Today we took Scarlet out on the lead for the first time. She was great and well behaved. She had an encounter in pets at home with a bigger Staffy. The only problem we find we find is that trys to walk infront of out kids and she get right staffy stance on, But I ca live with that as I think she is only trying to show her prtection for us all.

Lee

wouldnt worry if shes been well behaved on her first walk she must be very good already.

LOL, saw the heading and thought she had been naughty and you had given her a 'timeout'  No time outs for your good little girl though, what a gem!

Hmm, me not having as much luck.  Taken my 14 week girl out twice, and she insists in right out in front.  I do the whole change direction thing and she is slowly getting the hang of it, but boy do I end up getting dizzy.  Must look a right plonk by passerbys in the car too... any other tips?

BonjeeB wrote: Hmm, me not having as much luck.  Taken my 14 week girl out twice, and she insists in right out in front.  I do the whole change direction thing and she is slowly getting the hang of it, but boy do I end up getting dizzy.  Must look a right plonk by passerbys in the car too... any other tips?

Thought it was only me giving the general public a laugh at my lack of dog training skills- my dog is 3 yr old! I have to practice this with him quite regularly to keep him listening to me. I also use the stop start technique. You have to be prepared to look even more of a plonk though.

With my puppy I followed the advice from the classes I go to.they use treats and clickers so if your into trying that read on!  

They teach the "length of the lead" technique, which is sort of stop/start. Put lead on and just stand. When pup pulls on lead, wait until gives up and looks at you, loosens lead a bit. Click and treat. Once got the hang progress to moving a liitle bit.

Assuming want dog to walk on left, hold lead in right hand, with left
hand hold out treat (class gave out chicken roll), let pup nibble as
walk in correct position. Progress to giving treat only when moves into
rihgt position. If pup goes ahead, stop and encourage back to position.
Once got hang can introduce command word, heel or whatever. Personally,
if you want to try this I recommend lots of 5 min sessions around house
and garden 1st as I lost patience quite easily and my fingers were in
shreds. I did try substituing a wooden spoon with meat paste for hand
fed treats but she didn't learn to be gentle from that.

Still a work in progress she's only 5m but the point is there has been progress. I am green with envy of people whose dogs potter along several feet behind them, but not many Staffies seem to do that! If anyone knows how to do that gonna let me know too? HTH.

awwwwwwwwwwwe well done Scarlet!!!!!

I saw the pic of her after her walk... knackered isn't the word for it!!! LOL

You'll all have such fun now she's out and about...

Well done to her - what a clever little girl

Jez has always strutted out in front - unless she's found something really interesting to sniff when you find yourself getting dragged backwards!  Oh, and nighttime is the worse - then she really struts her stuff