I'm getting a new puppy in three weeks and have been binge watching your videos. They're amazing quality and probably the best tips/most helpful dog videos I've seen. Thank you so much
Me too! I have always been a cat person but am excited to be a proud pup parent too. Ian, you have a gift and I am so grateful you are sharing your talents!
I like your casual intellectual approach. Not the usual "I'm Superman ultra extra dog trainer that devoted his life only to that, everybody else sucks, look at my 7 perfect malinois and border collies, do as I say right now sir yes sir!" Ok, not all of them are that way, I think I just wanted to say that you remind me more of a person I would hang out with than most. It's never really about dogs, we humans are so subjective :D keep on the good work!
I so agree, there are some people seriously over-compensating for something on some of the dog training channels. I feel so sorry for the dogs. I appreciate these well thought through and balanced videos, thank you. They are focussed on what most of us want, well-mannered dogs who are calm and enjoy sharing our lives, and not the posturing machismo that seems to motivate some dog trainers.
"Putting good behaviours on autopilot without having to cue them every time is the end goal for most training." 2:11 Another simple & profound insight.
Fabulous clips👍, I am in the UK and the majority of our pavements (sidewalks) are quite narrow, as instructors, one of our main complaints from people is reactivity towards traffic/cyclists etc as they are so close if always walked on the left, many years ago, I introduced a 'change sides' exercise, I use the word "Change" and bring the dog from one side to the other and reward for changing, this has meant the dog can relax and enjoy the walk. All of the owners have said if they simply say 'Change', their dogs will automatically swap sides without any weaving about. Love your videos and love your dogs 😊
THAT is a really cool thing to teach. I love it. I'm all for switching sides when it's done with purpose and there's a method to it. Thanks for sharing!
Good idea. I always want the dog not to be on the road side for safety but crossing many streets when walking my dog in West London, it's mostly impossible to pick a side!
Phew.. I am sooo happy i found your channel! just rescued a 2 year old rat terrier/chihuahua mix and have been taking him on walks and he's been all over the place . started watching your channel, saw this video and have been teaching him to walk on my right side and he now has a better understanding of what side he needs to walk on! THANK YOU!!!!! This makes walking him more relaxing and fun!
I've also found myself binge watching these videos. They're not like anything else I've seen so far on youtube dog training channels. The videos are high quality, your pacing is superb - not too fast; so everything sinks in and not too slow; so one is never bored,- and the information you give is just the right amount and depth. When it's all "in-practice-this-works," it's an opportunity to understand dogs better wasted but when it's supported by a little science and theory as your videos are, one can understand why dogs do what they do much more easily. I also appreciate the fact that you embed short clips exemplifying what you are talking about and that you link everything you mention in the video descriptions below. Well done and thank you very much.
These videos are always AMAZING quality - and I frigging love your humor! And your beautiful beard. But I especially appreciate the little clips and examples that illustrates exactly what you mean. I have never heard of this concept before, but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the great work!
I agree wholeheartedly with one sided walking and always walked my dogs on the left. But recently, due to arthritis, I need too use whichever hand hurts less. This has been understandably confusing to my new pup, a frisky bullmastiff. So I've developed a signal which he's starting to get --- verbal 'this side' command and a clink of the leash. It's an inconvenient wrinkle in training but my dog seems to be adapting -- it's amazing what they can learn.
I am truly amazed at how much smoother our next walk with our 7 month old boxer was after implementing the tips from this video and your “Loose Leash Walking 101” blog post! Small fixes - like looking straight ahead, keeping my arms down and elbows relaxed (reformedchickenwinger), and using gentle tension to keep the walk going rather than allowing snoopin’ and poopin’ every 10 seconds - made a significant difference. We’ve taken several walks since then, and l’m so glad we found these resources. Looking forward to sharing with others!
Hey! Just wanted to thank you for the fantastic videos. My wife and I will be getting a puppy in a couple of weeks, and we've already done the following 1) Establish a possible Routine 2) Built a puppy den 3) Bought the right toys for her 4) Planned out walking routes 5) Training schedule and plan Thanks for all the help!
My dog is a strong puller and to be honest I hate walking him. I love him, but he's a nightmare outside. I've just read your article about loose leash walking and well... Now I know why he's like that. I make every single mistake you've mentioned there, including begging my dog to follow and bribing him with treats. I ordered easy walk harness and I plan to try your confident method. I don't know how he would react, since he's always ahead of me, but we'll see. It's almost to easy to be true. Also I want to say that I can't remember how I've found your channel... But I'm glad I did. You sound sensible and confident. Your videos are well made and funny. I have fun watching them (I binge watched them before I adopted my puppy). For a first time owner, you're a life saver. Also you're kind of laid back so I can relax while watching and I don't stress over everything I do wrong with my dog ;)
Most knowledgeable videos on RUclips about training dogs...you are the best trainer.......and for learning behaviour Ceaser Milan..thanks to both of you guys. Hats off
Hmmm good point. Depends where you live, I suppose. Plus, I'm left-handed so hope I don't need it while I'm walking the Bulldog (who's on the left). He'd be a terrible guard dog anyways. Bad guy with a cheeseburger could do whatever he wanted!
I'm so glad I found your youtube channel! I have had 3 wonderful male dogs and never had a problem training them. Walking was mostly a pleasure and they were for the most part well behaved. After our Lucky passed away a few years ago (14.5) we got our first rescue dog Elizabeth (now 3) who had no manners what so ever. We had an older dog Teddy who recently passed away at almost 18.5 years old and we got another rescue puppy Daisy who was 15 weeks old. Daisy is now 7 months old and I wish I saw your videos before we got her. My son did most of the training with our boy dogs, but now he is grown up and on his own and It's up to us to train them. I don't remember it being so hard, but I am willing to put the time in. I loved your ideas on Kong toys and now have several in the freezer ready to go. We are working on Take it & Leave it now and will move on to drop it soon. How long do you spend teaching each topic? Thanks again!
Great video and lots to try. My 9 year old cavoodle walks awesome on my right side but our new German shepherd pup constantly plays up when we are out together but on his own he walks really well. I will move him to the left on a short lead and stop each time he plays up until he gets the message. It may be a long short walk tomorrow.
Mr. Ian , we are getting an AKC corgi this month and you have been very helpful with your information. We are gonna nail it . Cheers and all the best from Austin Texas . Claudia
I’ve always tried to keep the dogs on the inside away from the road when we walk. Sometimes that is on my left, and sometimes on my right. Is this also confusing for them?
We just shared this video on our fbk page Pookie and Friends we love your smile and your training tips of course! Keep up the great work Ive also been reccomending you to all the new puppy owners . Thanks
Thank you. I am a "Puppy Raiser" for a guide dog organization. I appreciate your videos. Sometimes hearing somebody elses view or facts make the light switch turn on. Subscribed and notification on! Thank you for the extra tips in all your videos even if I know them or not.
I am watching EVERY video by Simpawtico Dog Trainiing and I am learning a lot of new information that I can use to train my dog and MYSELF to have the best dog/human relationship. Thank you Ian and the boys for all your help!
hello new friend! I just found you, I have purchased and will be adopting a big dog, A Dogo Argentino Pitbull cross, and I have been bingeing on your videos, I am a strong believer in Dogs having good manners, I am on a fixed income for life, so all my time will be dedicated to training with love and affection, I will be referring to you and your video's for help... PS I'll be leash training him, on the right side
I teach mine on both sides intentionally. They have a default, but a command for the other side (or in the case of my more relaxed dogs, they just stay where I put them), and I will intentionally walk them outside of their default sometimes. I use the same idea of them not being allowed to break "formation". Unnecessarily confusing? Maybe. But mine work in carting, sledding, and joring teams, and I often have different dogs I'm fostering, training, or dog sitting. Because of this, they sometimes need to be on a different side, in a different position, or with a different dog and suddenly choosing otherwise isn't really an option. Though this would be great if I were just walking my dogs, adding in the fact that they need different positions for work, and to work around other dog's habits and needs, I like for them to not have a set routine they feel they HAVE to do, but instead be okay with anything I ask them to do, since it's all the same to them.
