Walks are (dare I say it?) beginning to become much more relaxing with Sparky now. He usually waits in the car until I ask him to get out, and trots along beside me, even at the beginning of the walk. Admittedly, he is still on his long line most of the time, as our park is full of twists and turns and I still can't trust him to stay by my side offlead if something exciting comes round the corner, especially little old ladies in nice clean coats ;) . He is beginning to walk much better on lead, even in traffic, and I feel as though things are starting to click at last.

But, we still have a nightmare if I go for a walk with my sister and her 3 labs. All the dogs get on really well - her youngest in particular is just a couple of months older than Sparky and they play so well together. Once on the enclosed field they run round like a pair of loonies, Sparky rounding Budleigh up, but both stay close enough to us; even recall is pretty good considering how excited they both are. The problem is the walk to the field. We have 3 stiles to negotiate before we get there, and pass through a farmyard.

Stiles and gates when I'm on my own with Sparky are OK - he usually sits and waits for me to go through. But these! He pulls like mad, whining to the point of a howl, and it is such a struggle. I had about 10 attempts on Sunday before finally getting him through the first gate without him trying to drag me through. I even ended up walking right back to the start of the path with him and starting again, not letting him go further until he stopped whining. As soon as we get to the field he stops. I make him sit before I let him offlead, so he knows he won't win by pulling, so why does he do it? Is this just excitement? Will it stop? Doing the Anglo Saxon (as John would put it) bit didn't work - nor did tasty treats to keep his attention on me. Is it worth going back to this field with him on my own a few times?
Thanks,
Tracy

What does he do when you're on your way home again?  There are those who will say if he pulls then he's 'dominant', but I'd say he's enthusiastic and keen to discover all that life has to offer him, as is the way of most youngsters.  Keep up the practise, taking every opportunity (doorways at home, car doors, gates, narrow paths etc) to train him and he'll get the message - the key is consistancy! :)

Thanks Digger,
On the way home he tends to be OK, pulls a little more than he would normally try to get away with, but no whining or pushing himself to the front. I suppose I'll just have to keep going! The only other time he whines like this is if the girls have their football boots on at the front door and he thinks he's going out with them. We don't let him go until he stops and have tried hard never let him go through a doorway, gate, or any opening first - I suppose we'll just have to keep working at it!
Tracy

Hi Tracy, great to hear of Sparkys progress and that he likes his outdoor run now. If the other dogs are eager to get through the stiles hes maybe just anxious not to be left behind. Keep at it and youll get there. Master Morse did exactly the same but now sits and waits at gates/stiles until summoned. The funniest thing he did with gates was gallop up to a five bar gate. limbo under the wire fence left of the fastening then trot round to face it on the other side and sit, head cocked waiting for his treat. Chancer:D

Are you sure Morse hasn't "been here before" Lorelei? :) I wonder who he was in his former life?
Tracy

Hmm Ghengis Khan? Alexander the Great? Always looking for new worlds to conquer. Or the great detective himself its elementary my dear Mother, one just triangulates the shortest route from Point A to Point B, ones route of desire as it were, and there I have it while you, my plebeian friend do not> :D

lol - Sparky must have been Don Juan then! :D