Page 11 - Buddy Life

We have a purebred Lab, she is almost two and her name
is Bella. She is very friendly and sometimes she can be very
obnoxious to people and other dogs. We try the commands
sit, stay, wait and even try holding her back when it comes to other
people. When she is jumping all over people we usually tell her to sit
and stay but when she sees people she totally puts her blinders on and
won’t listen. _ Kanwaljeet Singh, Jaipur

t sounds like you have a very enthusiastic how to fit it correctly and get a brief introduction on
greeter! Labs are often full of energy and they how it works. To practice, try working with some
may be quite boisterous sometimes in their friends or neighbours. You can even start with
happy displays. You are on the right path in family members at first. Have them on a side of
Itrying to get her to obey the commands sit, the sidewalk ignoring your dog. To train well, there
stay and wait, but these commands seem to go are some rules of the game that will need to be
in one ear and out the other, don’t they? Your followed:
description of her wearing blinders is quite close Rule number one: no pulling towards the people.
to what she may be truly going through. In the dog If you notice the first signs of pulling, turn the other
training world there’s a term: “being over threshold.” way, in other words, make a U-turn and start
What does this mean? It means that a dog is at a walking again towards the people. Any time you
point where there’s little place for learning going notice pulling, make the U-turn and resume. It may
on. Usually the term is used for dogs who are take a long time to eventually reach the people, but
fearful or aggressive, but in my opinion, it can also Bella will learn that pulling doesn’t get her where
fit dogs who are overly enthusiastic. For sake of a she wants. Walking on a loose leash will only do
comparison, imagine being a big fan of a famous so. Imagine that a tense leash is your brake and a
actor or rock star. One day this rock star is walking loose, slack leash is the accelerator.
by your home and giving out free autographs. 2) Once you finally reach your friends, no jumping. If
You notice the rock star and rush over to get an she manages to jump, have your friend turn around
authograph as well, when a family member says: and become boring as an electric pole. When she
“wait, where are you going, your dinner is going stops trying to jump, you can have your friend
to get cold!” Most likely, you barely hear these praise her and toss her a treat. Tossing the treat on
comments as you are so excited and eager to get the ground will distract your dog and let her focus
your autograph! on the ground rather than jumping. Repeat several
When your dog meets other people or dogs, the times. Once you notice less jumping, you can try
enthusiasm is likely too overwhelming to get her to practicing asking your dog to sit for the treat before
listen to your requests to sit and stay. The people your friend tosses it on the ground.
and dogs are acting as a strong distractions and Tip: Practice the same exercise at the door as
she is likely not ready for being trained at such level. when you have guests!
At the same time, also think what the people and At the age of two, your Lab is full of energy and is
other dogs may be doing when she rushes over also in the peak doggy teenager phase. Yes, dogs
them. She likely gets petted and greeted by the go through that too! It’s important to provide loads
other dogs. So rushing up to them is rewarding, of mental stimulation and exercise during this time.
much more rewarding than sticking by your side. Play games of fetch and ask her to sit before you
And by the time she’s there jumping and acting toss the ball, instead of feeding her food in a bowl,
overly excited, it’s too late to get her to listen. So scatter it around the house and let her use her nose
what is left to do? Practice, practice and practice to find it. Play with her a game of fetch-the-food,
and the right choice of tools. To better control her, tossing her kibble in the yard. Teach her some
try a no-pull harness with a leash that attaches to cool tricks. Consider that many dogs go through
the front. There are several types on the market this phase and many dogs are very enthusiastic
today and the most important thing when choosing greeters. As your dog matures, you will notice she
a no-pull harness is to make sure that the leash will calm down considerably but with exercise,
attaches to the harness in the front. Get one with mental stimulation and training, you can help
leash that attaches to the back and you will have a her attain better impulse control and lower those
dog that will pull more! Ask the store clerk or trainer threshold levels. Good luck!

Jan - March, 2018 BUDDY LIFE 11