Cool insight! You've definitely got a unique situation, but the good thing is you've thought about it and you have a structure in place. It's not willy-nilly. Working with those kinds of dogs that extra challenge is probably right up their alley. Thanks for sharing!
Just found your videos and LOVE them! I was looking for harness suggestions for a new dog and I've found I agree with so many of your training styles (A good family friend is a dog trainer and I've been working with her business for years). Really apprecaite the work you do and the time you've taken to put forward such great resources and teachings.
If I carry a firearm and carry it on the left or right side then I'm thinking in that scenario my dog goes opposite side of the firearm. In that situation left and right side matters. And yes I carry to protect me and my dog! Any howl another awesome video!
I tend to walk them on the left for the most part because I like to have my right hand which is my dominant hand free to do whatever I need. I have two dogs so I use a double leash for them so that I only have to hold one leash as opposed to two. I think the only time that I walk them on the right is when I'm in my mom's neighborhood that doesn't have sidewalks I keep them on the right so that they are not out in the street. They are both great and understand when I say back on the sidewalk or off the grass. I have to be honest though it takes them about a half a block before they figure out what they're doing and stop getting themselves and myself Tangled
Omg thank you for clearing this up. 've heard so many people say they should walk on the left side. My dog walks on my right and I find it so much better . I have more control of the situation when she is on my right because it's my dominant hand. my dad has a bulldog who is turning 1 soo and she walks all over the place, back and forth ,side to side and she is so got damn stubborn . It frustrates me when I have to walk her because my dog knows where she normally walks . this bulldog is so strong and I've tried to teach her to walk on my left but it's so hard when my dad lets her walk wherever she wants.
You're welcome! And yes, that makes it really hard when someone else just unravels all your work. Pretty impossible to make progress. Good luck to you!
I'm right-handed and I always walk my dog on my left. I always have my keys in my right pocket and I want to be able to open a door and walk in first, before my dog enters. Since my dog sits on the passenger seat on the right side of my car, I open the door with my right hand and lets my dog in with my left hand. My dog never pulls the leash, so I don't have to use my dominant hand to hold him. If the cell phone rings I move the leash to the right hand, but my dog is still walking on the left side. I have the dog treats in a right pocket, and I always use my right hand when I give my dog a reward. Therefore, it is easier for me to have my dog on my left.
I walk my mini Australian Shepherd, Penny Lane, on the right hand side. 1- That is my dominant hand, it is stronger and a little easier to hold her with. 2- I like her walking on the asphalt as I walk on the grass, to file down her claws. Since there are no sidewalks, so we go in the opposite direction as traffic. She has learned from teaching as a puppy, to sit when there is a car driving on either side.
I've always used right side. I'm right handed and always walk on the right side of the road so she's further away from the cars and I'm the one closer to the street to protect her
subbed. making any new episodes?.....I like the actual examples you show and not just talking about them. step by step how to. thats the best way. is this channel still being updated?
An interesting topic. I've generally followed the traditional rule of walking my dog on the left. And, since it is not uncommon to be walking a roadway without a sidewalk, I find the traditional "keep my pet away from traffic" makes me, at least, more comfortable. The challenge, though, is the increase in greenway spaces which do not have auto traffic, but do have bicycles, not all of which are particularly aware of managing their space. Here, the rule for pedestrians is to walk on the right. And here, for the same reason I noted on the roadway, I prefer my dog away from traffic, which means on the right. I'll agree, though, that it's confusing to my dog!
I'd love a clip about leash training. I'd like to teach my future dog to walk freely (sniffing interesting spots, investigating on the go) on the leash but without pulling (for hikes and dayhikes) so it can enjoy investigationg stuff on the walk as if it was off leash, but still be mindful to not pull. Because they have to be leashed most time of the year. This far on a relatives dog, Ive just stopped or even turned away and walked another way when she pulls/tighten the leash. It has worked somewhat and she steps back to release the leash tension fairly quickly when I stop, but I havnt practiced much yet. This was on a one hour walk in a new area with a dog that's always lose on a farm, so she was excited and I think she did good in the circumstance. I should practice more at home turf. She's generally sweet and doesn't pull hard, but she pulls a bit if she's allowed to. She knows "heel" even if its a bit rusty, but I don't want a constant heel on the trail, I rather have that as a different thing/command. Is that stupid of me?
No that's not stupid at all! That's perfectly reasonable. I think you're on the right track, just segment your practice into a) the environments you need different things in, and b) the skills you need in those environments. Take a look at our progressions video: ruclips.net/video/_3OdLTxEQBE/видео.html
Thank you, I had missed that one. Good examples on how to gradually increase the level. It was a little embarrassing and more people than I expected, thankfully I reminded myself that I'll never see those people again so it didn't matter that I looked stupid and had to stop and wait every three feet. I could see that my dog was trying and improving so in the end we were both happy. But I definitely need to practice more with a leash at home, I expected her to follow me with a leash in a new place like she does without it at home environment. That was poor judgment.
We still don't have sidewalks & we do walk towards traffic, so I use the left side. But he's also a high energy nut, still full of zany after 8 hours of daycare, so hopefully I can learn some tips from these videos that will help!
Stop when they pull, settle them, then restart. Do this consistently and the dog will figure it out. But it does require repetition. lots of repetition.
Guess my mini labradoodle needs more repetition. I've tried the stop/start method, reverse direction method, and holding a spoon with peanut butter in front of her nose method. The peanut butter keeps her in check but once I stop using it she goes back to the same pulling ahead nonsense. Maybe it is a puppy thing which she'll outgrow as she just turned a year old. One thing I was thinking of trying was using a heeling stick but I'm not really for sure how to use it other than to extend it in front of her to give her a visual indicator of where not to go - stay behind my knee so she is following me verses leading me,
This is so true, I walked my old labrador always on my left side and even when she was off leash she would stay on my left side. Sometimes it was actually little inconvenient if I had to get her walk on my right side for a short while for safety reasons and she was just so weirded out and didn't want to walk on my right side :D
btw, do you think it's a good idea if I want to walk my new dog on the left side but when we go cycling I'd prefer him to stay on my right side? Or should I just walk him on my right side on basic walks as well
I personally would do both on the right just for consistency and ease of training. But being as how they're different activities with different rules and objectives, you could ostensibly train it to be left for walking and right for biking.
Would love some advice about puppy leash training! Like how to introduce a leash without her getting bite-crazy! Thanks - your advice has been invaluable so far!
I love your advice! I wish more people could see your channel. I wanted to know your opinion as a dog trainer on retractable leashes. I personally don't like them, because I have seen them do more harm than good. But I am not opposed to hearing professional opinions on them. Keep up the awesome videos!
HAHA man Retractables are for sure a divisive issue. Wanna see a fight break out amongst a group of trainers? Just say the word "retractable" and they go apeshit! Anyways, I believe that problems aren't with hardware, they're with users, and technique is more important than anything. One the one hand, I have seen tons of cringe-worthy situations. There is no doubt that there are potential dangers and I've seen the gruesome horror stories. However, I love using retractable leashes. I use them all the time with my dogs. The caveat is that my dogs are well mannered, and I know how to use the retractable safely and smart. I think if we just say that we hate them and we should get rid of them that that's superficial problem solving. It's not the tool's fault people are dumb with it! And believe me, like I said, I've seen some real facepalm moments! So, I think better education, better training, and better guidance would eliminate a lot of problems. There is some cool stuff you can do with them. They're not for everybody, for sure, but I think the same can be said of all hardware, and all dogs, for that matter. Hope that helps!
