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I'm a thirteen year old dog sitter and i need to control two big dogs on a leash. Can you help me?
The lady I work for has two large Weimariners, and they aren't leash trained! I work out a lot and i'm fairly strong, but even one of these dogs proves to be too much for me. I've almost had my face taken off lots of times by a tree or wall because the dog is running after a squirrel and I'm on the other end of the leash! Please help, I'm desperate!
Asked by
Guest 523258
on Jun 19th 2009
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in Leash Walking
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- Cast your vote for which answer you think is best!
Answers
Pick up the EZ Walk Harness by Gentle Leader for these two, see if the owners can reimburse you... it will help you get them under control on walks so that you can work on leash manners. They are NOT like regular harnesses that clip on the back, don't get those -- the EZ Walk is an anti-pull harness that clips around the front at the chest. Bring treats on your walks and work on rewarding them for loose leashes and staying near your side. It will take time and consistency that the owners may not provide on their end but at least the harnesses will help you in the short term.
Kolbe
answered on 6/19/09.
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Kolbe`s answer was great, but I don`t think it`s very nice to stick a 13 year old with two large untrained dogs. I think they're taking advantage of you, but hey, money well earned is money well spent. I would talk to the owners though. If the dogs are too much for you to handle, they should consider getting an adult dog walker. (No offense to you, but your too young to handle two large untrained dogs.)
♥Rosie♥
answered on 6/19/09.
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In addition to the leash, maybe try to walk one dog at a time so you can teach them how to walk on a leash. Take some extra yummy treats with you and during your walk, change directions frequently. If the dog knows how to do tricks or even sit/stay, have the dog do this in addition to changing walking directions. This will force the dog to focus on you. Give praise and treats when the dog listens. Pretty soon the dog won't be pulling you anymore because it will be too busy trying to figure out where you want to go and what you want to do.
Chloe
answered on 6/19/09.
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Since you are only thirteen, I am assuming that your parent or guardian is the one who entered the contract with the person you're pet sitting for. If there is no contract, there needs to be one - otherwise, you're putting both yourself AND the person's dogs at risk.
You will need to talk to the person you're dog-walking for and explain to her that you are not big or strong enough to handle the two dogs together. See whether she would pay you to walk them separately, if you can handle them separately, or whether she would be willing to purchase a different type of collar, head halter, or harness for them so you can better control them.
Never ever purchase a training device for a dog other than your own and/or use it without the permission of the owner. Ever!
If she is not willing to pay you to walk them separately or purchase control collars/halters for them, it would be best for everyone involved if you recommended an adult dog walker for her and quit working for her.
Abby K-9
answered on 6/19/09.
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Try walking one at a time and correct any unwanted behavior on the walk with a short but firm tug with the leash on the side. Make sure to place the collar or slip on leash at the very top of the neck. This worked for my uncle.
Guest 464258
answered on 6/19/09.
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You definately need to use the Gentle Leader and you should only take one dog out at a time. And it sounds as if the dogs parents are taking advantage of you. They should have made sure their dogs were good on a leash before allowing you to be their walker.
A Gentle Leader makes it uncomfortable for the dog to lunge or pull on the leash and it take 1/4 of the strength to handle the dogs.
I have a big dog and when I adopted him all I used on the walks was a simple collar and leash. I'm a strong person and I lost track of how many times I almost fell to the ground when my dog decided to chase something. Once I got The Gentle Leader, I could control him w/one hand. It's still jarring on my arm when he decides to chase a squirrel, but when he gets to the end of the leash and the Gentle Leader pulls his head, he stops in his tracks.
You should talk to other people who've used it and see the success they've had.
But, you really should only take one out at a time. Two is way too many.
Guest 404377
answered on 6/19/09.
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