Dog walking

[Mr.M]

Just a quick little question.

I heard that when a dog walks through the door before u, he thinks he is leading the pack through the door, there for always makesure ur the first one through the door(s).

Well I have been using this, sometimes it is hard with my pup, he sometimes trys to beat me to the door for some reason. Or maybe its just me imagining it, but at times he does run to the door when he knows im bout to walk through it.

But anyway, to the point.

When I take him for walks he always walks infront of me and its sort of like hes leading me, even though hes walking where I want, hes on the end of his lead sort of resisting.

He's actually quite strong, but obviously I'm stronger, so with ease, I keep him level with me.

But it's like I have to do this, I mean.. If I don't try and keep him next to me he starts walking infront again.

He is always submissive, I think he knows who's boss, I'm just wondering if it's normal for him to try and walk infront of me all the time?

And should I or should I not let him do it?

Thanks.

 

[bubbatd]

I think it's normal for him to want to get ahead and get going ! I'd always had mine walk at the heel... but then give them slack with permission to sniff and enjoy the walk. At a cross road, I'd have them heel again... sit and then we'd cross the street.

 

[Gwinnywillow]

Check with the vets and/or groomers in your area and find where there are obedience classes being given, and "get thee hence"! Quick before the dog gets any bigger, heavier and stronger.

 

[oriondw]

It doesnt matter who goes in first or last... Take it from me as an owner of probably the most dominant dog on this site.

 

[Doggish.Obsession]

I'm an evil monkey.

Truthfully, I always used to test my dog's submission. I used to like, stand over him, with this really... I dont know. Foreboding? Foreboding stance?

Like, you act like, "Roar, I'm angry at you," and suddenly, my dog always used to paw at my hands. ( I got down on four feet and stood over him ) I heard that wolves used to paw at the leader's feet. So I was like, "Cool. Submission."

And yeah. We both got along great.

(I just hope his second generation is the same way...) ​

 

[kodachrome.]

Hmm well when I first start off on the walk he walks infront of me a little, but isn't really pulling on the lead much.
But after a little bit he heels fine, he seems to know I'm the boss.
Which is good... I think anyway.

 

[Doberluv]

I agree with Oriondw. There's way too much of this kind of talk, where every single thing a dog does has something to do with them wanting to take over the universe. When the dog rushes outside, it's because he likes to go out and can hardly wait to go see the big wide world and have fun. It's not good manners if he rushes out and almost knocks you down. So you can teach him manners. And it's a safety thing to teach him to wait, depending on where you live, so he doesn't rush out and get hit by a car. (if you live on a road and don't have a fence) But, no....he's not scheming to control you. Now, if a dog gets his own way about everything and is told to do nothing and you react to every thing he wants, he becomes a spoiled brat and then some day when he doesn't like something you're doing, he gets aggressive. But as long as he follows the rules you DO have and he is taught things, going out the door first, in and of itself is a non issue. I have a breed which can tend to be pushy, pushy, pushy. He has rules, but some of those rituals that people talk about......no, I don't worry about. Here are some funny ones: Eat before your dog. Don't lie on the floor lower than your dog. Don't let your dog on your bed because the alpha sleeps in the best and highest spot. There are others. I find these to be myths.....all springing from this intense belief that we need to act the way a wolf acts. And these beliefs of what wolves do come from misinformed people and are based on unscientific "studies." Of course our dogs and we aren't wolves and wolves don't do all the stuff these myths came from anyhow. For instance, alpha wolves don't eat first. They distribute the food for the others. The pups are fed first.

As far as your situation, if it were me, I'd teach the dog manners and to wait until I say he can go out the door. He'd learn to walk along side me and not pull. If you let your dog pull, he will be no fun to walk with, so praise him when he walks nicely and don't move or go forward (his reward) if he causes tension in the leash. You can do a search on how to train things like this. You do need to be a leader to your dog. So, don't misinterpret what I was talking about in the above paragraph. When you lead your dog and he reacts to your initiation of things, rather than you reacting to everything he wants, you set yourself up to be a good leader. And you do have to be that. It's just that certain behaviors, singled out do not equal a dog's scheming to control you. Prevent him from having his own way about everything. Teach him manners and obedience. But make his lessons fun and rewarding.

Dominance is more a relationship than it is a trait. If you train him his basic obedience without dominance, (I'm the boss and you'll do as I say, or else) but with motivation and reward, making learning and obeying the most fun thing, he'll be clay in your hands. Check out other threads or do a search. I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas. Good luck.

 

[Mr.M]

Thanks very much!