Simpawtico Dog Training Yeah I agree technique is definitely more important. I have seen so many people get tangled in their retractable leashes. Or they say "my dog loves everyone" and allows them to roam up to strangers and other dogs who may not love everyone. We need more education on how to walk with these leashes! Thanks for your response.
live in the British countryside and we either have sidewalks only wide enough for one person or non at all so i still have to keep my right hand free for bandits also it means while on the sidewalk my dog has to walk infront of me to stay off the road so we kind have a few different walking methods depending what im walking on sidewalk in front of me. on the road hes to my right coz we drive the right way everywhere else hes off lead as its all just open countryside i have taught him to not cross the kirb unless i do that was very important due to how narrow the sidewalk is but it is just doing the same thing eveytime we go out routine now on the road he stays rite up against me as we walk on the sidewalk he walks in front everytime tho i am awarethat anything could startle him and its only one step onto the road and its a worry
I made the mistake of training my pom to walk on the standard left side (we went to a competitive obedience school for his CGC test and Rally training). We are in a neighborhood with lots of foot and dog traffic. My Pomeranian would end up in the middle of the sidewalk and thus in the way of passing pedestrians. I was always dragging him to the grass, etc. This was also rewarded because if he put himself in their path, they would stop and say hello. Our new pup will be walking on the right!
The solution would be to walk against traffic-which technically is the accepted recommendation anyways-and that would put your Pom on the inside, not the middle anymore.
Simpawtico Dog Training Thank you for the reply! Walking against traffic is always an excellent idea. We are most commonly on sidewalks (on the way to a large park only six blocks away! It's awesome.), that have 5-10 feet of easement between the sidewalk and the street. The sidewalks are only a few feet wide and since it's the US, everyone else is walking on the right.
if you plan on doing agility with your dog, I suggest not picking a side to walk. alternate sides each walk and signal heel with hand signals. it helps a ton in agility in my experience.
Ian - THANKS SO MUCH for your videos and advice. You are terrific! While I appreciate the benefits of one-side walking as you've explained them, I walk my dog in New York City. Keeping the dog on the curb side is the goal, and since I don't always have the luxury of choosing which side of me is the curb side, what do you advise? As ever, thank you.
Hi Ed! Great question! My response is that this video is mainly aimed at people whose dogs switch sides because they don't know any better. When the switch is something you've requested, with consistent expectations, and a procedure to do it, I'm all for it. As long as there's a purpose, and you're thinking about it and being strategic, you're golden!
Recently found your videos and love all your advice and teachings! Trying to use them with my 12 week old Great Dane puppy. Having a hard time with the side-choosing now because I barely started to walk her a day ago, and she did fine on my left the first time around. in the evening we went by a house with dogs in the yard that scared her into a hot mess. this morning we went a different direction and overall ok, but on the way back she kept going to my right (between me and the sidewalk). dog barks were lightly echoing through the neighborhood so I'm not sure if that was what was making her uneasy and want to hide. she was ignoring lures completely, so though we took a sit down break, I had to suffice for her following behind me to get home, and only tried to stop a few time when she pulled on the leash once we were in the driveway so she doesn't get used to "dragging" me. but would you suggest I still try to keep her to my left primarily, or should I let her get comfy amongst dog barks first? not sure how to keep this a fun experience for her :/
Hi there! At 12 weeks old I'd say picking a side during walks is your LAST priority. Walking is going to be tough for a puppy anyways without that. Just allow the walks right now to be organic; they're exploratory, about experiencing new things, and for you to be supportive. Low expectations. Job number one is socialization: tons and tons of friendly people, and lots of friendly dogs. Also, start with attention exercises like "Find my Face." Don't worry too much about the position right now. Behind, in front, off to the side. You can gently remind, but a puppy must be able to have good experiences. A regimented, perfect walk right now is an unreal expectation. Don't use lure-reward training for during the walk, use All-or-None-Reward Training. Here's an example: bit.ly/2hbvC46 This example is in an adult class, but we use it on puppies all the time. In fact, it works amazing. This is how we do the "Find My Face" and we do that in class before we do any leash training. I don't even put a leash on the puppies in class until the 2nd or 3rd week. Get her comfy around dog barks FIRST. Use All-or-None training with treats, or even just enthusiastic praise if she's too spooked for food. Give her time to decompress, and stay POSITIVE. Good luck!
My service dog in training heels on my left and always has. That's the easy part. The hard part is teaching him on how to "switch" and even harder, to heel on my right, on command, as "heel" means left, not right. "Switch" is easy as well. It's just luring. The issue is teaching him to heel on my right, on command, and not confuse it with heel on the left. I was trying to keep the same cue but use separate hand signals (as every cue has a hand signal) but that is confusing him so I will need to rename the cue as "side" or "right side" so something similar. I do not want to use "right heel" as that, I think, is still confusing. And I do not want to use just "right" as he will also need to know right and left turns when pulling, such as a wheelchair. Definitely more then the general dog owner. But still what he needs to do as a service dog.
That's a unique situation, for sure. But sounds like you're working through it-great job. I would agree on using a different verbal cue for the sides. Varying sides can definitely be taught, but it's not for everyone. I can see how that would be very useful for a Service Dog, though!
Hi, I just discovered your chanel, you`re doing a great job! I am the owner of a 1.5yo dog adopted from shelter, who is not the smoothest dog to walk in the leash. I would be interested in videos about how to walk a dog who is pulling (constantly) in leash. I read "Loose Leash Walking 101", but a video would be much more helpful. Thank you.
I knew before I got my puppy I wanted him to walk on the right side because here in USA our bike paths reflect our roadways and this keeps the puppy out of bike traffic...when he gets old enough to run a few miles I intend to have him run along a bike. I heard he should be about two years before he starts 'pounding' the earth (when his bones are fully developed) and wonder what you think? He is a collie shepard.
I would agree with that. You can still teach polite walking in neutral areas, and you can definitely go on "sniff-n-stroll" excursions, but save those prolonged, energetic walks for after all the growing is in place. Usually between 12-18 months walks on pavement should be short but walks on dirt or turf can be longer. After two years you can do more as long as the dog is willing and doesn't show signs of fatigue. Hope that helps!
I have a beagle. Is not mental stimulation in smelling all sorts of stuff one of the points in a walk? If so, should I let my dog occasionally just follow a smell?
For a beagle? Yeah absolutely! I would suggest making it a 50/50, like an exchange program. Like: "You walk nicely with me for a bit, then we sniff-n-stroll with you; then we walk nicely for a bit, then we sniff-n-stroll with you."
Ok, that sounds reasonable. I was thinking there was no way my dog will ever be like that ALL the time :) I guess I need a cue then. Thanks BTW, your videos have really made a difference!
Super videos- FYI: Premier Easy Walk harness chaffed legs of my 13 week old, rescued pup. She has short, soft hair (under her arms there's NO hair--sorta looks chimpanzee like). Ruffwear harness works better. Thanks for caring about dogs.
Yes, true story. Although the Easy Walk (and even the Sense-Ation) are great, they just don't fit every dog right. That Ruffwear one is the next best alternative. 😉
The keys to this that most people miss: 1) HYPER-SOCIALIZE THAT DOG or it will be a liability. Guarding and protection is a trained behavior, not unstructured aggression. Their "aggression" is part of the trained behavior, otherwise you can't reliably control the dog. Ultra confident and stable dogs that don't get nervous or spooked are the best for this. 2) Get a pro involved. It's too easy to screw up the steps and create out of control problems. Believe me, I've been to several houses with severe behavior problems and the people eventually admit to me they tried to create a guard dog and failed stupendously. 3) Check out modern methods for Schutzhund and/or Mondio Ring sports. The top contenders in those fields have lots of materials out there to look at. Good luck!
