Pet Exchange Corner

turning between training walks vs fun walks

When I walk my weimaraner Remy, I try to rotate between training him to walk at my side as well as providing him flexibility to walk in front.

Most pet dog fitness instructors seem to believe it’s okay to rotate between “training” as well as “freedom” since it’s unreasonable to expect a pet dog to heel or walk completely at your side for an entire 60-minute walk.

Heck, it’s difficult for some dogs to focus for even 2 minutes! We’re asking them to walk painfully sluggish as well as neglect whatever interesting.

So, my concerns to you are:

1. Do you rotate between “training” as well as “freedom” on your pet dog walks?

2. exactly how do you interact to your pet dog the difference between the two?

First I want to comment that I don’t believe it’s as basic as “training” vs. “freedom.” Remy as well as I have at least 3 different “modes” on our walks.

We have 3 walking modes:

Mode 1: true training walks. This is where Remy as well as I are both truly focused as well as we work on heeling as well as obedience commands like stand, stay as well as down. We do this for about 10 minutes a lot of mornings.

Mode 2: Power walks where I hold Remy at “heel.” To be honest, he’s pulling nearly the entire time when we do this. I still tell him “heel” however I’m keeping him in location with a tight leash. about 50% of our walks are like this, so a great 3 hours per week.

Mode 3: flexibility walks. I let Remy walk in front of me, pee on things, sniff, etc. He’s normally pulling, although not hard. This makes about the other 50% of our walks, so at least 3 hours per week.

I wished to point out the above to provide you an concept of what our walks look like. It’s not so basic as “training” vs “freedom” since of those walks where I’m holding him at a heel.

*In the comments, let me understand if you have similar “modes” as well as exactly how commonly do you spend time in each?

How does your pet dog understand when it’s okay to “check out” from training?

Here are two concepts that can potentially make things clearer for you both:

1. utilize two different commands/cues.

One word for when you want your pet dog to walk at your side. One word for when you want to let your pet dog take a break.

My words are “HEEL” for working on heeling as well as “BREAK” to signal take a break.

I normally state it’s finest not to repeat a command, however when working on “Heel” I repeat it a lot. I likewise repeat “Break” when I want my pet dog to have freedom.

2. select two collars or a harness as well as a collar.

Clip the leash to one collar or harness for training as well as to the other collar or harness when you’re not training.

My good friend who is a expert pet dog fitness instructor (Hi, Christine!) suggested it can be practical for a pet dog if you clip the leash to the front of your dog’s harness for training as well as to the top of a harness when you’re not training.

What do you people think? would this be practical for your dog?

For example, she stated she utilizes the flexibility harness for her pet dog since it has a sound for the leash in two locations – at the dog’s breast as well as on the dog’s back. So keeping that one tool she can quickly switch the leash from one area to the other.

Most of us don’t utilize a flexibility harness (you can buy one here), however the exact same idea might apply with any type of two collars or a harness. Christine is a positive reinforcement trainer, as well as she extremely suggests the flexibility harness.

I’m trying this idea utilizing a harness as well as a collar.

I have an EasyWalk harness, which is likewise created to limit a dog’s pulling. It has a sound for the leash at the dog’s chest.

For the last 2 weeks, I’ve been having Remy wear his harness as well as prong collar at the exact same time, as well as I clip the leash to one or the other depending upon what we’re doing. You might utilize whatever collar you want – a flat nylon collar, a slip collar or a gentle Leader.

When I want Remy to stay at my side, I keep the leash clipped to his prong collar as well as state “Heel.”

When I want to provide Remy flexibility to walk in front, I clip the leash to his harness as well as state “Break!”

After trying this for a week, it has eliminated anxiety for ME.

Physically changing the leash provides me authorization to inspect out from training.

Rotating between the two tools has absolutely assisted Remy as well as I both feel a lot more relaxed.

When we’re working, we’re working. When we’re not, we’re not!

This reminded me of exactly how some working dogs (guide dogs, authorities K9s, etc.) wear a harness or vest when they’re working or training. This assists signal to the public that the pet dog is working however it’s likewise a signal to the dog.

There are cons to utilizing this method:

1. There are dangers to clipping the leash on as well as off. Some dogs may dart away if you’re not careful. (Be careful!)

2. Your pet dog has to wear a lot more gear. Remy uses his flat nylon collar, his prong collar as well as his harness so it gets to be a lot! No huge offer in our situation however it might get frustrating depending upon what you’re doing.

Sometimes if I understand I’m not going to work on training I just leave the prong collar house as well as we utilize the harness the whole time or vice versa.

I likewise want to mention, you can utilize whatever two collars/harnesses/tools you want.

You don’t have to utilize a harness. You might utilize a gentle Leader or a Halti for training as well as your dog’s flat collar for flexibility walks. Or any type of combination. Your pet dog will likely pick up on the difference if you’re consistent.

Now, I’m curious what the rest of you believe of these ideas.

Would you utilize two different collars? One for training as well as one for freedom? Or do you believe that’s making it excessively complicated? I’m not sure if I will continue it or not, it’s just something I’m trying for a few weeks.

Do you utilize two different commands/cues for training walks vs. freedom?

Let me understand in the comments! say thanks to you for reading as well as participating. Please share this publish with others if you discovered it helpful.

-Lindsay

Other resources:

Using pulling to your advantage (The website, just Weimaraners)

Making leash manners fun (Dr. Patricia McConnell)

How to stop a pet dog from pulling (That Mutt)

I can’t stop when my pet dog pulls since she needs the exercise (That Mutt)

The finest collar for extreme pullers (That Mutt)