Guess the breed and training question!

[DuckyGurl]

Hello all! We have recently gotten a dog-she is a "mutt." her previous owner adopted her as a pup from the HS, and was told she was a Chihuahua mix. She is about 18" high, and 24lbs. I think the chihuahua got lost. If anyone has any guesses as to what she is, please guess! I think it will be fun.

Also, I am currently trying to train her to heel. What is the best method for that? Her owl owner used "flexi" leashes, basically teaching her to pull and get more lead, IMO, so she has no knowledge of the heel command. Help?
Thank you! Here she is!

 

[dainerra]

i'd start teaching "heel" just like a young puppy. do you want her actually in a specific spot beside you? Or simply walking with a loose leash at your side?

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/541

 

[Eggsoteric]

She's a cutie. She looks like a Basenji mix. Have fun with her!

 

[xchairity_casex]

Im no good with breed mixes.
but im great with dog training

theres several ways you can teach a "heel" and differant methods work for differant dogs.
i think you should first begin with loose lead walking, this will help out alot otherwise Heel can be somewha difficult for some dogs to understand.

to teach loose lead walking take the dog out on lead, every time the elad is pulled, stop.
the second she turns around to look at you take a step or to forward if she goes back into pulling (like most all dogs will do) stop again. dont call her to get her attention, just be still, quiet and wait for her to "check in" with you before walking again. its time consuming and can be extremly annoying, but it WORKS and it works very relibly in a short amount of time for many dogs.

as for heel, theres several methods, some people will put a dog on a lead, shorten it in there hand and just walk around the yard, saying "heel" while your dogs walking in the correct position and changing dorection every time the dog pulls so he/she has to pay close attention to you to know where to go.

some people use this same method but useing treats as a lure and praise as aother lure. some people simpley work while taking the dog on a daily walk by keeping the lead short and simply pulling the dog gently back into position every time they attempt to pull.

if your pup turns out to be a seriously bad puller (like mine is now) invest in a harness, clip a normal lead to the harness (on the back) and swoop the lead around the dogs front (across the dogs chest) so while your walking, if the dog attempts to pull the lead will tighten across the chest and will create a natural barrier causeing the dog to automatically slow down.

 

[fowl farm]

With my dog, I tethered her to me and just did what I wanted. Took her three days to learn the leash and after that all I had to do was hold the leash short, and she would walk at my side with it loose. I also used the stopping method with another dog. It didn't take her long to learn and she would walk on a loose leash in front of me.

Also, keep in mind her attitude, if you will. Maggie, the dog I let walk in front, was a very submissive dog, so I didn't care. Iona, the dog I tethered, was a very dominant dog, so I made her walk behind or beside me, as walking in front is a sign of status. She's really good now.

Good luck! Your dog is very pretty! What's her name?

 

[SesameSt.Chicks]

Good question![FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif] [/FONT]

I adopted a dog as well who had ... er has... no desire to heel. I am an aspiring dog trainer so I have read a lot of training tips. I can't say which, if any, might work for you and your dog, but hopefully the info is helpful. This is just a handful of techniques and tricks I've heard of/read of/ used which may have already been covered in previous posts (

I hope it's not too redundant) -- but the internet stopped working before I could post it last night.

The following method I think would work best for a puppy or submissive adult: Once the dog starts to get out in front of you, stop in your tracks, call them back. Wait for a second, and when they come back, give them a treat. Do this consistently, until they stay near you.

When I went to obedience classes I was taught how to use a "choke chain" (when this technique is done properly, it's painless) to teach him to heel, with an "automatic sit" when I stop. This method worked, but I constantly had to be on my game to keep him there. If this method sounds promising to you, I would recommend you be taught by a professional trainer, as it has some subtleties and may be safest learned from someone experienced in this training method.

My favorite trick the instructor taught me is very easy and effortless. Called the "Box", you have a solid leash, or a flexi set in a length from 4-7ft long. Start walking. When your dog gets in front of your leg, stop. Turn the opposite direction, and give the leash a small, quick tug and release and walk that way. When he gets ahead of you again, stop, turn and tug/release. The dog will get the idea! It's marvelous to see. When he does, the "tug/release" may not "make contact" with your dog (he'll not be 'tuggable' because he's more responsive)-- that's good! He is getting the idea. At first your dog may be confused, but a few times of switching directions, he will figure it out and walk with you, right by you!

If you want to use an 'aid' to train your dog, I recommend a "Halti" head harness. It is one of the best tools I used to help my dog stay right there with me. It is best to introduce it to your dog per the pamphlet's instructions, with treats and a little at a time.

Although questionable in it's wisdom, I don't always require my dog to "heel", and the most effortless, non-pulling I've ever had with him was when I got him trained on the flexi. He loves to investigate and if not allowed to do that, he will make a way to. So this was freeing for him. He learned to stick to the curb, he would go ahead, but not pull, or sometimes investigate something behind, and as the 15' of lead was about 'to run out' he would run up to catch up with me.

Not all dogs are the same. Neither is every situation. Where I moved doesn't have curbs and we had to figure out a new way to "walk". Hopefully you will find what works for your dog, and you. Don't give up! And Congratulations on getting a dog!

 

[DuckyGurl]

THANK YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!
Yes, we wondered if she was a Basenjii mix!
SesameSt., I will try the turn away trick. I would just like loose lead walking.THANKS AGAIN!!! Her name is Snooks.

 

[Bunnylady]

With that deep chest and those slender legs, I'm wondering about maybe part Italian Greyhound or Whippet.

 

[DuckyGurl]

^^ that is what we are thinking, bunnylady. Perhaps BasenjiixWhippetxBeagle, as she "howls" when she barks. Any other guesses ya'll?

 

[3forfree]

I took a class with my german shepherd pup 30yrs ago and still use the same training on all my dogs. The class is very helpful, my class leader had us take a new command home with us to practice and the next week we had to get up in front of the entire class and show that we had worked with the dog and we both had learned something. Hand commands are very helpful also.