Loose lead training

Dalmatians need at least two good walks a day, each at least 30 minutes so lead training is very important, especially if you are not lucky enough to live close to a beach or fields for "free runs".

We all love the idea of our Dals walking on a loose lead but they pull, pull and pull some more. We have tried Halties, Gentle leaders, half chokes, harnesses etc and either end up with very short, bad tempered walks as your Dal still pulls or walking with your Dal running loose, which is OK in the country but not in towns, and especially not if you live near a school and walk during the “school run” as you can guarantee the “posh woman” in the huge BMW or Audi will give you mouthfuls of abuse because your Dal is off their lead – even if your Dal is behaving.

Walking on a loose lead is not the same as your Dal walking to Heel (by your side), a loose lead is as it sound: the lead is never tight and your Dal is not pulling, even if they are walking a step ahead of you: I personally believe that if your Dal is walking a little ahead but is on a loose lead they are not being “disrespectful” as a certain programme will have you believe, it is because they cannot get trod on by you and they are staying away from your feet. I was taught to “yank” the lead when Bailey pulled, and soon found this had the opposite effect in that she would pull even more; she pulled the ligaments in hubbies shoulder one day when she went to chase a bumble bee – opps. But be honest how often have you seen dogs pulling their owners along, or heard of dogs pulling? By yanking the lead you are teaching your Dal that they can pull and the Yank of the lead means pull harder! Bad for your shoulders and bad for your Dals neck and throat.

The method I have found works the best is Lure and Reward, and all you nead is a standard collar or standard harness. Please do not use a choke collar as these are cruel, and do not use an extendable lead for training as your Dal can suddenly dash after something and snap the lead (have been there).

When you go to training classes you are taught to walk your dog on the left and I agree with this as it means when you walk your dog is on the inside of the pavement with you between them and the traffic – logical when someone explains it to you.

If when walking your dog pulls stop still or suddenly turn and walk in the opposite direction Do Not kick or clip your dog with your heel, they are pulling for a reason: They want to investigate something, there is a nice smell, and there is food ahead. If you yank the lead you are reinforcing that pulling is OK.

Dalmatians walk at quite a high speed so you need to walk faster than you would with a small fluffy dog but at a speed that is comfortable for you. Dalmatians love treats so you need to make sure that your Dal is motivated to walk on a loose lead, if they are not motivated by food take their favourite squeaky toy with you, use anything that you know will work: Cheese is brilliant as a reward but does tend to go grotty in your pocket.

                       Toilet training

Puppy pads are a great invention for crates and by back doors, dearer than old newspapers but easier to clean up as like a nappy they absorb, and you should only need them for the first four weeks or so while your pup is getting adjusted to their new home.

If your pup sleeps in a crate place a puppy pad the opposite end from where they sleep and they will use the pad automatically when they wake up (you will read that you should not put a pad in a crate but I do using the logic "would you put a baby in a cot for several hours without a nappy?", no you would not. A puppy pad in a crate is the doggy version of a nappy as a small pup needs training to hold their bladder).

Put a pad by the back door and if you notice the pup wanting to go for a wee pick them up quickly and put them on the pad, whey they have had a wee praise them, they will soon catch on that using the pad is a good thing, and praise them when they have used it.

Naturally if you have a well protected garden put the pup out in the garden but alas this is not always the case, and if you value your plants not always practical.

A strange fact is that if you got your pup from a breeder who kept the pups in a run in the garden toilet training will be harder than if you got your pup from a family home where the pups are in the house and allowed to run free in the garden; the reason is that mum will not allow mistakes in the house and will teach her offspring to use the garden, where as in a run there is no where for the pups to go so they go where they are standing, this is a habit you have to break.

Puppies need to go for a wee after meals, when they wake for a nap and when they get excited – the latter may be a problem on and off until they are a good six months old as excitement takes over from training! If you are taking him in the garden each time do not play with him / her first as they will forget what they went to the garden for, keep play for indoors and toileting outside.

If you are eating put something in their crate for them, they will then go in their crate and leave you to eat in peace. Very quickly they will learn to go to their crate at meal times.

Depending on your type of car you can get crates for cars as well. Remember it is illeagle in the UK to allow a dog to roam in a car while you are driving as such you will either need a crate or a car harness, the latter has the problem that a bored pup will eat the harness when you are not looking, and you will not know until you get a huge soppy lick on the side of your face, when you thought pup could not get near you - opps.

We have two pop-up crates from the internet, for about £15 each, for staying in hotels and for Open shows depending on the type of crate we need, these were bought to give Bailey some “time out” peace as shows can be stressful at times, and to allow us to go for a meal when staying away from home knowing she is safe.

Once pup is crate trained you will be wondering how you ever managed without one.

The below picture is of Bailey in her crate at just seven weeks old, cuddled up to a teddy and laying on an old jacket of mine, and an old towel - the teddy lasted another six months when she suddenly beat it up and ate it?. The other is Phinnie aged six weeks on day two of his crate training.

Manners

Manners are very important, the basic being getting to the door before your Dal does, and getting out of the door with your Dal still on the inside! Simple, teach your Dal “Sit” and either “stay” or “wait”, your choice on this one. When you go to the door make your Dal “Sit” and “stay” or “wait” until you tell them they can move. Being intelligent dogs this is very easy to teach them as they know when they get the “go” or “come” command there is something in it for them, even if it is only a walk or the opportunity to jump up and kiss a visitor.

Practice outside the house by having your pup sit near a lamp post and walk away repeating constantly “stay” or “wait”, when you are ready turn around and move your hand towards you and use the command “come”. The hand command is very important as a reinforcement that they can move and great if you are somewhere noisy as they have a visual command as well as verbal. If your pup moves while practicing go back to them and make them “sit” again and start again. Crossing roads is an extension of this with them sitting at the curb side until you tell them “cross”.

We were taught at puppy class that “stay” meant you were ”sitting” and coming back to your pup “wait” meant you were going to get them to come to you, this I found confusing, and so did Bailey so we use “wait” and not “stay” but it is your choice.

Please teach your Dal “off” for when you do not want them on the furniture, jumping up at people etc. You could use “down” but only if you are not using “down” for “lie down” as it gets very confusing for the poor things.

Another confusing word is “leave” which we use but if you are doing agility it is to similar to “weave” so you may need another command. We do not do agility so use “leave” and “drop” when out walking as Dalmatians will scavenge anything they think will taste nice, especially stuck to the pavement chewing gum, old chip bags, curry cartons and coffee cups. I assure you it can be hard getting them to “drop” their found prize and have had my hand down Bailey’s mouth more than once to get something back that she does not want to give up! Bless her.

Sorry there is little you can do about your Dals bad manners if they have a wind issue, other than trying them on a different food, and sorry Dals do, as some men, do not seem to consider wind as bad manners and will glare at you as if it was you! I know Bailey has made herself jump from her own sudden wind and seem to blame us for making her jump!

Food snatching