Well, I suppose it serves me right. After preening over Sparky's wonderful heelwork, superb recall (with occasional blip - he is back on a long lead at the moment) and generally marvellous obedience to my sister, I have spent this afternoon red-faced and apologising to all and sundry, telling Sparky to stop it (stop this, stop that, stop everything) and running after him like a loony to try to stand on his long lead.

Why does he do this to us? When I walk him alone, or with my daughter, he is fine. He walks with us, that is. He doesn't spend the whole time trying to escape. We meet other dogs and people we know, he leaves them when told, has a sniff and then walks on when told, walks to heel gazing admirably at us (OK, so he is gazing at the lump of liver in my hand, but it still makes me feel wanted) has a play, then rejoins us when told - well, usually.

So why is it that the minute I go for a walk WITH someone else and their dog, it's as if he has never had a minute's training in his life? Big sister has three working labs, or rather her partner does - he is the one who works them, two of which came with us - one is 7 months old, the other 4 years. Sparky and Budleigh, (the other pup) are like partners in crime together, but Sparky is definitely the worst. He wouldn't even sit on command!

Question is, should I persevere? Is it just the excitement of being in a pack for an hour that makes him behave like this, and will it wear off? Or should I put off walking together with Big Sis for a while? Is 2 pups together on a walk asking for trouble?
Tracy

Hi Tracy

What might be happening is that Sparky is excited by having dog friends to play with as you have already mentioned ;) but it is also probably that he needs to "generalise" his training more.

What this means is that, if you teach a dog to Sit in classes, to a dog this mean park your bum next to the collie and the Lab and infront of the radiator. So the dog understands we have to then teach sit at home, in the garden and out on walks.

Sparky may not be used to obeying when other dogs are aobut, nor when there are distractions. I would persevere as it is quite normal, but go back to basics a bit more and dont expect too much. Also ask your sister for example if you can practice a few exercises such as getting Sparky to Sit on the lead while she walks her own dogs slowly past on the lead. Reward /Sparky hugely when he obeys and after a while when you are confident, let him off the lead and ask for the same thing. And so on.

So basically, go back to basics a bit more and lots of practice. Also practice out and about when you see other dogs coming and going, so you can "proof" Sparky against distractions :)

good luck!

Lindsay

Thanks Lindsay,
That makes sense, but I think it might be better to do it with a doggy friend's dogs instead. My big sis just wants to have a nice stroll and a chat, the dogs are her partner's, really. Having pulled Sparky in, I ended up trying desperately to get one of her labs to sit and leave when I saw some dogless people approaching, as she made no attempt to get him on lead. Sure enough, he went hurtling over, nearly knocked the woman over, and of course I had to stand there and take the abuse! Big Sis was blissfully unaware of this a hundred yards on! Perhaps we'll walk separately from now on...
We do try basic training when other dogs are around in the park, and Sparky does do quite well. I think I will ask sister's partner to help in the way you suggest. He is the main trainer, and will be a bit more patient, perhaps!