"Who's a good dog? Who's a GOOD DOG?"

"Christ, Karen. Push harder. Not all of us have a life expectancy of 75 years."

So my dog is 7.5 months old now and 38 lbs. One thing I regret is letting him chew and eat sticks as much as he did when he was a baby... I let him do it thinking it was because he's teething, but we're beyond that now. Every time we go on a walk, a stick, twig, or wood chip stops us until I say 'Let's go'

 

Any tips how to break this habit? Or at least slow down the urge to stop for every wooden object mother nature has to offer?

Bully sticks. Once there's flavor along with the chew, there's less desire to chew flavorless or "bad" flavor stuff. Not saying it'll be completely gone, but it'll help a ton!

Bully sticks. Once there's flavor along with the chew, there's less desire to chew flavorless or "bad" flavor stuff. Not saying it'll be completely gone, but it'll help a ton!

I will look into this. Thanks!

 

I'm no longer buying toys with soft rubber or stuffing in them. My dog finds a way to tear out the stuffing in less than a day. Same with soft rubber toys.

 

Hard bones, elk antlers, and bully sticks it is!

Just make sure you know what bully sticks are...they're not exactly something you want laying around for guests to stumble upon without having at least a good sense of humor!

I remember my dog would be confused when there was deeper snow she would see what she would think would be a stick right there for her to grab - but be frustrated when she could not get it out of the snow not  realizing it was part of a partially buried bush or small tree and rooted into the ground.

 

It was funny she could have cared less about sticks until she saw my Mom's dog grab one on a walk and it was like she was discovering a new world.  She was probably only stick obsessed for a year or two, and even then did not have the dedication to carrying sticks like a retriever or lab would have. 

My boy is going to be 10 months on the 13th and he is certainly a teenager right now... Pushing the boundaries on how far he can run and explore in the park, and pulling on the leash recently.

 

Any training techniques to calm him down on walks and not try to pull where he wants to go?

 

My boy is going to be 10 months on the 13th and he is certainly a teenager right now... Pushing the boundaries on how far he can run and explore in the park, and pulling on the leash recently.

Any training techniques to calm him down on walks and not try to pull where he wants to go?

lots of consistency.  You'll need some negative reinforcement on this too (quite a bit more at first), and if the pulling is bad, consider a choke collar (there are certain breeds where this is a necessity, though I don't think a yellow lab is one).

 

The big thing with leash training is keeping them paying attention to you. Teaching them a command (such as heel) with that can help, but that has to come with reinforcement, which will be negative at first until the dog starts figuring it out and you can reward it... If my dog gets ahead of me, she gets my knee firmly placed in her side with the command... not enough to hurt, but to startle and keep her watching you. She's a big dog, so I'll occasionally smack the back of her head as well and  reinforce with the same command. Also don't take the same routes, vary your direction on you normal routes, etc. Bottom line is you want your dog paying attention to you and not whatever wildlife happens to be near by. 

 

 

My boy is going to be 10 months on the 13th and he is certainly a teenager right now... Pushing the boundaries on how far he can run and explore in the park, and pulling on the leash recently.

Any training techniques to calm him down on walks and not try to pull where he wants to go?

Are you using a harness? Once I started using that for walks, my dog stopped pulling for whatever reason, though she was much older than 10 months at the time.

Are you using a harness? Once I started using that for walks, my dog stopped pulling for whatever reason, though she was much older than 10 months at the time.

I am using a harness but the latch is on top of his body. He thinks he's dragging a bobsled like the ititarod right now... And he was so good walking right next to me up until a week ago.

I'd echo diehard. In running with my Pyrenees and my German Shepherd, post-run reinforcement would work with the Pyrenees, whereas immediate reinforcement was needed with the German, so I'd bring along a leash (living on the farm allows for runs without a leash for a dog.

 

My little dogs need a consistent bit of force when on a walk or run - the pug to keep the right pace and the poodle to stay on path. They didn't need that right away, though, so I get where you're coming from.

 

I am using a harness but the latch is on top of his body. He thinks he's dragging a bobsled like the ititarod right now... And he was so good walking right next to me up until a week ago.

Maybe try leashing to his collar, so he pulls hard with his neck rather than his body, he might not like it and adjust.   Putting him in situation where he is forced to pull differently, even a different kind of harness might give you different results.  

 

Or get roller blades.

I remember one of our dogs reached the teenage period at the beginning of a winter with a lot of snow.  My brother was skilled with manipulating the dog into the high snow banks when she got off track.  By the time the snow melted she heeled nicely.   You just need to move to Grand Marias or Fairbanks.

 

Maybe try leashing to his collar, so he pulls hard with his neck rather than his body, he might not like it and adjust.   Putting him in situation where he is forced to pull differently, even a different kind of harness might give you different results.  

 

Or get roller blades.

We had this problem with our dog and a gentle leader worked well. If the dog pulls, it turns his/her head toward you. After a short time, they learn to stop pulling so hard.

 

I am using a harness but the latch is on top of his body. He thinks he's dragging a bobsled like the ititarod right now... And he was so good walking right next to me up until a week ago.

be glad you don't own a husky or malamute. 

I've gotta say latching onto my dog's neck collar instead of his harness has done a world of good on our walks! He's no longer trying to pull me like I'm a sled.

 

He's getting neutered on Saturday so wish him luck!

He's getting neutered on Saturday so wish him luck!

My condolences.

I've gotta say latching onto my dog's neck collar instead of his harness has done a world of good on our walks! He's no longer trying to pull me like I'm a sled.

 

He's getting neutered on Saturday so wish him luck!

Poor guy is wearing the cone of shame for a couple of days...

Poor guy is wearing the cone of shame for a couple of days...

Oh man ... that is quite the ‘You betrayed me’ look he’s giving you. How’d the snip-ectomy go?

Oh man ... that is quite the ‘You betrayed me’ look he’s giving you. How’d the snip-ectomy go?

He's taking the news better than I would! So far so good. He hasn't been trying to lick his stitches so for the most part he hasn't been wearing the cone. He wears it at night when I'm sleeping and today while I'm at work.

Thoughts on ‘Dogs’ the Netflix series? My wife is into it. Personally, I think it seems a little people heavy. And, well, you all know where I stand on the great debate.

Thoughts on ‘Dogs’ the Netflix series? My wife is into it. Personally, I think it seems a little people heavy. And, well, you all know where I stand on the great debate.

It's a good series overall. The episode when they were trying to reunite Zeus the husky with his owner in Berlin brought tears to my eyes...

This one on CuriosityStream was pretty good.

 

I really want to play a well-produced open world video game where the player-character is a dog.  Too much to ask?

I really want to play a well-produced open world video game where the player-character is a dog.  Too much to ask?

Ask the developers of this to set you up:

 

Ask the developers of this to set you up:

 

Not even going to ask what you use that for, Ash.

Just kid-ing, of course.

Just kid-ing, of course.

Not the best response, but not ba-a-a-ad.