Training An Aussie Shepherd

[ang05]

I own a 7 month old Aussie Shepherd. I just wanted to ask advice on 2 things...

1. Recall - At home in a quite invironment she does a perfect recall! At the dog park it is a different story! Does anyone have any good advice on this.

I take treats but am thinking I need to make the treat more of a draw card. I am worried about taking chicken etc down to dog park as the other dogs already maul me for the boring treats I take. She will come in some circumstances but when she is chasing another dog and I am trying to get her to come back to me as she is getting to much for the other dog she just ignores me. She has also started herding and it is the same in the pen when I am asking her to back off...she wont listen.

Any suggestions or am I just expecting to much from her in these situation?

2. Walking on lead with out pulling - When we just head out for a walk (they do back off further into the walk) or walking from the car to the dog park gate both my dogs pull like crazy! I am just after tips for them not to pull. I have tried the stop and make them sit when they start pulling but I have had no luck with this.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Gayle.]

I have two Aussies, and 7 months old is a difficult age cos they can be stubborn little butt-heads at that age. Think pre teens!

My boy, I used to have terrible trouble getting him to come when I called him if there were major distractions (like just about everything outside our yard!) But I stopped calling him if I knew he wasn't going to come, which sounds a bit defeatist but I didn't want to set up a pattern where I'd be calling and calling and he'd just continue to ignore me. If I knew he wasn't going to come back, I'd either not let him off the lead in the first place; go get him or simply start walking away from him. He'd appear at my side within seconds.

For the pulling, I used a variety of non-pulling devices such as head halters and no-pull harnesses and taught him that being by my side was the best place to be. Once we had that under control, he went on a limited slip collar and lead and a short, sharp jerk on the lead would get him back when he started to surge ahead. But lots of praise, lots of treats for being in the right place worked the best.

Also, abruptly turning and walking in a different direction works, but not if you have two dogs at once.

My boy is now 2 years old. This morning we went to our regular obedience class and met a 4 month old border collie puppy. The pup jumped all over Benson and was very excitable, pulling his owners all over the grounds. Benson just stood there calmly and quietly, then went down in a drop position to let the pup jump on him. The pups owners commented over and over what a lovely, well mannered dog I had. But it seems like only yesterday *I* was the one with the excitable pup that jumped on everyones dogs and pulled me all over the grounds!

It does get better!

My girl dog is entirely different. She would rather die than displease me, she is a little darling and has always been the same. If she pulls, I tell her not to and she comes back to my side immediately.

This isn't through good training, she was born well-behaved. So I take no credit for her nice manners.

[ang05]

Thank you so much Gayle!!! It is nice to know that there is hope for her...lol!

I was thinking of not taking her to the dog park for a while till I know she has a better recall.

Will just stick to walking her on lead. I am also trying to con the hubby to help me with walking for a little

while till I have both of their pulling in control. Wish mine was born well behaved...lol!

Thank you so much for your advice!!!