I have been through this question on a dog-training list and I believe they have changed my perspective on the issue (which would be appealing on a practical level anyhow
), but because it just seems so counterintuitive to me (remember I have never owned a dog before) I would be really curious to see what folks here think, too, as representing a much much wider range of opinions and approaches.
So, say you have a young dog (for instance a 10 month old lab named Russell, LOL). How would you feel about it if, on your walks in the woods with him, he walks on a loose leash very nicely but has a strong inclination to keep his nose on the ground most of the time? If I turn or stop he usually does it nicely on a loose leash, and if I *ask* for him to look up he readily does, but most of the time his nose goes right back to the ground as soon as I give any acknowledgement or reward for his look. (Sometimes he does get distracted by his nose and tune me out but I suppose that is sort of a separate issue.)
Would you a) figure "enh, he's a dog, he's young, the world smells interesting, let him do it as long as his brain is still paying attention to me"; b) figure "plenty of other dogs can walk along looking with their eyes and with an *airborne* nose, so can he" and try to change the behavior; c) figure "well, he is going to have to learn not to snout his way through life in *other* situations, like if we are able to start doing agility" and try to change the behavior; or d) something else?
Not *exactly* asking advice here, mostly just seeing what other folks think, but you are always welcome to give advice if you want, too, LOL
(for those who have not read earlier threads on Russell, I got him last summer from a shelter and he is really quite solid on training type stuff for only four months of work, although we are still working on dealing calmly with exciting events like strangers he hopes will pet him)
Pat
So, say you have a young dog (for instance a 10 month old lab named Russell, LOL). How would you feel about it if, on your walks in the woods with him, he walks on a loose leash very nicely but has a strong inclination to keep his nose on the ground most of the time? If I turn or stop he usually does it nicely on a loose leash, and if I *ask* for him to look up he readily does, but most of the time his nose goes right back to the ground as soon as I give any acknowledgement or reward for his look. (Sometimes he does get distracted by his nose and tune me out but I suppose that is sort of a separate issue.)
Would you a) figure "enh, he's a dog, he's young, the world smells interesting, let him do it as long as his brain is still paying attention to me"; b) figure "plenty of other dogs can walk along looking with their eyes and with an *airborne* nose, so can he" and try to change the behavior; c) figure "well, he is going to have to learn not to snout his way through life in *other* situations, like if we are able to start doing agility" and try to change the behavior; or d) something else?
Not *exactly* asking advice here, mostly just seeing what other folks think, but you are always welcome to give advice if you want, too, LOL
(for those who have not read earlier threads on Russell, I got him last summer from a shelter and he is really quite solid on training type stuff for only four months of work, although we are still working on dealing calmly with exciting events like strangers he hopes will pet him)
Pat