Totally personal preference and knowing your dogs. I think just having them on their side is the crucial component. If you do them both on the same side, do put some thought into their configuration on that side, and I would recommend stick with that, too. For example, in the video Darwin and Bobo are both on the left, but they preferred to be Darwin on the inside and Bobo on the outside, pretty much always, and I encouraged that. It's just one more layer to the procedure that reduces the amount of management you have to do. Hope that helps!
Regarding "picking a side". I would eventually like to run my dog with my bicycle. On a bike it makes sense to have the dog on the right so that it is away from traffic. However when walking on muti-use paths, the left side makes more sense because pedestrians are supposed to keep left, and having the dog to my left would keep the dog away from any passing foot or wheeled traffic. So my question is: Since dogs don't generalize, do you think I could teach it to be on the right of the bicycle but on my left when on foot?
My sister and I both walk our dogs on the left side, however they love to walk right beside each other when we go downtown, so one of us has to change to the right side. Is that okay?
That depends on how well-behaved they are. If they can handle it, then they've earned a little more freedom of choice. If one or both are acting like fools, BOOM, restricted space.
Keep at it! If it's not working, change what you're doing. Try a group class, or private sessions. There may just be some tiny detail that needs tweaking. Good luck!
Lol, I didn't even realize it, but I've already been permanently walking my puppy on the left side XD. Because I'm still training her and I'm right-handed, so I usually give her the treats with my right hand, making me use my left hand to carry both the leash and the treats. And also cause I basically wrap the leash on my left arm all the time so there's really no switching sides when we walk XD
Ive always walked my dogs that pull more on my right and my easy going dogs on my left. or to the left of the big dog if i use a splitter. I'm right handed and want the big dogs in my dominate hand. Just in case.............
The funny thing is that Bella who is the newest dog always likes to walk on the outside and Shane likes to walk on the inside. In our neighborhood she likes to walk on the grass and he's used to walking on the sidewalk because that's how I trained him. It's nice though after we've been walking for a little bit that they finally fall into a pattern
Thank you for all of your videos they are so helpful! We recently adopted a puppy who loves to go walk in the park but when we try to walk her at our house she gets so scared and refuses to move. Treats and praise have done nothing to help her or motivate her to move, any advice on what to do?
Your videos are great! I watch them over and over and every time learn something new. But i have question. I have a mini bulterrier puppy (3,5 month), she is very stubborn. When we go out (we live in city center), she likes to walk only when she can follow some strangers. She wants them to pet her. And 1 street we go 10x back and forth, always after people. How I can stop stalking everybody? How can we start to walk nicely? Tried to lure her in right direction with treats- do not work, pulling neither. Do You have suggestions?
I would probably back it off a little bit and practice in a more neutral environment. Sounds like there are just too many competing motivators. Teach the mechanical behaviors, teach the state of being, and build muscle-memory first before introducing distractions like other people. This may mean you have to practice in your driveway, or back yard, or even inside for a while. Hope that helps!
Hi Ian, we are just starting using your online courses to train a wonderful rescue pup who is blind in her right eye. She is easily blindsided and walks or runs into large objects (kitchen island, stationary car wheel, person's legs etc). She also startles when something appears from her blind side. Would you recommend she walk on our right (so she can see me for visual commands) or on our left (so she can see what's coming from the other side)? Thank you for any thoughts on this!
Great question, Neil. I personally would opt for walking on the right so she can see you, mainly. Build that trust and the skill for walking, and you'll be her anchor. Good luck!
Do you have preference for the splitter you use? I have a 14 year old lab and a 4 1/2 month old Springer. I walk them on the left side, even though I am right handed.
Uhm, my collie is leash free. I've had some trouble finding a collar for him because of his fur, he also likes to swim so a collar begins to go bad in a month. Do you have any recommendations?
I have a bird dog who has a strong drive for scenting and chasing small animals. Walks are nearly impossible. What would be a good way to break that habit on walks?
It would be a two-fold approach: 1) re-teach the walking skills in a neutral environment and very slowly transition that to the outside, and 2) give your dog outlets for those drives so they're more satisfied during walks. That's also a good opportunity to insert some structure into those activities which will circle around and help create better character traits when you're out walking.
Usually that laying down means that they're overwhelmed and unsure about what to do. Take it slow, make it as fun and dynamic as you can, and show your pup what's right. Good luck!
doan nguyen , back years ago when we had our Rottweiler, I had him in puppy class and when everyone was walking he didn't want to move. He was content and lazy. The trainer said that lazy dogs are harder to teach because they need motivation. Eventually he did it. But he just wasn't a very driven pup. I heard recently to not feed them before training, and when they start moving, you can praise them and give them a treat ( their food). And use this during their training until they finally get the habit of moving during your walks.
Thank you guys! I found that leasing him a bit hảrd to mạke him follow, but when set him free, he walks with us beautifully! My Rott a bit lazy and shy when walk outside! At home, he lie dơwn most of the time
I do the left side because I am right handed. My dog is trained to heal but when she wants to walk on my left side, leaning on my leg with her head bent in front of me. Needless to,say I have stepped on her and I have tripped. I have a spinal cord injury and my left leg is very painful. Is there a way to stop her from leaning into my leg inside? Of course not having her want to stalk me would be nice.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
This guy is so entertaining to listen to. It's his voice and tone and manner and that undertone humor.
Lucy Pangelinan and easy to look at
Agreed.
I'm getting a new puppy in three weeks and have been binge watching your videos. They're amazing quality and probably the best tips/most helpful dog videos I've seen. Thank you so much
Thank YOU! My pleasure. ;)
fuumaxkamui same Im getting one in 6 weeks!
Me too! I have always been a cat person but am excited to be a proud pup parent too. Ian, you have a gift and I am so grateful you are sharing your talents!
Me three ! Completely agree. Your videos are so helpful and couldn't be better explained.
fuumaxkamui same
I like your casual intellectual approach. Not the usual "I'm Superman ultra extra dog trainer that devoted his life only to that, everybody else sucks, look at my 7 perfect malinois and border collies, do as I say right now sir yes sir!"
Ok, not all of them are that way, I think I just wanted to say that you remind me more of a person I would hang out with than most. It's never really about dogs, we humans are so subjective :D keep on the good work!
HAHA thanks! That means a lot!
I so agree, there are some people seriously over-compensating for something on some of the dog training channels. I feel so sorry for the dogs. I appreciate these well thought through and balanced videos, thank you. They are focussed on what most of us want, well-mannered dogs who are calm and enjoy sharing our lives, and not the posturing machismo that seems to motivate some dog trainers.
Agreed!!!!
"Putting good behaviours on autopilot without having to cue them every time is the end goal for most training." 2:11 Another simple & profound insight.
Fabulous clips👍, I am in the UK and the majority of our pavements (sidewalks) are quite narrow, as instructors, one of our main complaints from people is reactivity towards traffic/cyclists etc as they are so close if always walked on the left, many years ago, I introduced a 'change sides' exercise, I use the word "Change" and bring the dog from one side to the other and reward for changing, this has meant the dog can relax and enjoy the walk.
All of the owners have said if they simply say 'Change', their dogs will automatically swap sides without any weaving about.
Love your videos and love your dogs 😊
THAT is a really cool thing to teach. I love it. I'm all for switching sides when it's done with purpose and there's a method to it. Thanks for sharing!
Good idea. I always want the dog not to be on the road side for safety but crossing many streets when walking my dog in West London, it's mostly impossible to pick a side!
Phew.. I am sooo happy i found your channel! just rescued a 2 year old rat terrier/chihuahua mix and have been taking him on walks and he's been all over the place . started watching your channel, saw this video and have been teaching him to walk on my right side and he now has a better understanding of what side he needs to walk on! THANK YOU!!!!! This makes walking him more relaxing and fun!
Awesome, Kymberlee! Glad it helped!
