Recent Posts by LadySnell

Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / controlling her around other dogs whilst walking!

Hi, Emma here.  My mom suggested I write this since I'm worse than that with other dogs...

Whenever Mom takes me, she uses a cinch collar (not a choke collar, it won't choke me but only tightens enough to remind me I'm on a leash).  She says this is because as a dog I'm used to using my bodyweight to PULL and with a harness I have more strength to pull with.  She found my cinch collar at PetSmart.  It's mostly a web collar with part chain.

One of my least favorite commands is "cower."  And that's because I have to be in a submissive position until I relax and get released.  She uses her hands almost like a dog's mouth to "nip" my neck, shoulder and mouth to refocus me as she firmly tells me "cower."  Mom doesn't yell at me, because she knows that yelling makes me more hyper.  I have to sit, then lay down over onto my side and I'm not allowed back up until I am relaxed and not focused on anything but Mom.  It is SO HARD because she doesn't know these other dogs and I need to make sure that they don't try anything funny!  Mom says that when we are out on a walk that I have to trust HER to make choices to keep us safe.  Well, she's the boss and she lets me know it.

If you have trouble focusing on your Mom during your walk, try practicing "cower" before you leave the house, then again before you leave the yard.  Halfway through the walk, if you haven't encountered any other dogs, then cower again, just to make sure you remember that your Mom is the one in charge.  We tried to avoid pets for the first few days until I got the cower command down pretty good. 

I hope this helps!  Mom used to teach training classes at Petco when she worked there as a Grooming Salon Manager... 

Barks, Emmalou