Loose lead walking in all areas!

[applegate79]

Hi we’ve got. 5 month old sprocker spaniel. Our previous springer pulled like a train on the lead, although was brilliant off it and would happily walk by my side off lead, we’re pretty rural so this wasn’t a huge problem but this was obviously tricky in places where he needed to be on it. This has led me to be absolutely determined not to repeat the same mistakes!!
So we’ve worked hard at it and our pup is generally really good at loose lead walking in pavements, lanes etc but if we go into a field or even a path alongside woods/field he absolutely loses it and is so overwhelmed/excited about the different environment it’s impossible.He’ll pull, spin,leap and cannot look at me or concentrate- sometimes we just stand still with me waiting for him to calm but the minute we set off again his excitement returns as does the behaviour. It’s not a problem for him not to be on the lead in the fields at the moment as he does recall really well to a whistle but I really want to replicate what’s happening on the pavements on grass and in exciting areas as there are times of the year when he must be on lead in the fields(livestock etc).
Do I just continue to enforce the loose lead in areas he can concentrate and stop walking trying in the fields at the moment, or has anyone got any tips? I don’t want to put him in a position where we’re enforcing the poor lead walking in the fields which may in turn affect all the good work he can do when he not off concrete on a lead!

Personally, I use a harness and slip lead interchangeably to basically equipment train (almost like you would a guide dog). He must walk nicely on the slip lead. But in areas where he is on the lead but I want him to sniff or play or have free time I pop a lead onto the harness.
They are very clever and can understand the difference, and it protects the slip lead manners.

our wcs (17 months) still pulls when he's excited - we have been consistently training him out of this behaviour since we started lead walking but he still can't stop his excitement in the areas (fields/forests etc.) exactly as you've described. I figure if we keep being persistent, he might one day get it, but he certainly hasn't got it as yet. At the end of the walk, he will do it but certainly not at the beginning or walking alongside those areas.

I think you are asking a lot from a 5 month old dog.He is doing very well,if he is able to walk on a loose lead.He also seems to have a good recall.Why dont you let him off lead in woods?He needs a good run.He is too young to be able to manage his excitement when seeing field and woodland.If you force something when they are too young,you can f**k it up.it is not,as if your dog is permanently overexcited.

Thanks all, really helpful and reassuring comments. Thatldo you are probably right about asking a lot of him, and I’m certainly not expecting him to get it consistently or straight away as recognise his excitement but he literally cannot do a step on lead on grass etc yet he’ll quite happily walk well for 15 min without pulling in less exciting areas. We very happily let him off on most walks and he’s excellent (so far) at coming back to a whistle and voice - I’ve used Pippa Mattinsons total recall book to guide us - but there are situations when he will have to be on the lead off roads ie when there are sheep in the field etc so I’m keen to start trying to train him in more exciting areas too although perhaps this will just come in time 🤞

My spaniel walks great on pavements/shops etc loose lead with a perfect fit harness and a double ended lead clipped on the chest and back clips so she can't pull much at all as it turns her back towards me... however same as you describe as soon as we get somewhere more interesting she will try to pull. I honestly don't know the answer as I see it with most dogs as they are approaching the fields they start to pull and strain... I guess it's excitement and they are anticipating you letting them off lead!

What equipment are you using to try and get him to walk on a loose lead? Harness? Collar? Slip lead? Martingale?

@MrsWinters that is such a great idea!!

We’re using a simple harness with a clip on the top not front at the moment for everything, so yes @mrswinters idea is definitely worth trying.

It will just come in time.I demanded quite a lot from my border collie puppy and decided to slack off a bit.she gets very excited when she sees the field we are doing work with ball and pulls on the lead.she is now 14 month old and has much better impulse control.I think,sometimes the brain just cant take it all in.also, I think,when ylu get tense and frustrated,the dog picks up on it and gets tense too.