Excitable boy!

[ShazzaC]

Hi all,

Just needing a bit or moral support tonight! Blue is coming up to six months now and walks are becoming increasingly tricky. He is so excited when we set off he (sorry about this) does a runny poo almost immediately and tries to pull on the lead. We have been clicker training (with treats) right from the start, but with limited success. We stop as soon as the lead goes taught, and the minute he walks nicely we praise and treat, but he quickly tries to pull again. Just bought a gentle leader to give that a go (still rewarding for good walking too) as many people swear by it. He has always stayed pretty close to us off lead, but recently started to run off with other dogs and not return to recall (I know, other dogs are very exciting!)

Please tell me he will calm down eventually...he's a very sweet boy around the house and sticks to us like glue. Does the outside world stay so exciting you have to poop forever?? 

[MIN]

he will calm down and come right in the end.
 Gemma still pulls on the lead (and does the adrenilin poos as we call them) and i think now she always will. we can sort the pulling by putting on the canny collar which we do when usually in crowds.
 NEVER apologise for using the POOH word or any of its formats  cockers and pooh go together same as peaches and cream 

[ShazzaC]

Thanks - I will feel free to talk poo from now on 

He's fast asleep, butter wouldn't melt in the evenings - and he goes to bed like a dream. I was determined to have a dog who walked nicely on the lead...I guess they all have their issues - like their owners!

Adrenalin poos made me 

[Redked]

We've all been there I promise. 6 months is still very young for everything to click into place. Keep doing everything you are doing and you will gradually see improvements. Bonnie still pulls sometimes but then next walk she doesn't! Recall when playing with other dogs is only just becoming (nearly) perfect and Bonnie is 1 later this month. Consistency and perseverance not to mention limitless patience and the occasional bottle of wine is needed  

[PennyB]

he's also just about to come into his teens and lots of things will challenge you as he pushes boundaries further. I'm just about to get Bosley (6mo old) a stop-pull type harness as he's all over the place (his cousin Stella another sprocker has to wear one or a figure of 8 gentle leader or she'd pull me right over)

[Jane57]

Ahh I would say the poo saga will calm down but if left then the pulling will only get worse. Riley didnt really pull at that age, fast forward 6 months he was a decent puller, fast forward  18 months he is a steam train ! try working now on the pulling on the lead as that wont or might not go away. (she says) 

[MANDYANDALFIE]

My Alfie has just turned 1 and I can finally say that there are signs of a miracle with his lead walking!  He pulled from the start but doesn't always pull now and returns to heel when prompted without getting a treat.  We still practice a lot with treats for the right behaviour in the problem places such as just before he knows we are arriving at an off lead area.  His recall disappeared at around 7 months and after a couple of unfortunate incidents I started taking a long line and a tennis ball whenever we go out walking.  I entertain him with the ball when he is in open spaces off lead (also great at practising recall, sit, stay, etc.) which works to keep him focused on me.  But, at the first sign of his attention wandering, I put him on his long line and we practise not pulling - AGAIN!!   We had a lovely short lead walk a couple of days ago just around the local streets and he didn't pull me at all.  It was a joy.

[Joules]

Yes, he is becoming a teenager and this can be a very trying time    But, it does end eventually - Coco had me in tears of frustration a few times when she refused to go back on the lead at the end of a walk and just stood out of reach barking at me.    She also went through a phase of "over excitement runny bottom" which settled down in the end too. Not so good when she did one in the doorway of a shop though and I had a nightmare trying to pick it up

Just try and stay calm (not easy I know   ), go back to basics and eventually things will improve.  Coco still pulls on the lead when we are somewhere exciting though and she is 8   - I have just decided to pick my battles .    All dogs have their issues (like we do) and I reckon that as she has a brilliant temperament, is loving, confident and friendly, I can put up with some negatives, quite a few in her case    It is just a case of working within their limitations.

In the meantime, there is always wine and chocolate  

[chrisp]

Mollie still does her 'excited poo' (she's 2)!  Everywhere we go - we just know it's going to happen within a few minutes!!! We're more surprised if we DON'T get one!!   

[ShazzaC]

Thank you all for your lovely replies - and your dogs all look so gorgeous! I really must get a photo of Blue on here. He is going through a particularly fluffy stage at the moment - like a teddy bear.

Well, we are using the gentle leader and I have to say, although it is a complete faff to put on, it has made such a difference to his walking so far. I have just walked around the block with him (about a ten minute walk) and he was so much better! I keep praising and treating when the lead is slack, and if he pulls it is so much easier just to gently turn his nose around towards me and persuade him to walk nicely. I will definitely put effort into getting this right with him, I don't need perfection, just a nice walk   

Ooh and no adrenalin poos today!! Might have something to do with the fact that he was poorly last week and his bowels have just become normal again...is he lulling me into a false sense of security I wonder?

Our next experience is meeting a dog sitter and her dog later in the week. He is hopefully staying with them for a day in February...so I'm hoping he likes her dog, she likes him, and he doesn't disgrace me in her house 

Wish me luck!

[PennyB]

I use a simple figure of 8 gentle leader not one described as a head collar and its quite easy to put on (over head 1st so it sits on neck then pull other piece from under muzzle so its sits over it and its done within seconds) but as you say walking is so much easier with them

[ShazzaC]

Well, I lay awake worrying about him meeting the dog sitter last night! WHAT is wrong with me?!   
He got very over excited with a visiting dog who was there - he was an old soul who didn't want to play. But when he was in the kitchen with just humans, he calmed down and lay on the floor, so I think he redeemed himself. She seems a nice lady so hopefully he'll be fine there for the day.
Oh and he saved his poo for just outside the bakers today. Oh the shame! 
The gentle leader is going very well though. So glad we tried it.