how to calm him down?

[serrelind]

Napolen is 5months old. He is normally a good little puppy until he sees someone or another dog, and when he does, he just goes NUTS. He'll race towards them and the leash will yank him back. He'll jump up and down and many times has flipped over, falling on this back, but he doesn't care. I say "NO!" many times, but he ignores me. I hate this because I'm concerned he is going to hurt himself. I'm sure this can't be good for his neck. I live in an apartment complex area, so we do see lots of people on our walks, but every time I see someone, I just so dread it. What can I do to calm him down?

[Magneticgal]

Hi! I always use a harness for Lexie on our walks and it works out very well. You are very right to be concerned about their neck. They can develop disc problems (much like people!) as well as a collapsed trachea. Most of the pet stores carry the harnesses. As far as teaching her to not jump and go crazy at strangers- I am still working on this myself!!! lol!

[Gingergirlsmom]

I was going to say the same thing, please use a harness! And if he's pulling THAT hard (enough to flip over) please use a step-in that doesn't touch his neck at all! Safety first!

On the other subject:

Ginger can sit, stay (3 minutes), wait, down, roll over, shake, do agility, come, and touch. She has been well-socialized, by going to work with me every day for a year and going to dog club to play with other dogs 1-3 times EVERY WEEK. But I have never been able to completely get her under control on a walk. She has mellowed a bit as she's been growing up, but still is my embarrassing little tazmanian devil when we see someone out on our walk!

so for that, I say

[Erin]

A harness is great but it's not going to solve your problem. Time to sign up for puppy school! We have taken many classes and in Canine Good Citizen we are working on not lunging at other dogs. It's a complicated process to explain, but it's easy to work on, especially if there are a lot of dogs around. Basically it involved you conditioning him to look at YOU for a treat when he sees a dog. I've also taught Loki not to pull on leash - he can even walk on a loose leash with just a collar (just for class - NO correcting leash-pops though, our trainer doesn't do that) It's hard to demonstrate your dog doesn't pull if you have a no-pull harness on him, so we use collars in the advanced classes. Anyway, I don't like the traditionally harnesses, so we use an "Easy Walk" by premier. I really like it. The pet stores all carry them for about $20. That helps too by not choking your dog until he learns not to pull! Oh, and a good recall helps too. Again, time for school!

[Gingergirlsmom]

Serrilind, I'm always a fan of dog training! So please listen to the previous post!

And we're quite good in class. Ginger always passes with flying colors...still struggling on the street and in the park ...

But, I'm sure that's my fault. After the first YEAR I've kind of given up and just started enjoying our walks. I do find that after the first little bit (say 3/4 mile) she loses interest. Also, she's finally stopped trying to scare off buses and big trucks!

Sorry, I guess I just found a topic I'm attached too.

[typerk]

His neck will be fine, you aren't walking him correctly. He is never to walk in front of you and the minute he goes after someone you give him a quick snap of the leash as a correction. If it escalates you physically put him on his back and hold him there for a few seconds. But that leash correction will solve every single problem you have with him outside. You actually should go a few weeks where you let him do absolutely nothing but walk beside you, don't let him sniff the ground or anything until you want him to.You don't need puppy school at all because puppy school does no good if he isn't respecting you as the pack leader.

Walking our dog correctly solved all the problems she had with barking and getting distracted and even looking at other dogs and loud cars/bikes. She simply doesn't pay attention to anything but us when we walk her. We do let her chase birds though because she loves it so much.

[Tiger's Mom]

Originally Posted by Gingergirlsmom

Serrilind, I'm always a fan of dog training! So please listen to the previous post!

And we're quite good in class. Ginger always passes with flying colors...still struggling on the street and in the park ...

But, I'm sure that's my fault. After the first YEAR I've kind of given up and just started enjoying our walks. I do find that after the first little bit (say 3/4 mile) she loses interest. Also, she's finally stopped trying to scare off buses and big trucks!

Sorry, I guess I just found a topic I'm attached too.

I am all for that too . . Tiger went through puppy class and is now in intermediate. As much as yorkie's are soooo cute, I want mine to be disciplined and not be an embarrassment whenever we are in public . . .

I really like his trainer now and Tiger has still a few issues so she suggested remedial puppy class and I am all for it . . . good thing the price I paid is lifetime so I can go back as much as I want . . .

[Erin]

Originally Posted by typerk

His neck will be fine, you aren't walking him correctly. He is never to walk in front of you and the minute he goes after someone you give him a quick snap of the leash as a correction. If it escalates you physically put him on his back and hold him there for a few seconds. But that leash correction will solve every single problem you have with him outside. You actually should go a few weeks where you let him do absolutely nothing but walk beside you, don't let him sniff the ground or anything until you want him to.You don't need puppy school at all because puppy school does no good if he isn't respecting you as the pack leader.

