The workshop we attended last week was not as we had expected clicker training, but purely based on body language. The most difficult thing I found to "unlearn" was to be silent, so that the dog has to pay attenion to my actions. Logical and effective, but not easy to do when I have chatted away to the dogs ever since I had them!

This sounds interesting, carene - can you give me any more details on the silent treatment? I, too, talk constantly to mine as we walk along. I'd love to know more!
Thanks
Tracy

It's worth getting "Walk with me", Kay Laurence's book, which explains the concept much better than I can - but basically, if you are silent, the dog has to focus on your body language, which being a dog he understands far better than English anyway! Have a look at the website, www.learningaboutdogs.com

Very interesting topic carene,
I have not yet had time to look in on www.learningaboutdogs.com, but I will.
I was just wondering, if you don't talk to your dog, and just rely on your dog picking up on your body language, what about when the dog is off lead and and charging around the fields with the other dogs, how do you communicate 'Danger - Down' for instance?
I have always trained all of my dogs with soft spoken word commands coupled with hand signals. 
As I have said, a very interesting topic, I would like to hear how you get on and if it works.

Harry C.

Harry, this only applies to loose lead walking.  You would, of course, use your voice to communicate the need for an instant down.  HTH. :)

So how does your dog read a human body language ? I'm interested as I don't use a lead for teaching my dogs to walk to heel & use titbits & toys So a method that uses no langauge or titbits or toys intrigues me ! I prefer not to use the lead constrait method in teaching heelwork or anything else so my dogs never learn to have a tight lead

MM the booklet says that for teaching a new puppy treats etc should be used when they are in the correct position and as a lure to get them there. The no talking is more about making your (older, already pulling on lead) dog pay attention to you. If you talk they know you're there and can switch off, same applies when there is tension on the lead. With a slack lead and you being silent, your dog has to pay attention to know whats happening - does that make sense?
The principles for teaching an older dog are bascially the stop start method with the reward being continuing the walk rather than a treat, have to say its very difficult to be consistent with. Is working for one of my dogs, the other gets very worried if she is not praised in some way so I have used a clicker/treat with her. My male is only interested in getting somewhere so this method really is the best with him, treats mean nothing when on a walk :D HTH

Very well explained Khanu. :)

AH so it is reward training Thanx I was a bit puzzled as to how you could train a dog with no reward voice etc

The first dog I trained for someone else was terrified of leads after going to an ex army dog breaker she ended up refusing to move at all so my friend(who was a poiliceman but not a dog hanlder)told me about training off lead for heelwork etc in private to get the dog concentrating on the food toy etc & then using a very light lead take the dog out for a walk & after a few weeks it worked & I ended up  training her for obedience & we were quite successful, her heel free was always better than her on lead work. I've used this method ever since & touch wood have never had a dog who pulled

I was beginning to think that mine was physic, until I realised that she was actually watching my eye movement. I didtn even know that I always glanced at the dummy before I sent her for a retrieve. It is so difficult to stop that I think I will have to start wearing dark glasses :)

Interesting...I suppose it depends on what sort of dog you have, some dogs need to be talked to some are better when you don't, e.g our girl freya needs to be constantly ordered about when on the lead otherwise she forgets you are there. Orry on the other hand just needs the occasional command, and you often dont ned to talk to him. Use what is best for your dog

Our main problem on lead is still a fear of traffic - off lead and in other situations Sparky doesn't tend to pull any more - just needs the odd reminder to stay close at the beginning. Walking along a road facing the oncoming traffic (still on the pavement) he walks to heel perfectly, though his attention is very much on the traffic, but when we turn to come back and the traffic is behind him he will try to pull like mad. We always have to cross over to face the traffic again, as it is just a step too far to have the cars coming up behind him. I find that talking to him at least calms him a bit, gets him to look at me rather than the cars, and can even get his tail wagging at times if I'm daft enough. Busby on the other hand might well respond to not knowing if we're at the end of the lead or not as he's a bit over-confident. Like Izzi says, I suppose different things will work for different dogs, and it's a case of getting to know your own.

hi just wondering if anyone has any suggestions i have a 7 month old rottweiler and when i let him off the lead he stays quite close and will come when i call him but when it timeto put him back on the lead he is a nightmare! i call him and tell him to sit and stay then as soon as i go to grab his collar he starts running round me and thinks im playing but its not much fun when it takes you bout 15mins to get him on the lead! ive tried treats, i dont know what to do. Any suggestions i would be greatful. Thanks Gem.

dont always put him on the lead when its "time to".
ie throughout the walk,call him,give him a sweetie,pop his lead on,praise him/titbit,then let him off again,do a few times throughout the walk.
also you could have a short piece of string/rope from his collar,that you can leave on him when hes off lead,thatll be easier to grab hold of than his collar.
if he starts mucking around,DONT chase him or even call him,just turn your back  crouch down & i bet he will come to you. give him loads of praise/titbits when he does

Thanks for that i will have to try them when i take him out later. thanks again Gem.