Working out the Bugs
When I first got my Coonhound she would not walk on a leash. She would sit down, pull loose and buck. Then she started laying down and wiggling out of her harness. The second day we had her she backed of her collar, heavy duty harness, and got away. Since she weighs about 75 pounds I was not having fun pulling her home, or sitting in the grass for a half hour until she decided to get up. She actually sprawled out on the way across the street in our neighborhood one time and stopped a car. Luckily, the driver was patient. he rolled down the window and said "Is that a hound? That explains it."
I started researching about Coonhounds on the web and found that they are difficult to leash train and tend to roam. The bolt and try to run if they pick up a deer scent. Here I was in an apartment, in suburbia, wondering how to magically transport myself to a farm in the mountains, so this dog could have a suitable home.
But not to worry, we had a plan! We found that if we all walked Suri, she felt like she was in a pack and walked without a problem. We began to walk the same route everyday so she learned a routine and it became less distracting and novel. We coaxed her with treats and when she walked she was rewarded. We rigged up a martingale collar and looped the leash through the harness so she could not wiggle free.
My better half and I put a lot of effort into this and soon he was walking her alone during the day while I was at work. I was still afraid to go by myself because I thought I would lose her again. He was sick with the flu recently, and I had no choice but to take her out myself. I took a deep breath, rigged her up and left the house. Amazingly, I suddenly felt like I was walking with a show dog. She was walking by my side slowing when I did, not pulling or stopping, and looking so sharp that someone actually stopped me and asked me how I got my dog to walk so pretty. Now she prances like a show horse and the happiest times in my day are my dog walks. She is one of the best behaved dogs that I have ever had. Now if I could just get my diabetes to behave as well I would have it made!
I started researching about Coonhounds on the web and found that they are difficult to leash train and tend to roam. The bolt and try to run if they pick up a deer scent. Here I was in an apartment, in suburbia, wondering how to magically transport myself to a farm in the mountains, so this dog could have a suitable home.
But not to worry, we had a plan! We found that if we all walked Suri, she felt like she was in a pack and walked without a problem. We began to walk the same route everyday so she learned a routine and it became less distracting and novel. We coaxed her with treats and when she walked she was rewarded. We rigged up a martingale collar and looped the leash through the harness so she could not wiggle free.
My better half and I put a lot of effort into this and soon he was walking her alone during the day while I was at work. I was still afraid to go by myself because I thought I would lose her again. He was sick with the flu recently, and I had no choice but to take her out myself. I took a deep breath, rigged her up and left the house. Amazingly, I suddenly felt like I was walking with a show dog. She was walking by my side slowing when I did, not pulling or stopping, and looking so sharp that someone actually stopped me and asked me how I got my dog to walk so pretty. Now she prances like a show horse and the happiest times in my day are my dog walks. She is one of the best behaved dogs that I have ever had. Now if I could just get my diabetes to behave as well I would have it made!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Trudy on -
Congratulations! With your strategies, you just obedience trained your Coonhound! Don't get complacent, though, she could still smell a deer, dog, cat, squirrel...
-
-
Permalink Reply by lotsofshots on -
Hi Trudy, thanks, It feels like such an accomplishment!
She is great around other dogs, and cats and squirrels are okay, we make it past them all the time. It is the deer that I worry about, so I have to watch out. We live by a busy street but there are woods dividing us from the streets and other neighborhoods. We have small lakes that have woods and fields on the boarder.
Many deer are in there. We have seen them out in the open. We have a dog park that is close to the woods too. I have my danger areas that I have to be careful by and I usually avoid when I am out with her alone.
I can never forget her nature is to hunt and run and that she needs plenty of exercise to stay content.
Each breed of dog seems to have thier own needs. -
-
Permalink Reply by Buffy Joseph on -
Wow, I am so impressed. Can you come train my dog? (He pulls constantly on leash, and goes nuts when he sees dogs, people, squirrels, bicyclers, etc, etc). :)
Actually, I know it's a matter of training me, not him, but I seem to be untrainable! :) -
-
Permalink Reply by lotsofshots on
-
Hi Buffy, I really think that a lot had to do with having more than one person consistently on the walks for an extended period of time. The dog was free to walk on the leash but with someone on either side of her, she did not have much leeway for jumping and pulling because she was boxed in. It was kind of like a Pavlov's dog kind of thing I think with the same situation, same route over and over. Then when I finally changed to walking with her alone she was already conditioned. It was an amazing change.
The rescue also suggested the martingale collar because she was able to back out of her regular collar. It is soft and made of cloth, but it tightens when they pull or lunge, so it encourages them not to do it..
It was hard work, but it was a good feeling to get such great results, my black lab used to be like yours and I felt like he was walking me not the other way around! -
-
Permalink Reply by bikette on
-
Way ta go, Lots. It takes strength and initiative to figure out what your pet needs and see that he/she gets it.. A lot of people wouldn't bother with all that. Suri is a great dog and a great motivator for you to get outside a couple times a day and exercise yourself as well as your hound.
I wish I could get my cat to walk a little better on the leash. She is smart enough and loves to follow me - from in front. As soon as she figures out where I'm headed, she rushes on ahead of me until there is a decision to be made (change in path direction). Then she tries to 'look busy' until I catch up and she can figure out where I'm headed again - and she's off!
It's too cold to take her with me on walks now but I've still been tempted to stuff her in my big coat and take her with me anyway! The only thing holding me back isn't her, it's me. I know I'd tucker out too soon if I had to carry the 12 pound cat too. So I'll wait for spring and tax time to finish and hope she remembers all she learned last summer! Maybe I could get Suri to show her how to do this leash thing again. -
-
Permalink Reply by Trudy on
-
Hi Bikette. A long time ago I read an article that talked about the differences in walking dogs and cats. It said that the cat enjoys surging ahead, a little exploring... It's all perfectly natural. Well, happy spring!
-
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
Together, We Can Get Diabetes Co-Stars to 10,000 Views!
Above is a photo of Diabetes Hands Foundation’s own Manny Hernandez with the stars of the Diabetes Co-Stars Video, “Strength in Numbers.” In case you haven’t heard the news yet, there is a new video making it’s way through the …Continue Reading
Congratulations Diabetes Advocates Scholarship Recipients!
The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates Program is proud to announce and congratulate the members of DA who were granted scholarships to attend diabetes conferences in 2013! Thanks to a generous grant from Novo Nordisk, in 2013 we were …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
