happy and safe.

Thanks for asking!
 
Tracy Christensen
Sundance Ski Patrol / Avalanche Rescue Dogs.
 
HomeBedsCar & TravelCratesCollarsCovers & BlanketsGatesArticles & Blogs
Comments
Thanks so much for all the extensive training advice Tracy, and special thanks to Glen for posting my question here on Lively Licks. My Golden Max is 4.5 months old, and loves his leash training time. These helpful tips for working on consistency will definitely bring our learning to another level. Best to you both & keep the great postings coming! Daniel
Posted By Daniel
on May 24, 2008
Post a comment
You must be a member to post comments. Please Log In or Register
LicksMail
Get email updates whenever Glenn writes a new post!
Sign Up Now!
Subscribe to this Blog
What does this mean?
My Recommendations
About the Author
Welcome to LIVELY LICKS: Profiles of Dogs and their People.
I hope that you will be entertained, comforted and inspired by the people and dogs that I have the privilege of featuring on this blog. Since starting it over a year and a half ago, it has pulled me into an incredible journey. Besides being able to celebrate some of my wonderful friends and the profound bond they have with their dogs, LIVELY LICKS has introduced me to the world of avalanche dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, service dogs for our wounded warriors and dogs in need of rescue and adoption. I have been inspired by the selfless dedication of the people who run grassroots shelters as well as urban care and control centers. I have been deeply moved by their stories in which dogs heal and empower their humans. Those of us who have dogs, know how much they enhance our quality of life with their unquestioning loyalty and unconditional love. There are an infinite number of stories to tell, so I hope you will stay with me as I continue to explore and discover and delight in the journey.

Featured Dog Beds at FetchDog :