Dog advice

[Pesky Tarian]

Hello I have a 7 month old cockapoo who just will not walk to heel. His homing instinct is incredibly strong, when we walk his does his business then turns around to pull home (will not toilet in the garden). We vary the walks but even so he will pull to return to the car. Does anyone have any experience of this please?. He's such a good boy in all other respects.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Hello I have a 7 month old cockapoo who just will not walk to heel. His homing instinct is incredibly strong, when we walk his does his business then turns around to pull home (will not toilet in the garden). We vary the walks but even so he will pull to return to the car. Does anyone have any experience of this please?. He's such a good boy in all other respects.

So ive had one of these and its extremely difficult with a spaniel nose.

What does walking to heel look like for you? For me I wasnt massively bothered about heel aslong as the lead was loose Id give him a bit of freedom.

The main thing to do is once their is tension in the lead you stop, you call him back, once the lead is loose and not taught and you have his attention, you take a step, if the pulling starts and there is tension you stop again. Rinse and repeat. You are counter conditioning him, he pulls, youre going nowhere.

This isnt a quick method but its definitely better than methods like a lead over the nose, haltis etc as youre actually teaching the behaviour you want. Not stopping the behaviour by aversive methods.

Its important youre extremely consistent, anyone who walks him has to be on board as any incidents of pulling allowed will set him back.

If he is sniffy then allow that sniffy time either off lead (if he can be) or with a long lead.

 

[Pesky Tarian]

For me I wasnt massively bothered about heel aslong as the lead was loose Id give him a bit of freedom.

Thanks for responding, yes this ideally what I would like to happen. I've tried a few techniques but not read about that one so will give it a go thank you.

Very sniffy pup, we do have a long lead. I cannot forsee us letting him off, he slipped his harness once and ran straight home (thankfully without incident). Much like me I suspect he is just a bit of a home bird.

 

[ChiRie]

omg he’s sooooo cute! 🥹 I do love my Chihuahuas, they’re sassy little demons but they have a special place in my heart He’s so handsome! Glad his bloods all came back normal and the vet checked him Keep us updated!

Have you got Chi's too? I've had 4 before Barney

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Thanks for responding, yes this ideally what I would like to happen. I've tried a few techniques but not read about that one so will give it a go thank you.

Very sniffy pup, we do have a long lead. I cannot forsee us letting him off, he slipped his harness once and ran straight home (thankfully without incident). Much like me I suspect he is just a bit of a home bird.

A long lead is fine

Mine was never fussed on treats but did like a tube of liver paste to get him to come back to me if pulling.

 

[ChiRie]

A long lead is fine

Mine was never fussed on treats but did like a tube of liver paste to get him to come back to me if pulling.

Try a bully stick lol they stink to high heaven lol

 

[aidil]

Have you got Chi's too? I've had 4 before Barney

Not yet but my next dog is definitely going to be a Chi! I fell in love with them as soon as I started vet nursing, they’re such characters!

 

[G_man]

Thanks for responding, yes this ideally what I would like to happen. I've tried a few techniques but not read about that one so will give it a go thank you.

Very sniffy pup, we do have a long lead. I cannot forsee us letting him off, he slipped his harness once and ran straight home (thankfully without incident). Much like me I suspect he is just a bit of a home bird.

Slip lead high on his neck, start walking and as soon as he starts to pull, quick flick on the lead and change direction, once he starts walking beside you say the word “heel” so he associates heel being at your side. He will then soon realise if he wants to go somewhere, there has to be no tension in the lead(slip lead) once hes kind of ok with this, start putting direction turns in, once hes by your heel, put your leg infront of him and turn 180, this is how you establish the eye contact as he will be looking at you, waiting for your next move. Please get rid of the harness, theres a reason huskys use harnesses, it wont help you. I have made this sound really easy and it does take time but i do train spaniels myself so feel your pain. I’ll try and find a video to link to if that would help? Am i allowed to post links?

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Slip lead high on his neck, start walking and as soon as he starts to pull, quick flick on the lead and change direction, once he starts walking beside you say the word “heel” so he associates heel being at your side. He will then soon realise if he wants to go somewhere, there has to be no tension in the lead(slip lead) once hes kind of ok with this, start putting direction turns in, once hes by your heel, put your leg infront of him and turn 180, this is how you establish the eye contact as he will be looking at you, waiting for your next move. Please get rid of the harness, theres a reason huskys use harnesses, it wont help you. I have made this sound really easy and it does take time but i do train spaniels myself so feel your pain. I’ll try and find a video to link to if that would help? Am i allowed to post links?

I think I understand. Lots of good advice thank you. He arrived with a harness so we just assumed that was best (first time dog owners). It seems consistency is key, which may be harder when the kids walk him. I'm looking forwards to giving some different things a go.

 

[G_man]

I think I understand. Lots of good advice thank you. He arrived with a harness so we just assumed that was best (first time dog owners). It seems consistency is key, which may be harder when the kids walk him. I'm looking forwards to giving some different things a go.

Everyone starts somewhere, my advice would be if you ever require a trainer, please use someone who has proven results and not one of these mickey mouse ones off social media. Learn to dog to walk to heel first without the kids if possible as he will struggle with too much distraction. Start off in the back garden, then work up from there

 

[ChiRie]

Not yet but my next dog is definitely going to be a Chi! I fell in love with them as soon as I started vet nursing, they’re such characters!

