I have a beautiful 8 month old chocolate labrador and need advise please?

Question

We are lucky enough to live near the beach and open land so have our dog off the lead quite often. He loves it and is well behaved... until.... he sees another person or dog. He wants to, and does, say hello and bounds off every time to greet them. How can I stop him before he starts to go. I've tried distracting him but I want to be able to either stop him before he goes or call him back and he comes. I always have to run over to him and grab him back and hold him until the other dog or person leave. Please help, cos he's so lovely but now he's getting bigger and stronger - I'm getting weaker. !!

Answer 1

I think you picked the wrong category, but consider enrolling in a dog obedience class.  I think you both will enjoy it and like the results.

Answer 2

You need a leash!

ANd everytime the dog pulls you,  you yank back and turn the dog around and start walking in the other direction, about 10 feet or so. Then turn back and start going in the first direction again. When the dog pulls you again, you yank back (this is not hard, just a quick tug) and turn in the other direction again. It helps to make a noise as you yank like..AY! or something..a sound, not a "NO"

And after another 10 feet you can turn back around, once the dog pulls you again, you do the same thing.

This will take patience and persistance, but this is how you train the dog.

In order for the dog to learn you use short distractions when they misbehave, as in only the 10ft. of change in direction, then give another chance..It will take many many many times but the dog will learn

And when they no longer pull, you can start to take them off the leash and teach them that other dogs are nice. When ever they see another dog, you can give them a treat for staying by you. The dog will them associate seeing another dog with a treat and staying by you.

Make sure you use a firm voice and be persistent.  

Answer 3

Hire a dog walker. Believe it or not school kids enjoy walking dogs after school. It also will wear out your dog and help keep kids off the street's.

Answer 4

Work like crazy on a sit-stay command.  Food rewards are great for that, and practice in increasing intervals and distances from you until he gets it.  It will take lots of practice, and be sure to use people to help you who can act as the distractors.  Dogs can learn to stay on command.