Walking our dog correctly solved all the problems she had with barking and getting distracted and even looking at other dogs and loud cars/bikes. She simply doesn't pay attention to anything but us when we walk her. We do let her chase birds though because she loves it so much.

I'm sorry but NO absolutely not. This is Cesar Millan crap. Do not leash-pop your dog. If you do here is what will happen: He sees big dog. He lunges to bark at big dog/bike/child. You leash-pop him (pain). He now associates big dog/child/bike with pain. You have just conditioned your dog to be afraid of whatever it's barking at.

He is NOT disrespecting you. He is just a puppy interested in his world and he doesn't know he is expected to walk on a loose-leash. You need to train him, not punish him. Walking on a short 4-6 foot leash is best, not a flexi/extendable because he will learn he only gets 4-6 feet. He does not need to walk behind you, he just needs to learn not to pull.

I've trained Loki for over a year with a professional trainer (with a MASTERS in Animal Behavior, she knows her stuff). I've read countless books on the subject. Please listen to me. There are 3-4 basic things you need to do. If you don't know where to sign up for a class or can't afford it or whatever, PM me and I'll either send you an article on it or recommend a book, or just explain the steps myself. Please do not leash-pop your dog.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by Erin

I'm sorry but NO absolutely not. This is Cesar Millan crap. Do not leash-pop your dog. If you do here is what will happen: He sees big dog. He lunges to bark at big dog/bike/child. You leash-pop him (pain). He now associates big dog/child/bike with pain. You have just conditioned your dog to be afraid of whatever it's barking at.

He is NOT disrespecting you. He is just a puppy interested in his world and he doesn't know he is expected to walk on a loose-leash. You need to train him, not punish him. Walking on a short 4-6 foot leash is best, not a flexi/extendable because he will learn he only gets 4-6 feet. He does not need to walk behind you, he just needs to learn not to pull.

I've trained Loki for over a year with a professional trainer (with a MASTERS in Animal Behavior, she knows her stuff). I've read countless books on the subject. Please listen to me. There are 3-4 basic things you need to do. If you don't know where to sign up for a class or can't afford it or whatever, PM me and I'll either send you an article on it or recommend a book, or just explain the steps myself. Please do not leash-pop your dog.

Erin is absolutely right

[typerk]

Originally Posted by Erin

I'm sorry but NO absolutely not. This is Cesar Millan crap. Do not leash-pop your dog. If you do here is what will happen: He sees big dog. He lunges to bark at big dog/bike/child. You leash-pop him (pain). He now associates big dog/child/bike with pain. You have just conditioned your dog to be afraid of whatever it's barking at.

He is NOT disrespecting you. He is just a puppy interested in his world and he doesn't know he is expected to walk on a loose-leash. You need to train him, not punish him. Walking on a short 4-6 foot leash is best, not a flexi/extendable because he will learn he only gets 4-6 feet. He does not need to walk behind you, he just needs to learn not to pull.

I've trained Loki for over a year with a professional trainer (with a MASTERS in Animal Behavior, she knows her stuff). I've read countless books on the subject. Please listen to me. There are 3-4 basic things you need to do. If you don't know where to sign up for a class or can't afford it or whatever, PM me and I'll either send you an article on it or recommend a book, or just explain the steps myself. Please do not leash-pop your dog.

No offense but I don't think you are right in the least. My dog isn't afraid of any big dog or anything else. As a matter of fact she has a crush on the neighbor's great dane. Also a leash pop doesn't hurt your dog, where did you get your info from? I have read a whole bunch of books too and have gotten real world dog owners input. If you want to disagree with me thats fine but please dion't tell me I'm wrong in the advice I give. My dog is 13 months and the only "training" we do these days are tricks. You have been training your dog for over a year and that is more telling than anything else.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by typerk

No offense but I don't think you are right in the least. My dog isn't afraid of any big dog or anything else. As a matter of fact she has a crush on the neighbor's great dane. Also a leash pop doesn't hurt your dog, where did you get your info from? I have read a whole bunch of books too and have gotten real world dog owners input. If you want to disagree with me thats fine but please dion't tell me I'm wrong in the advice I give. My dog is 13 months and the only "training" we do these days are tricks. You have been training your dog for over a year and that is more telling than anything else.

