Pulling out of Gentle Leader Leash

[Sr Anne]

I purchased your "Secrets to Dog Training" book on the web about a month ago and things have been going well. I have a question, however, that I was hoping you could help me with. We have 2 8-yr old dogs that we are only now attempting to train because of aggression problems (biting people). Up until this time, we have simply let them run around the yard (8 acres) in the back as they wanted, having contact with them mostly to feed, pet them and occasionally to walk with them, w/out a leash. However, lately they have been biting any newcomer and/or anyone they come near when we do have to take them out (on a leash of course), so we have begun training them to walk with the help of your guide. So far, things have been going well; they respond well to "sit", "stay" and now they are responding well to training to obey the "heel" command. We are about 4 days into the 2-week recommended time ("Heel" command stage III) after going thru stages I and II - all told, have been walking them about 45 min. - 1 hr/day each for the last month. We use the "Gentle Leader" leashes and walk them separately, 4 times/day for 15 minutes each time, as recommended.

Lately, however, the "Alpha" of the two has begun to fight the leash at certain times, pulling back when she doesn't want to walk to a certain area. She mostly does this in our last session of the day. If I pull back in order to get her on track, she just pulls harder and ends up pulling herself out of the leash. What is the best thing to do? Could she be doing this because she is tired, since this is the 4th session of the day? If so, what response should I make? I usually say "No!", get her to stop, sit, stay for a minute or so then continue on in a direction that she will accept. Is this a good idea? Thank you for any help you can give me.

-Sr. Anne

[kjd]

Hi, Sr. Anne.

Is it a particular area she doesn't want to walk in? Is she OK with that area at other times?

kjd

[Sr Anne]

Yes - sometimes she is ok, but most of the time not. I will tell you what I discovered yesterday, though. After she did it again - stopping suddenly and yanking back on the leash as if in a panic - I calmly told her to sit, praised her and petted her for doing it, then when she seemed calmer, turned again and took some very small steps in that direction and stopped. She continued walking there herself very cautiously, for a short distance - but she did go! - although she was acting nervous the whole time. I walked slowly alongside her, watching for any signs of panic. Afte a minute or so, she seemed to be getting more nervous, so I turned back around toward an area she was more comfortable with. So maybe if I just let her take the lead in this particular area and try to encourage her a little? Why do you think she would act this way?

Thanks for your help.

[kjd]

I'd think either something happened there that scared her or she smells or sees something you don't that scares her.

If she is OK with that area earlier in the day, maybe you could try and see if there is anything different later, when she is afraid.

One other thought: is it dusk when she is afraid? Is it possible she has an eye problem? Something there could look scarey when she cannot see too well.

kjd