What side are you gonna walk your dog from now on?
me: please don't hurt me
I got a puppy last week - my first dog ever. Your videos are SO helpful, and he's already starting to learn so much! Thank you!!
I've also found myself binge watching these videos. They're not like anything else I've seen so far on youtube dog training channels. The videos are high quality, your pacing is superb - not too fast; so everything sinks in and not too slow; so one is never bored,- and the information you give is just the right amount and depth. When it's all "in-practice-this-works," it's an opportunity to understand dogs better wasted but when it's supported by a little science and theory as your videos are, one can understand why dogs do what they do much more easily. I also appreciate the fact that you embed short clips exemplifying what you are talking about and that you link everything you mention in the video descriptions below. Well done and thank you very much.
These videos are always AMAZING quality - and I frigging love your humor! And your beautiful beard. But I especially appreciate the little clips and examples that illustrates exactly what you mean. I have never heard of this concept before, but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the great work!
Thank you SO MUCH for the generous praise! And I'm happy to help!
I agree wholeheartedly with one sided walking and always walked my dogs on the left. But recently, due to arthritis, I need too use whichever hand hurts less. This has been understandably confusing to my new pup, a frisky bullmastiff. So I've developed a signal which he's starting to get --- verbal 'this side' command and a clink of the leash. It's an inconvenient wrinkle in training but my dog seems to be adapting -- it's amazing what they can learn.
That's a cool adaptation. And you are right: it's amazing what they can learn! Never underestimate a dog!
wow! I never new about that "generalization" term before! No wonder why my dog does her tricks in some rooms, but not in others!!
I am truly amazed at how much smoother our next
walk with our 7 month old boxer was after implementing the tips from this video and your “Loose Leash Walking 101” blog post! Small fixes - like looking straight ahead, keeping my arms down and elbows relaxed (reformedchickenwinger), and using gentle tension to keep the walk going rather than allowing snoopin’ and poopin’ every 10 seconds - made a significant difference. We’ve taken several walks since then, and l’m so glad we found these resources. Looking forward to sharing with others!
Nice! Great job!
I’ve been watching your videos to train my pup and all I gotta say is THANK YOU SO MUCH. They have been an absolute lifesaver
Hey! Just wanted to thank you for the fantastic videos. My wife and I will be getting a puppy in a couple of weeks, and we've already done the following
1) Establish a possible Routine
2) Built a puppy den
3) Bought the right toys for her
4) Planned out walking routes
5) Training schedule and plan
Thanks for all the help!
Great job!
You crack me up...and are the best trainer ever!
Haha thank you! Happy to be of service. ;)
My dog is a strong puller and to be honest I hate walking him. I love him, but he's a nightmare outside. I've just read your article about loose leash walking and well... Now I know why he's like that. I make every single mistake you've mentioned there, including begging my dog to follow and bribing him with treats.
I ordered easy walk harness and I plan to try your confident method. I don't know how he would react, since he's always ahead of me, but we'll see. It's almost to easy to be true.
Also I want to say that I can't remember how I've found your channel... But I'm glad I did. You sound sensible and confident. Your videos are well made and funny. I have fun watching them (I binge watched them before I adopted my puppy). For a first time owner, you're a life saver. Also you're kind of laid back so I can relax while watching and I don't stress over everything I do wrong with my dog ;)
Hey thank you! I'm so happy to help. And you've got the most important part figured out already: RELAX! You got this!
Most knowledgeable videos on RUclips about training dogs...you are the best trainer.......and for learning behaviour Ceaser Milan..thanks to both of you guys. Hats off
i think training directional cues is important especially when there are things in your way. my dog knows right left and center
Yes, absolutely! Those are tremendously helpful things for a dog to know.
Let's face it. Walking on the left to keep your pistol hand open is still valid in the modern day.
Hmmm good point. Depends where you live, I suppose. Plus, I'm left-handed so hope I don't need it while I'm walking the Bulldog (who's on the left). He'd be a terrible guard dog anyways. Bad guy with a cheeseburger could do whatever he wanted!
Can tell someone is american with that reply haha
replace pistol with cell phone and we're good again.
Every American is a cowboy. Proud to live in a world where you need your gun at every moment.
R=9mm+L=leash=left side.
This guy is awesome. I've watched so many different videos and hands down he is the best. Thank you so much for your training videos!
I appreciate that!
Lol. I love the lightbulb moment at 2:58.
;)
Cool
Thank you so much for this video and the resources. I just adopted an older puppy and this information has been SO helpful!
I'm so glad I found your youtube channel! I have had 3 wonderful male dogs and never had a problem training them. Walking was mostly a pleasure and they were for the most part well behaved. After our Lucky passed away a few years ago (14.5) we got our first rescue dog Elizabeth (now 3) who had no manners what so ever. We had an older dog Teddy who recently passed away at almost 18.5 years old and we got another rescue puppy Daisy who was 15 weeks old. Daisy is now 7 months old and I wish I saw your videos before we got her. My son did most of the training with our boy dogs, but now he is grown up and on his own and It's up to us to train them. I don't remember it being so hard, but I am willing to put the time in. I loved your ideas on Kong toys and now have several in the freezer ready to go. We are working on Take it & Leave it now and will move on to drop it soon. How long do you spend teaching each topic? Thanks again!
Great video and lots to try. My 9 year old cavoodle walks awesome on my right side but our new German shepherd pup constantly plays up when we are out together but on his own he walks really well. I will move him to the left on a short lead and stop each time he plays up until he gets the message. It may be a long short walk tomorrow.
Mr. Ian , we are getting an AKC corgi this month and you have been very helpful with your information. We are gonna nail it . Cheers and all the best from Austin Texas . Claudia
Wonderful!
Real eye openers those video's of yours! Please make more of them!
Greetings from the Netherlands!
I definitely will! Thanks and greetings to you!
I’ve always tried to keep the dogs on the inside away from the road when we walk. Sometimes that is on my left, and sometimes on my right. Is this also confusing for them?
I do the same...
OMG I wish I would have found you when we had our kids. Your tips would work well with kids. :)
To be honest, I get a lot of my inspiration from teacher training!
We just shared this video on our fbk page Pookie and Friends we love your smile and your training tips of course! Keep up the great work Ive also been reccomending you to all the new puppy owners . Thanks
Just like to add,I like your videos even if I don't always agree with some of your views. Very well presented and entertaining.
Thank you. I am a "Puppy Raiser" for a guide dog organization. I appreciate your videos. Sometimes hearing somebody elses view or facts make the light switch turn on. Subscribed and notification on! Thank you for the extra tips in all your videos even if I know them or not.
I enjoy the history lessons at the beginning.
I am watching EVERY video by Simpawtico Dog Trainiing and I am learning a lot of new information that I can use to train my dog and MYSELF to have the best dog/human relationship. Thank you Ian and the boys for all your help!
You're quite welcome! Thanks for watching!
I have a nine-year-old Boston terrier and I love your shirt by the way
Choosing is important! My dog is being trained to walk on my right because I have little feeling in my left hand (nerve issues).
hello new friend! I just found you, I have purchased and will be adopting a big dog, A Dogo Argentino Pitbull cross, and I have been bingeing on your videos, I am a strong believer in Dogs having good manners, I am on a fixed income for life, so all my time will be dedicated to training with love and affection, I will be referring to you and your video's for help... PS I'll be leash training him, on the right side
Great stuff! Let us know how it goes!
Very helpful video I have a Jack Russell too!
I teach mine on both sides intentionally. They have a default, but a command for the other side (or in the case of my more relaxed dogs, they just stay where I put them), and I will intentionally walk them outside of their default sometimes. I use the same idea of them not being allowed to break "formation". Unnecessarily confusing? Maybe. But mine work in carting, sledding, and joring teams, and I often have different dogs I'm fostering, training, or dog sitting. Because of this, they sometimes need to be on a different side, in a different position, or with a different dog and suddenly choosing otherwise isn't really an option. Though this would be great if I were just walking my dogs, adding in the fact that they need different positions for work, and to work around other dog's habits and needs, I like for them to not have a set routine they feel they HAVE to do, but instead be okay with anything I ask them to do, since it's all the same to them.
