Pup F*ups
Reminds me of every single Dog I have ever had – all were special loveable F*ups. With some, it was so entertaining that we eagerly awaited the next antic and the next and the next. No one got hurt, nothing was destroyed, other than a few socks, shoes, and couches. F*ups can be costly. No one can nor should deny they think about that when “The Dog” has eaten the important parts of a new sofa, your favorite rug, or expensive window coverings. Besides the fact that you have the vet's office on speed dial.
Escalator is Never Broken in Puppy World
In other words, "IT" can always escalate and get worse. Look at the mind of a bored Border Collie, any facsimile of a cattle Dog in the city, GSD with separation stress, a Rottweiler without a job, and every unemployed Terrier in the world. Not going to bore you with a history lesson of 35,000 BC cavemen, hunting, domestication of plants and animals, environmental maladaptation(s), restrictions, and misunderstandings. And yet, lots of our modern-day Animals’ anomalies / excuses are there, in that lecture.
The abnormally normal wonderful Dog or Cat f*ing up in your urban home.
I get very few calls from working ranches or anywhere that Dogs are allowed to roam SAFELY and use their minds and emotions to make good choices. NO SHAME for what we cannot control – this working canine and feline brain is what we inherited – blame the ancestors. I do.
Leash pulling is one example of an escalator. When they pull on the leash during walks; they are pushing us. Pushy Pigs is how I refer to them - behind their backs. Always with apologies to the Pigs. Leash pulling is rude, arrogant, disrespectful, and uncooperative. Degrees vary as does the ‘need’ to pull. This need is unique for every Dog and every Dog walker. At the end of the day, does the reason matter? Or do we simply want them to stop?
STOP
Stop rewarding the pulling. Reward not pulling. We need to control 2 things on a walk: speed and direction. If they are pulling us; they control the speed. Plus it is (very) obvious to every witness the Dogs are controlling the direction. Stopping and starting at every bush. Dragging us to the next one. On high alert searching for scraps, gum, trash, looking for new friends or enemies. Same with jumping - another rude, domineering habit we helped create and now perpetuate.
A solution called: Jump Up & Fetch Me a Beer.
A Walk in the Park - Not Dog Park!
Never attempt basic training there. It would be as if the military did basic training in the lobby of a Las Vegas casino. Pretty hard to keep their attention on you and your wise instruction – even if it is life-saving information. Start in your living room. Then the backyard, then the neighborhood. If you do want to go to Dog park; then I highly suggest you drive there and sit in your car, share a treat, and watch. Talk with your Dog about what you are both seeing. See if you two come up with better behaviors for both Dog and handler. Note two things: #1 excitement and not listening entering the park and #2 the excitement trying to get their Dog to listen when it is time to leave. Comedy special.
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