Loki knows a gazillion tricks too that he has learned in class and at home. Training isn't all about tricks. It's about communication. We go to classes because we enjoy going and because there is always room to improve and many advanced classes to try. And it's fun! How could you possibly look down on my dog and me because we've been to training classes? My sources would be Loki's trainer, Whole Dog Journal, books by Pat Miller, Patricia McConnell and others. And, if the leash pop was not painful - why would have any effect? The dog would rather not do the behavior again if it is going to feel pain. You are right that all dogs will not become afraid, it depends on their underlying temperaments and experiences. They could have multiple potentially adverse reactions. Why risk it? Wouldn't you rather teach your dog what is expected of it than punish it?

Also, even advocates of leash correction say that owners should be taught the PROPER way to do a leash correction. That still requires a class.

[mikey]

leash popping or other forms of negative reinforcement can work. but there is a better alternative, which is positive reinforcement. which is how they teach in training classes.

it's your own decision how you do or do not train your dog.

to each his own.

[Hickey007]

I haven't taken my yorkie to an obedience class but we did take our bloodhound and had great results from it. It was really nice because we were in a class of about 15-20 different dogs and that came in handy when we did these types of socialization exercises. Some of what we practiced was walking around the other people while their dog was sitting. When you walk around them your dog was supposed to walk right next to you and not look at the people or dogs, if you were the ones sitting your dog was to remain sitting while the others walked around you. The other excerise that we practiced was when walking up to someone if you stop the dog is supposed to sit down and wait to be petted if they get petted at all, either way they have to sit by your side until you are ready to start moving again.

One thing you might start trying is when you pass people and your dog tries to take off, stop and make him sit down by you until they pass then continue on. This might lower his excitement level a little bit. While he's sitting you can talk to him or what not and praise him for remaining seated. Then when he gets to where he will sit calmly while they pass try passing them without making him sit and if he starts acting up again make him sit.

I would recommend taking a class if you can because like it was said earlier it really is a lot of fun and just gives you something to do if you are like be and live a pretty boring life. It also makes you spend the time working with your dog, because you don't want to be the only one in the class who's dog can't heal or whatever. And it is also just another way to spend more time with you pup.

[typerk]

Originally Posted by Erin

Loki knows a gazillion tricks too that he has learned in class and at home. Training isn't all about tricks. It's about communication. We go to classes because we enjoy going and because there is always room to improve and many advanced classes to try. And it's fun! How could you possibly look down on my dog and me because we've been to training classes? My sources would be Loki's trainer, Whole Dog Journal, books by Pat Miller, Patricia McConnell and others. And, if the leash pop was not painful - why would have any effect? The dog would rather not do the behavior again if it is going to feel pain. You are right that all dogs will not become afraid, it depends on their underlying temperaments and experiences. They could have multiple potentially adverse reactions. Why risk it? Wouldn't you rather teach your dog what is expected of it than punish it?

Also, even advocates of leash correction say that owners should be taught the PROPER way to do a leash correction. That still requires a class.

Leash popping doesn't hurt in the least. It works because it breaks them out of whatever they were about to do, basically it distracts them from the distraction. I trained my dog outside that way and she was never hurt or scared or negatively affected in anyway. This isn't a negative form of training by any stretch of the imagination.

My yorkie listens to us, she comes when called, she doesn't chew on furniture or electrical cords or walls, she doesn't chase people or bark at dogs or bark at the ups guy when he knocks, she doesn't pee on the floor, she doesn't whine, she doesn't run out of open doors or into the middle of the street if I take the leash off her for a few minutes, she's sociable with other dogs and best of all she is extremely happy and healthy. Call me naive but I think that is great for a 13 month old yorkie.

I'm not saying that obedience class isn't good if you need some help but I just didn't feel these so called "experts" could teach my dog better than me. I do believe that when you have to worry about your dog sprinting away from you and barking at other people or dogs that he doesn't respect you as he should. A dog that listens to his owner/pack leader simply doesn't do that. But you have your way and I have mine and that's ok too. And for the record I don't "look down" on anyone, that's simply not my style. Take care.

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by typerk

Leash popping doesn't hurt in the least. It works because it breaks them out of whatever they were about to do, basically it distracts them from the distraction. I trained my dog outside that way and she was never hurt or scared or negatively affected in anyway. This isn't a negative form of training by any stretch of the imagination.

You've already described for us the problem with negative corrections and dominating your dog....

Originally Posted by typerk

When she awoke I went to put her in her litter box and she barked and ran away from me while still barking. She hid under the couch and then behind the entertainment center. Now mind you I have never did anything for her to be scared of me, no yelling, definitely no hitting. When I picked her up she was shaking like a leaf.

Leash pops and other forms of punishment ARE effective in controlling a dog's behavior. Unfortunately, they damage your relationship with your dog in the process. There are kinder, gentler methods that are also effective.