Cool insight! You've definitely got a unique situation, but the good thing is you've thought about it and you have a structure in place. It's not willy-nilly. Working with those kinds of dogs that extra challenge is probably right up their alley. Thanks for sharing!
Simpawtico Dog Training Woah, you replied! :D I adore dog training and you've helped me learn a lot! Thanks a ton!
Just found your videos and LOVE them! I was looking for harness suggestions for a new dog and I've found I agree with so many of your training styles (A good family friend is a dog trainer and I've been working with her business for years). Really apprecaite the work you do and the time you've taken to put forward such great resources and teachings.
Hi Cassandra! Wow, thank you so much for the generous compliments and the amazing encouragement! It means a lot! CHEERS!
If I carry a firearm and carry it on the left or right side then I'm thinking in that scenario my dog goes opposite side of the firearm. In that situation left and right side matters. And yes I carry to protect me and my dog! Any howl another awesome video!
I tend to walk them on the left for the most part because I like to have my right hand which is my dominant hand free to do whatever I need. I have two dogs so I use a double leash for them so that I only have to hold one leash as opposed to two. I think the only time that I walk them on the right is when I'm in my mom's neighborhood that doesn't have sidewalks I keep them on the right so that they are not out in the street. They are both great and understand when I say back on the sidewalk or off the grass. I have to be honest though it takes them about a half a block before they figure out what they're doing and stop getting themselves and myself Tangled
Omg thank you for clearing this up. 've heard so many people say they should walk on the left side. My dog walks on my right and I find it so much better . I have more control of the situation when she is on my right because it's my dominant hand. my dad has a bulldog who is turning 1 soo and she walks all over the place, back and forth ,side to side and she is so got damn stubborn . It frustrates me when I have to walk her because my dog knows where she normally walks . this bulldog is so strong and I've tried to teach her to walk on my left but it's so hard when my dad lets her walk wherever she wants.
You're welcome! And yes, that makes it really hard when someone else just unravels all your work. Pretty impossible to make progress. Good luck to you!
I'm right-handed and I always walk my dog on my left. I always have my keys in my right pocket and I want to be able to open a door and walk in first, before my dog enters. Since my dog sits on the passenger seat on the right side of my car, I open the door with my right hand and lets my dog in with my left hand. My dog never pulls the leash, so I don't have to use my dominant hand to hold him. If the cell phone rings I move the leash to the right hand, but my dog is still walking on the left side.
I have the dog treats in a right pocket, and I always use my right hand when I give my dog a reward. Therefore, it is easier for me to have my dog on my left.
Great channel! Yay! Awesome. Hurray. Thank you.
I walk my mini Australian Shepherd, Penny Lane, on the right hand side. 1- That is my dominant hand, it is stronger and a little easier to hold her with. 2- I like her walking on the asphalt as I walk on the grass, to file down her claws. Since there are no sidewalks, so we go in the opposite direction as traffic. She has learned from teaching as a puppy, to sit when there is a car driving on either side.
I've always used right side. I'm right handed and always walk on the right side of the road so she's further away from the cars and I'm the one closer to the street to protect her
So helpful- love your videos
subbed. making any new episodes?.....I like the actual examples you show and not just talking about them. step by step how to. thats the best way. is this channel still being updated?
An interesting topic. I've generally followed the traditional rule of walking my dog on the left. And, since it is not uncommon to be walking a roadway without a sidewalk, I find the traditional "keep my pet away from traffic" makes me, at least, more comfortable. The challenge, though, is the increase in greenway spaces which do not have auto traffic, but do have bicycles, not all of which are particularly aware of managing their space. Here, the rule for pedestrians is to walk on the right. And here, for the same reason I noted on the roadway, I prefer my dog away from traffic, which means on the right. I'll agree, though, that it's confusing to my dog!
I'd love a clip about leash training.
I'd like to teach my future dog to walk freely (sniffing interesting spots, investigating on the go) on the leash but without pulling (for hikes and dayhikes) so it can enjoy investigationg stuff on the walk as if it was off leash, but still be mindful to not pull. Because they have to be leashed most time of the year. This far on a relatives dog, Ive just stopped or even turned away and walked another way when she pulls/tighten the leash. It has worked somewhat and she steps back to release the leash tension fairly quickly when I stop, but I havnt practiced much yet. This was on a one hour walk in a new area with a dog that's always lose on a farm, so she was excited and I think she did good in the circumstance. I should practice more at home turf. She's generally sweet and doesn't pull hard, but she pulls a bit if she's allowed to. She knows "heel" even if its a bit rusty, but I don't want a constant heel on the trail, I rather have that as a different thing/command.
Is that stupid of me?
No that's not stupid at all! That's perfectly reasonable. I think you're on the right track, just segment your practice into a) the environments you need different things in, and b) the skills you need in those environments. Take a look at our progressions video: ruclips.net/video/_3OdLTxEQBE/видео.html
Thank you, I had missed that one. Good examples on how to gradually increase the level.
It was a little embarrassing and more people than I expected, thankfully I reminded myself that I'll never see those people again so it didn't matter that I looked stupid and had to stop and wait every three feet. I could see that my dog was trying and improving so in the end we were both happy. But I definitely need to practice more with a leash at home, I expected her to follow me with a leash in a new place like she does without it at home environment. That was poor judgment.
We still don't have sidewalks & we do walk towards traffic, so I use the left side. But he's also a high energy nut, still full of zany after 8 hours of daycare, so hopefully I can learn some tips from these videos that will help!
I never thought about it until now, but I always walk my dog to my right.
How do u get them to stop the pulling while walking it's almost like he's walking me lol
Stop when they pull, settle them, then restart. Do this consistently and the dog will figure it out. But it does require repetition. lots of repetition.
Guess my mini labradoodle needs more repetition. I've tried the stop/start method, reverse direction method, and holding a spoon with peanut butter in front of her nose method. The peanut butter keeps her in check but once I stop using it she goes back to the same pulling ahead nonsense. Maybe it is a puppy thing which she'll outgrow as she just turned a year old. One thing I was thinking of trying was using a heeling stick but I'm not really for sure how to use it other than to extend it in front of her to give her a visual indicator of where not to go - stay behind my knee so she is following me verses leading me,
@@knutblaise9437 hi, did you ever figure it out? did she stop? id love an update
Thanks for the speedy reply
This is so true, I walked my old labrador always on my left side and even when she was off leash she would stay on my left side. Sometimes it was actually little inconvenient if I had to get her walk on my right side for a short while for safety reasons and she was just so weirded out and didn't want to walk on my right side :D
btw, do you think it's a good idea if I want to walk my new dog on the left side but when we go cycling I'd prefer him to stay on my right side? Or should I just walk him on my right side on basic walks as well
I personally would do both on the right just for consistency and ease of training. But being as how they're different activities with different rules and objectives, you could ostensibly train it to be left for walking and right for biking.
thanks for sharing your opinion! Your channel is great and it's awesome how actively you interact with your viewers
Thanks!
Would love some advice about puppy leash training! Like how to introduce a leash without her getting bite-crazy! Thanks - your advice has been invaluable so far!
So Much sense
Awesome video
I'll be doing this drom now on
Watching Feb 2019 preparing to adopt my first Puppy!
Very informative video, I learn so much. Keep up the good work! :)
I love your advice! I wish more people could see your channel.
I wanted to know your opinion as a dog trainer on retractable leashes. I personally don't like them, because I have seen them do more harm than good. But I am not opposed to hearing professional opinions on them.
Keep up the awesome videos!
