Quote:
Originally Posted by Wallee  ...Once I do get it on him, he immediately runs to the front door to go for his walk like all of it meant nothing.
I try not to get frustrated as I know that only makes it worse, but I am getting tired of him running away and it taking 20 minutes to get his harness on before I can take him for a walk.
Putting the harness physically doesn't seem to be an issue by the way. It is just getting ahold of him to do it.  |
Oh I feel for you...it's an exercise program for sure!
You know...this sounds like the "Gingerbread Man" game Brody plays sometimes...you know..."Catch me if you can 'cuz I'm the Gingerbread Man" from the fairy tale...and I was thinking about what I did that eventually turned him around...mostly...
If that is what is happening, maybe if you play 'the game' at other times, when you're not planning to walk him...to disassociate the game with harness and/or walk time...maybe he just feels that is the ONLY time he gets to play that game that he loves.
I now play the Gingerbread Man game with Brody when I get home from work. I know how hard it is to catch that little furry "C" while it is spinning wildly, bouncing, yipping, and play-biting...grinning from ear to ear.
When we play, I 'errrrr' at him and he 'errrrrs' at me, and we go at it for a little while...at the same time I am also kissy-facing with Mia and petting her little golden spinning, bouncing furry "C" with the advantage that she is 'velcro' and will stick with me as I 'gingerbread' around the room with Brody. Incidentally, if I get too far from Brody, he will move back into a 'just out of reach' location, too.
Maybe all you need to do is make his walks a bit 'disorganized'...snatch him up for a walk when he is not expecting it...pull him out of a nap, maybe, hold him and dress him in his harness...or leave it on during the day to remove that piece of the problem...and play 'the game' when going out is NOT on your list of things to do right now so you can just walk away when YOU get tired of the game. I cannot swear it would fix it permanently...Brody really loves the game and occasionally plays it at walk time...but it may help. Oh, and only praise, reward and treat when he comes to you...if you are NOT playing the game, just monotone whatever you say, and or walk away to indicate a 'game over' condition. Do try NOT to let on that you are frustrated...walking away/not participating in 'the game' should let him know you are displeased.
Another thing that may help...and I've done this with Brody, too...is, when he plays the game and you are dead set against it but MUST get his attention, just walk away from him, get something HE WILL WANT...with Brody, a crinkly bag that MAY contain a toy is sufficient, and play 'keep away' with it keeping him from getting it temporarily until you can get hold of him, then he can have the treat after a few minutes lag time, or after his walk, etc. but at least until after the harness in on. A toy works better for Brody, except that if I give him the toy afterward, that little 'Yorkshire Terrior Retriever' will then tote the toy, clenched in his teeth, around the yard and NOT do his bit BECAUSE he'd have to lay down the toy for that business and he is
convinced Mommy will STEAL it!
Good luck!