walking my lurcher

[karala]

I would really appreciate some advice: we adopted a gorgeous lurcher late last year and he is a beautiful gentle boy about 2 years old. We don't know much about him because he was a stray but the rescue centre felt that he was probably a traveller's dog. He walks reasonably well on the lead in that he doesn't pull but he wants to sniff EVERYTHING. I understand that sniffing is a major part of a dog's reason for life but he won't respond when he's sniffing so we end up in this ridiculous situation of him being dragged down the road/across a field by whoever is walking him. We are dealing with some reactivity as well but that's another story but I'd really appreciate some help with the sniffing just to make it a more enjoyable experience for us all, dog included.

@okstretch

Karala, he's really beautiful!

Mine would lunge and bark at other dogs. It was really difficult as she's heavy and strong. She's not aggressive, it's more fear combined with overexcitement

I tried a training class but she couldn't cope with being face to face close to other dogs and it became too stressful for both of us.

Because she loves food above all else I carried food with me ( and still do ) and gave her something whenever we saw another dog, before she got close enough to react. The lunging soon stopped, and whenever she saw a dog she would look to me for a treat.

I avoid the green areas where there are dogs off the lead and always cross over if we see another dog approaching on the pavement. Lockdown made me look less odd!

I've had travellers' dogs before and they were fine with other dogs except occasionally if a strange dog rushed up to them when they were on the lead. I'd be very hopeful that yours soon will be too.
My present girl was apparently always a pet but not socialised with other dogs and not exercised enough.

She also sometimes does the stopping and standing still and looking anxious. I give her a moment and coax her on. She won't move if I stand ahead of her, it has to be beside her, if you see what I mean.

Calmness, perseverance and routine have brought good progress. Our walks are still a bit lacking in variety (luckily I live in a nice area) but I just accept the limitations, she's such a sweetheart!

thank you - that's really helpful. The rescue centre think he was a traveller's dog and he is really fine with some dogs and I honestly believe that we will get there eventually. It's a work in progress. We are using treats in the way that you did and I'm glad to have confirmation from you that that works. Someone else mentioned scattering them on the ground when we see other dogs and we've been doing that which has proved helpful

I do two kinds of walks with my dog- 'Sniff and Mooch' for him where he can choose the direction and the pace, and purposeful 'Going Somewhere with Mum' where he has to crack on with the walk apart from short stops for him to do the necessary.