HAHA man Retractables are for sure a divisive issue. Wanna see a fight break out amongst a group of trainers? Just say the word "retractable" and they go apeshit! Anyways, I believe that problems aren't with hardware, they're with users, and technique is more important than anything. One the one hand, I have seen tons of cringe-worthy situations. There is no doubt that there are potential dangers and I've seen the gruesome horror stories. However, I love using retractable leashes. I use them all the time with my dogs. The caveat is that my dogs are well mannered, and I know how to use the retractable safely and smart. I think if we just say that we hate them and we should get rid of them that that's superficial problem solving. It's not the tool's fault people are dumb with it! And believe me, like I said, I've seen some real facepalm moments! So, I think better education, better training, and better guidance would eliminate a lot of problems. There is some cool stuff you can do with them. They're not for everybody, for sure, but I think the same can be said of all hardware, and all dogs, for that matter. Hope that helps!
Simpawtico Dog Training Yeah I agree technique is definitely more important. I have seen so many people get tangled in their retractable leashes. Or they say "my dog loves everyone" and allows them to roam up to strangers and other dogs who may not love everyone. We need more education on how to walk with these leashes!
Thanks for your response.
live in the British countryside and we either have sidewalks only wide enough for one person or non at all so i still have to keep my right hand free for bandits also it means while on the sidewalk my dog has to walk infront of me to stay off the road so we kind have a few different walking methods depending what im walking on sidewalk in front of me. on the road hes to my right coz we drive the right way everywhere else hes off lead as its all just open countryside i have taught him to not cross the kirb unless i do that was very important due to how narrow the sidewalk is but it is just doing the same thing eveytime we go out routine now on the road he stays rite up against me as we walk on the sidewalk he walks in front everytime tho i am awarethat anything could startle him and its only one step onto the road and its a worry
You are underrated
Thank you!
I made the mistake of training my pom to walk on the standard left side (we went to a competitive obedience school for his CGC test and Rally training). We are in a neighborhood with lots of foot and dog traffic. My Pomeranian would end up in the middle of the sidewalk and thus in the way of passing pedestrians. I was always dragging him to the grass, etc. This was also rewarded because if he put himself in their path, they would stop and say hello. Our new pup will be walking on the right!
The solution would be to walk against traffic-which technically is the accepted recommendation anyways-and that would put your Pom on the inside, not the middle anymore.
Simpawtico Dog Training Thank you for the reply! Walking against traffic is always an excellent idea. We are most commonly on sidewalks (on the way to a large park only six blocks away! It's awesome.), that have 5-10 feet of easement between the sidewalk and the street. The sidewalks are only a few feet wide and since it's the US, everyone else is walking on the right.
if you plan on doing agility with your dog, I suggest not picking a side to walk. alternate sides each walk and signal heel with hand signals. it helps a ton in agility in my experience.
OMG he is so funny! "What side are you gonna walk your dog on from now on??" LOL
Ian -
THANKS SO MUCH for your videos and advice. You are terrific!
While I appreciate the benefits of one-side walking as you've explained them, I walk my dog in New York City. Keeping the dog on the curb side is the goal, and since I don't always have the luxury of choosing which side of me is the curb side, what do you advise?
As ever, thank you.
Hi Ed! Great question! My response is that this video is mainly aimed at people whose dogs switch sides because they don't know any better. When the switch is something you've requested, with consistent expectations, and a procedure to do it, I'm all for it. As long as there's a purpose, and you're thinking about it and being strategic, you're golden!
Amazing! Thank you!
You're welcome!
I walk my dog on the right but my 9 year old is now learning and he goes back and forth,I gotta train both ;-)
HAHA I wish I had better advice for training kids! 😉
Recently found your videos and love all your advice and teachings! Trying to use them with my 12 week old Great Dane puppy. Having a hard time with the side-choosing now because I barely started to walk her a day ago, and she did fine on my left the first time around. in the evening we went by a house with dogs in the yard that scared her into a hot mess. this morning we went a different direction and overall ok, but on the way back she kept going to my right (between me and the sidewalk). dog barks were lightly echoing through the neighborhood so I'm not sure if that was what was making her uneasy and want to hide. she was ignoring lures completely, so though we took a sit down break, I had to suffice for her following behind me to get home, and only tried to stop a few time when she pulled on the leash once we were in the driveway so she doesn't get used to "dragging" me. but would you suggest I still try to keep her to my left primarily, or should I let her get comfy amongst dog barks first? not sure how to keep this a fun experience for her :/
Hi there! At 12 weeks old I'd say picking a side during walks is your LAST priority. Walking is going to be tough for a puppy anyways without that. Just allow the walks right now to be organic; they're exploratory, about experiencing new things, and for you to be supportive. Low expectations. Job number one is socialization: tons and tons of friendly people, and lots of friendly dogs. Also, start with attention exercises like "Find my Face." Don't worry too much about the position right now. Behind, in front, off to the side. You can gently remind, but a puppy must be able to have good experiences. A regimented, perfect walk right now is an unreal expectation. Don't use lure-reward training for during the walk, use All-or-None-Reward Training. Here's an example: bit.ly/2hbvC46
This example is in an adult class, but we use it on puppies all the time. In fact, it works amazing. This is how we do the "Find My Face" and we do that in class before we do any leash training. I don't even put a leash on the puppies in class until the 2nd or 3rd week. Get her comfy around dog barks FIRST. Use All-or-None training with treats, or even just enthusiastic praise if she's too spooked for food. Give her time to decompress, and stay POSITIVE. Good luck!
Subscribed!
My service dog in training heels on my left and always has. That's the easy part. The hard part is teaching him on how to "switch" and even harder, to heel on my right, on command, as "heel" means left, not right. "Switch" is easy as well. It's just luring. The issue is teaching him to heel on my right, on command, and not confuse it with heel on the left. I was trying to keep the same cue but use separate hand signals (as every cue has a hand signal) but that is confusing him so I will need to rename the cue as "side" or "right side" so something similar. I do not want to use "right heel" as that, I think, is still confusing. And I do not want to use just "right" as he will also need to know right and left turns when pulling, such as a wheelchair. Definitely more then the general dog owner. But still what he needs to do as a service dog.
That's a unique situation, for sure. But sounds like you're working through it-great job. I would agree on using a different verbal cue for the sides. Varying sides can definitely be taught, but it's not for everyone. I can see how that would be very useful for a Service Dog, though!
Thank you!
Hi, I just discovered your chanel, you`re doing a great job! I am the owner of a 1.5yo dog adopted from shelter, who is not the smoothest dog to walk in the leash. I would be interested in videos about how to walk a dog who is pulling (constantly) in leash. I read "Loose Leash Walking 101", but a video would be much more helpful. Thank you.
I'm actually working on a whole walking course that's several modules long. No idea when it'll be ready to go, but I definitely hear you!
I'd love that. I'm waiting!
I knew before I got my puppy I wanted him to walk on the right side because here in USA our bike paths reflect our roadways and this keeps the puppy out of bike traffic...when he gets old enough to run a few miles I intend to have him run along a bike. I heard he should be about two years before he starts 'pounding' the earth (when his bones are fully developed) and wonder what you think? He is a collie shepard.
I would agree with that. You can still teach polite walking in neutral areas, and you can definitely go on "sniff-n-stroll" excursions, but save those prolonged, energetic walks for after all the growing is in place. Usually between 12-18 months walks on pavement should be short but walks on dirt or turf can be longer. After two years you can do more as long as the dog is willing and doesn't show signs of fatigue. Hope that helps!
I have a beagle. Is not mental stimulation in smelling all sorts of stuff one of the points in a walk? If so, should I let my dog occasionally just follow a smell?
For a beagle? Yeah absolutely! I would suggest making it a 50/50, like an exchange program. Like: "You walk nicely with me for a bit, then we sniff-n-stroll with you; then we walk nicely for a bit, then we sniff-n-stroll with you."
