I Need A Walk!

So, Tucker has never been on walks around the neighborhood. We used to not have a fenced in yard, so we didn't want him to think the road was OK to walk on, but, we've had a fenced in yard for a year now and, I figured he needed to get out (and me too) and go for walks around the neighborhood. The thing was, he was terrible with heeling around the house unless I had a treat in hand. He heels excellently at agility trials, because he knows the difference between a "working environment" and his house, I suppose.

Anyway, I decided maybe a month ago I wanted to start walking. Tucker pulled a ligament and I needed a way to get his leg fit again before starting up agility again, and, this was the perfect plan.


He did alright with just a collar and leash, but not great. I was a little disappointed how often I had to remind him he needed to heel, because I know he knows better than that. So, I fussed with reminding him the whole walk, pulling back on the leash, the whole works.


I switched to his agility lead (its a slip rope) so I could get it up around the top of his neck better. That worked significantly better, so much in fact he walked nearly perfectly. Still, though, not perfect enough for the walk to be enjoyable and not a training session. I really love training him and all, but, lets face it, a walk is meant to be relaxing.


So, my mom wanted me to train Emma as well, and I told her I wanted a halti to work with Emma. By the time we got the halti Tucker was walking pretty well, I was showing him off and everything, however, this new little tool was like a miracle worker. I figured I'd use it on him first since he's more tolerant and more obedient then Emma. He became my guinea pig. The Halit comes with a training manual (that I didn't read, shame on me, right?) - however I didn't need it! This thing works wonders, really.

He started off trying to pull it off his head, but I started slipping it on using a treat as a reward for him letting it go on his head. I took treats on our walk (I still do, I make him sit whenever a car goes by) and whenever he tried to pull it off I would pull up gently and when he started walking again I gave him a treat.

Today? He is amazing at walking. I can walk and not even notice he is there, he even slags behind a lot more often than not. In fact, the other day I was walking him and I let the leash slack too much where he was able to walk ahead and when he did he got confused xD


Anyway, I know this seems like I am advertising the halti xD But I am not! I am just saying I love it!





Any other advice from fellow dog owners on how to get dogs to walk right?

What do you do when you see a stray dog on your walks? --- I was walking Tucker and some chihuahua was running around loose =/ Tucker was a good boy. The dog snarled at us and blocked the road off so I had to go home (I know, I let it win which is bad, but, I didn't want myself or Tucker to get bit). Tucker instinctively growled back, but, he backed off as soon as I turned around and told him to follow. Still, this was a really annoying event considering it ruined our walking =/ I wish people would keep their dogs under control. I'm new to walking my dog around, so any advice for this situation would be nice