Oh yes they certainly are. Had them since I was 17 and I'm 45 now. I saw this big guy with in a market in town when I was a kid and fell in love. I've had long and short coat. Loved them al to bits.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I just saw on tiktok what I thought was a good training treat that seems easier to use than a bag of treats. A travel shampoo bottle filled with doggy peanut butter. Can keep it in your pocket and take it out and let the dog lick where it comes out when you want to give some

 

[Maid22]

Not advice, more of a moan about vet fees, bloody dew claws, my boy had to go vets last year because he caught it, vet didn't charge, but we brought some metcam, always handy to have, he had to go back again this week with same problem, blimey cost over £80, and she was rough with him, he properly yelped when she took it out .
Blimey vet fees are soo expensive.

 

[aidil]

And how are vets supposed to stay open, pay for their training and expensive equipment without charging for their time? Cost of living has hit everyone! My practice’s electric bill was £2500 last month alone.

 

[ChiRie]

Not advice, more of a moan about vet fees, bloody dew claws, my boy had to go vets last year because he caught it, vet didn't charge, but we brought some metcam, always handy to have, he had to go back again this week with same problem, blimey cost over £80, and she was rough with him, he properly yelped when she took it out .
Blimey vet fees are soo expensive.

I cut the dew claws myself. It's a pain when they have them. 3 I've had with them now. I started going to a cheap groomer who used o work in a vet becuse one of mine would go nuts if I tried but then she got used to it and I did it myself. Was years back she was great and £6 a time then. Will be a lot more now. I put money aside now for the one I have.

 

[daffodilgirl]

I’ve booked a vet appointment but they’ve been backlogged until this week, I’ve also been emailing the vet and she said it could be a variety of things.

but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced their dog (1year old male) suddenly peeing on their beds? The patches smells like burning rubber.
There has been no stressful changes to his routine or anything like that, but I don’t know why he’s been doing it.
The last week my dog has peed on my daughters bed, he done 3 pees in one but different places on her bed and twice on mine, (I cleaned the beds with the carpet cleaner vac and sprayed the beds with the dog urine and odour spray)

A new mattresses have been ordered.

 

[ChiRie]

I’ve booked a vet appointment but they’ve been backlogged until this week, I’ve also been emailing the vet and she said it could be a variety of things.

but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced their dog (1year old male) suddenly peeing on their beds? The patches smells like burning rubber.
There has been no stressful changes to his routine or anything like that, but I don’t know why he’s been doing it.
The last week my dog has peed on my daughters bed, he done 3 pees in one but different places on her bed and twice on mine, (I cleaned the beds with the carpet cleaner vac and sprayed the beds with the dog urine and odour spray)

A new mattresses have been ordered.

Urinary tract infection? Is he drinking more? When my girl was peeing all over I thought it was old age but it was her kidneys. I used a special urine shampoo back then. Don't allow him on her bed it's harder to clean up and like you said you've had to get a new matress. If he can get up himself keep her door shut so he can't get in or get a dog gate. Defo get in with your vet asap though. Not sure about the rubber smell but UTI's can affect the smell of urine. Had one myself amd it stank.

I used this but my girl was peeing sooo much. I had to get a carpet cleaner and gate her off at night to one area. https://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.c...qzGkWWoNPVXAFP3r1nlJROorU4vP1jFhoCrT0QAvD_BwE

 

[Maid22]

I cut the dew claws myself. It's a pain when they have them. 3 I've had with them now. I started going to a cheap groomer who used o work in a vet becuse one of mine would go nuts if I tried but then she got used to it and I did it myself. Was years back she was great and £6 a time then. Will be a lot more now. I put money aside now for the one I have.

I'm abit squeamish when it comes to claws, and his dew claw is black so couldn't see the blood vein.
Was annoyed because he didn't have an injection to numb it, they literally just pulled it out. No wonder he cried, another bad vet experience for him.
---

And how are vets supposed to stay open, pay for their training and expensive equipment without charging for their time? Cost of living has hit everyone! My practice’s electric bill was £2500 last month alone.

Come on, vets are doing well, we changed vets recently, couldn't get over how many staff there was, and the first thing I get asked is, is your dog insured, so they can make more money and the insurance pays for it.
How much does your practice charge for pulling out a dew claw?

 

[ChiRie]

I'm abit squeamish when it comes to claws, and his dew claw is black so couldn't see the blood vein.
Was annoyed because he didn't have an injection to numb it, they literally just pulled it out. No wonder he cried, another bad vet experience for him.
---

Come on, vets are doing well, we changed vets recently, couldn't get over how many staff there was, and the first thing I get asked is, is your dog insured, so they can make more money and the insurance pays for it.
How much does your practice charge for pulling out a dew claw?

Yeah that's the thing with black nails. One of mine had black ones and I cut the quick by accident a few times. My first two dogs didn't have any but my second two did front and back! The boy I have now just has front dew claws. My vet is soooo expensive it's like £50 just for the consultation let alone anything else but I've been going since I was a teenager so stick with them as I do trust them.

 

[Maid22]

Yeah that's the thing with black nails. One of mine had black ones and I cut the quick by accident a few times. My first two dogs didn't have any but my second two did front and back! The boy I have now just has front dew claws. My vet is soooo expensive it's like £50 just for the consultation let alone anything else but I've been going since I was a teenager so stick with them as I do trust them.

£50 is soo expensive though! You're in the same area as me, I used to use the same vets for many years, what did it for me was my I had to put my boy pts, he loved riding in our truck, so I spoke to vet to have him pts in truck, she quibbled about it, but agreed, I'm in the back of truck holding him, she says better off in surgery, I'm like no ( he was really docile, lovely little dog) so she injects him, I'm holding him, reassuring him, crying, she's checking his mouth, then says, oh his teeth are quite worn down, probably cos of stones, I didn't pick up on that for a while, upset over losing my boy, but what the actual duck, what a thing to say, and she'd been his vet for years, I ended up being so angry with them, I did complain to them, but they weren't interested, so moved my other dog to another practice, not keen on this one either.