Walking Track Manners - Learning To Ignore Distractions

It's important to teach our dogs to ignore distractions, and to pay attention to the person who is walking them. Letting your dog "Say Hello" to every dog or person they pass can lead to your dog becoming much more interested in other dogs and people than it is in you, and as a result you may struggle to have any influence or control over your dog when these distractions are around. If your dog is nervous or shy, it will not be helped by being pushed into over-whelming social interactions. So here are a couple of techniques you can use, particularly when walking along tracks or paths.
1. Curve off to the side as you pass another dog, giving your dog and the other dog space. This is a natural way for dogs to pass one another, and it will help your dog relax. It also helps if you are in-between your dog and the other dog or person.
2. Take your dog off to the side of the track and get them to sit and pay attention to you while the person/dog/bicycle/jogger distraction goes past.
Brought to you by Noarlunga City Obedience Dog Club
Copyright Free music by Kevin MacLeod