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The dog that's a drag

Posted April 17th, 2009 by alemon

Hello again Aidan. Somehow I've created a new problem with Elsa. Since the time I've started retraining and especially loose leash training Elsa she's become really stubborn about moving. For a variety of reasons I take her out to the bathroom on a leash every time. I don't even mind anymore, although I did find it irritating in the past. I was told to let her sniff around a bit if she went out and did her business quickly, but if she wasted time to just bring her in and try later (this was for a puppy). That worked ok. It got to the point where I would give her a bit of a tug and she would come with me most of the time. For getting into the car, she needed a bit of a pull and then she would jump in (sometimes she needed to have a few practice attempts).

But now I literally drag her into the house. She just parks it and refuses to move. Same with the car, she won't get in. The car has never meant anything but "going to fun time", so I find that part really surprising.

When I first started loose leash training I didn't want to drag her into the house so I would coax her as best as I could. It was a bit tedious but I thought it would help. Within a few days, however, she seemed to realize that that meant she could stick around for as long as she liked. So now I reel her in like a big fish.

I realize I could wave a hamburger in her face and get her to go anywhere I wanted, but that wasn't the route I was looking for.

Do you have any idea how this started, or more importantly how to change this? I suppose this confuses me mostly because it's a change... these things were already working properly.

Thanks,

Chris.

Comments

re: The dog that's a drag

Aidan's picture
On April 23rd, 2009 Aidan says:

Hi Chris, teach her to touch a target stick. Use the target stick either as a stationary target (hold it where you want to go) or as a moving target (ask her to follow it as you move it).

Teach both behaviours - touch a stationary target and follow a moving target.

Teach them in a low-distraction environment first, and get them strong before you use them with a "real" behaviour problem.

Another tip - don't shut the door the first time Elsa leaps into the car to touch the target or steps outside following the target. Give her the treat then let her back out of the car or back outside (or inside, wherever it is she wants to go).

For a start you are not giving her any reason to dislike the target or to doubt her trust in you. Also, it is pragmatic because it gives you more opportunities to ask her to do it again, thus getting in more trials and more reinforcement.

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

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