Ok, that sounds reasonable. I was thinking there was no way my dog will ever be like that ALL the time :)
I guess I need a cue then.
Thanks BTW, your videos have really made a difference!
Super videos- FYI: Premier Easy Walk harness chaffed legs of my 13 week old, rescued pup. She has short, soft hair (under her arms there's NO hair--sorta looks chimpanzee like). Ruffwear harness works better. Thanks for caring about dogs.
Yes, true story. Although the Easy Walk (and even the Sense-Ation) are great, they just don't fit every dog right. That Ruffwear one is the next best alternative. 😉
Hi there how do i train my 3 month old to start protection of family and objects?
The keys to this that most people miss: 1) HYPER-SOCIALIZE THAT DOG or it will be a liability. Guarding and protection is a trained behavior, not unstructured aggression. Their "aggression" is part of the trained behavior, otherwise you can't reliably control the dog. Ultra confident and stable dogs that don't get nervous or spooked are the best for this. 2) Get a pro involved. It's too easy to screw up the steps and create out of control problems. Believe me, I've been to several houses with severe behavior problems and the people eventually admit to me they tried to create a guard dog and failed stupendously. 3) Check out modern methods for Schutzhund and/or Mondio Ring sports. The top contenders in those fields have lots of materials out there to look at. Good luck!
What about a pair of dogs? Better to walk them on same side or opposite or does it matter more to just have them on their side?
Totally personal preference and knowing your dogs. I think just having them on their side is the crucial component. If you do them both on the same side, do put some thought into their configuration on that side, and I would recommend stick with that, too. For example, in the video Darwin and Bobo are both on the left, but they preferred to be Darwin on the inside and Bobo on the outside, pretty much always, and I encouraged that. It's just one more layer to the procedure that reduces the amount of management you have to do. Hope that helps!
Regarding "picking a side". I would eventually like to run my dog with my bicycle. On a bike it makes sense to have the dog on the right so that it is away from traffic. However when walking on muti-use paths, the left side makes more sense because pedestrians are supposed to keep left, and having the dog to my left would keep the dog away from any passing foot or wheeled traffic. So my question is: Since dogs don't generalize, do you think I could teach it to be on the right of the bicycle but on my left when on foot?
Yes! You absolutely could do that!
Can you do a video about off leash training please
My sister and I both walk our dogs on the left side, however they love to walk right beside each other when we go downtown, so one of us has to change to the right side. Is that okay?
That depends on how well-behaved they are. If they can handle it, then they've earned a little more freedom of choice. If one or both are acting like fools, BOOM, restricted space.
Hi I got a grate Dane who has not taken to a leash hi is now 7months old what can I do?
Keep at it! If it's not working, change what you're doing. Try a group class, or private sessions. There may just be some tiny detail that needs tweaking. Good luck!
Lol, I didn't even realize it, but I've already been permanently walking my puppy on the left side XD. Because I'm still training her and I'm right-handed, so I usually give her the treats with my right hand, making me use my left hand to carry both the leash and the treats. And also cause I basically wrap the leash on my left arm all the time so there's really no switching sides when we walk XD
Where can I find the walking resources that you mention in the video?
On our resources page on the website: www.simpawtico-training.com/learning/downloadables/
I walk my dog on the side opposite of the road.. shes learning it pretty good
Ive always walked my dogs that pull more on my right and my easy going dogs on my left. or to the left of the big dog if i use a splitter. I'm right handed and want the big dogs in my dominate hand. Just in case.............
The funny thing is that Bella who is the newest dog always likes to walk on the outside and Shane likes to walk on the inside. In our neighborhood she likes to walk on the grass and he's used to walking on the sidewalk because that's how I trained him. It's nice though after we've been walking for a little bit that they finally fall into a pattern
My Brittany pup is well on her way to being a bird dog. Should I have her on the left or right when we're in the field?
Thank you for all of your videos they are so helpful! We recently adopted a puppy who loves to go walk in the park but when we try to walk her at our house she gets so scared and refuses to move. Treats and praise have done nothing to help her or motivate her to move, any advice on what to do?
You guys make great vidoes! This is very helpful. More people should see these.
Thanks so much! And we agree completely! ;)
Your videos are great! I watch them over and over and every time learn something new.
But i have question. I have a mini bulterrier puppy (3,5 month), she is very stubborn. When we go out (we live in city center), she likes to walk only when she can follow some strangers. She wants them to pet her. And 1 street we go 10x back and forth, always after people.
How I can stop stalking everybody? How can we start to walk nicely? Tried to lure her in right direction with treats- do not work, pulling neither.
Do You have suggestions?
I would probably back it off a little bit and practice in a more neutral environment. Sounds like there are just too many competing motivators. Teach the mechanical behaviors, teach the state of being, and build muscle-memory first before introducing distractions like other people. This may mean you have to practice in your driveway, or back yard, or even inside for a while. Hope that helps!
Hi Ian, we are just starting using your online courses to train a wonderful rescue pup who is blind in her right eye. She is easily blindsided and walks or runs into large objects (kitchen island, stationary car wheel, person's legs etc). She also startles when something appears from her blind side. Would you recommend she walk on our right (so she can see me for visual commands) or on our left (so she can see what's coming from the other side)? Thank you for any thoughts on this!
Great question, Neil. I personally would opt for walking on the right so she can see you, mainly. Build that trust and the skill for walking, and you'll be her anchor. Good luck!
@@SimpawticoDogTraining Thanks so much Ian - great advice!
Do you have preference for the splitter you use? I have a 14 year old lab and a 4 1/2 month old Springer. I walk them on the left side, even though I am right handed.
Not really. Rok Strap makes a stretchy one that is pretty nice, but it's way overpriced, so I just use the TopPaw one from PetSmart.
Do you have a training video on how to stop your dog from barking at everything and everybody?
Uhm, my collie is leash free. I've had some trouble finding a collar for him because of his fur, he also likes to swim so a collar begins to go bad in a month.
Do you have any recommendations?
What kinds of collars have you tried so far? Rubber? PVC? Nylon?
mostly nylon, rubber and leather. that was before he started swimming tho...
I have a bird dog who has a strong drive for scenting and chasing small animals. Walks are nearly impossible. What would be a good way to break that habit on walks?
It would be a two-fold approach: 1) re-teach the walking skills in a neutral environment and very slowly transition that to the outside, and 2) give your dog outlets for those drives so they're more satisfied during walks. That's also a good opportunity to insert some structure into those activities which will circle around and help create better character traits when you're out walking.
how come my dog always resist to walk outside? He’s a rottweiler 3.5 months old, tend to lie down, does not want to move! Thanks heaps!
Usually that laying down means that they're overwhelmed and unsure about what to do. Take it slow, make it as fun and dynamic as you can, and show your pup what's right. Good luck!
doan nguyen , back years ago when we had our Rottweiler, I had him in puppy class and when everyone was walking he didn't want to move. He was content and lazy. The trainer said that lazy dogs are harder to teach because they need motivation. Eventually he did it. But he just wasn't a very driven pup. I heard recently to not feed them before training, and when they start moving, you can praise them and give them a treat ( their food). And use this during their training until they finally get the habit of moving during your walks.
Thank you guys! I found that leasing him a bit hảrd to mạke him follow, but when set him free, he walks with us beautifully!
My Rott a bit lazy and shy when walk outside! At home, he lie dơwn most of the time
I do the left side because I am right handed. My dog is trained to heal but when she wants to walk on my left side, leaning on my leg with her head bent in front of me. Needless to,say I have stepped on her and I have tripped. I have a spinal cord injury and my left leg is very painful. Is there a way to stop her from leaning into my leg inside? Of course not having her want to stalk me would be nice.
Please teach how to control reactive dogs when theyre on the leash and react to other dogs and humans