Lone female dog walking night

[Bellyblueboy]

My brother and his family got a working cocker spaniel a few years ago. Everyone has lost interest and the dog is only really walked by me (and occasionally my 85 year old father). He is given lots of attention and affection in the house, but they don’t seem to want to exercise him. I have raised it a few times but am in danger of being shut out if I raise it again.

i take him (the dog) for two long walks at the weekend, but i know he needs much more than this. I work long hours and get home at about 7pm. It’s too dark to go to the park - and he is very ‘pulley’ on a lead.

i want to start taking him for walks in the evenings but am not really strong enough to walk him sensibly on a lead. I have tried a harness but it doesn’t really stop the pulling. Any hints?

I had thought of offering to pay for a dog walker during the week - but not sure how that would be received! My brother can be a dick (obviously).

How is his recall? I do most of my dog walks off lead in the park and woods in the dark. If his recall is ok I'd just put a flashy collar on him and go, he'll get a much much better walk.

Have you tried a halti?

You can't save them all. I've had to learn that the hard way. You're doing your best for the dog & your brother is a dick. But by fixing this problem for him, its just allowing him to perpetuate that behaviour

His recall is excellent - he doesn’t go too far from me in the park. I am more concerned about my safety in the park and woods after dark.

i take him deep into the forest at the weekend and he loves it - sniffs for hours! The evening walks would be after work, in the dark and I would really only have about 45 minutes (not enough I know but I am trying to do what I can).

Try a canny collar. It really saved me when my dog was pulling. She had pulled my back and my shoulder and wasn’t suitable to be walked off lead but the canny collar made the work of difference.

I tried a similar one but he kept pawing at his nose, my brother said I was hurting him and not to use it again.

I will look into the halti and see if I will be allowed!

if he was my dog I would have him in a training class and have a dog walker during the week.

I would love my own dog but I know I don’t have time for one. Ironic I know 😊

Hats off to you for doing your best for the poor dog. You know your area and whether the park is safe enough or not, and if there are other dog walkers around at that time to add security. For street walking I'd recommend a dogmatic headcollar - the design is really good so that it doesn't ride up into their eyes like a halti does. If he is between sizes get one that fits his muzzle and tie a knot in the strap behind his ears if it's too big. They are pricey so I get them second hand on Facebook Marketplace or eBay.

Any nearby enclosed dog fields? Flashy collar. And you with a head torch. Half hour slots would be cheaper than dog walker

Googling this now

He is a lovely, affectionate dog. And he has become very attached to me. I can do lots more in the summer.

I took him into the woods today and felt very guilty dropping him back. The kids were delighted to see him - he gets good quality food, lots of cuddles and does have a large garden to run in (they throw balls for him). But he needs walked.

He can be a bit reactive with other dogs - and because he isn’t mine I am probably not the best at managing it. Dog fields seem to attract the more badly behaved dogs!

@Bellyblueboy you just rent them by the half hour and it would be just you

Oh!!! I had no idea sorry😊.

i will look into this.

Well done on doing what you can for this dog. Loose lead walking isn’t easy to train, a halti stops pulling by making it uncomfortable for the dog to pull against. So it’s not ideal, but if you decide to use one you will need to use lots of positive training for him to get used to it, it can take a while for them to accept it.
If he pulls please don’t use a slip lead.

A harness won’t help much, however if you get a double ended lead and attach both ends to the front clip, put each side of the lead either side of the dog (almost like reins on a horse), this can help as you’re pulling him from the chest - however it’s not a long term solution. It’s training - and a lot of it - that’s needed, which is hard as he’s not your dog.
you could try high value treats as you walk so he is focused on you, this is part of loose lead training, so don’t expect immediate improvement but it’s worth doing it, even if only a little. Try using a clicker for training as well.

I would also suggest scent games, even on a walk as this will make him tired way more than him running around. Snuffle mats, stuffed kongs are good mental stimulation, and lick mats can be calming.
Rather than the kids throwing balls in the garden. They could hide some treats, let him use his nose, he’ll love it and it’s good for him.

He’s lucky to have you take him out, OP 😊

Enclosed dog walking park at night would be my solution - Facebook is full of them - about £10-15 per hr. or keep deep heat spray in your pocket and your phone connected to someone who can just be 'with you' but not necessarily talking to you. As a working cocker - he has one of the biggest energy requirements of all breeds bless him, but you clearly know this. He also has what's called social reflex - the same as my working Labrador. They almost self return as it's in their DNA - not always when you ask if young but they will come back. And you are an angel for doing this. In your shoes I think I'd also pay for a dog walker if money allows. No need for a Halti - they can ride up into the eyes. Teach him to look at you with treats, a ball, whatever floats his boat and praise every time he looks at you. Walk in squares or zig zags, turn sharply and go the other way. He'll soon pick it up and LOVE learning. Personally I use a half check collar on my Lab -but I have pack issues with mine and both have backed out of their traditional collars and harnesses on occasion. I've probably used all types over the years but both my Newfoundland (No social reflex - just two fingers up to me but she does protect me innately - that's her DNA), failing that, could you afford to maybe have the dog live with you (if dickhead would allow) and as you clearly love walking dogs/offered to get a dog walker, maybe take on a larger more guardy breed for yourself like a GSD, employ a dog walker and then you could explore the woods to your hearts content without a second thought. Long shot but worth a mention. My dog walker is my third arm - amazing lady and worth every penny to me. Very best of luck OP.

I would love a dog, but my lifestyle just doesn’t allow it. I live alone with a cat and work about 70 hours a week!

I could afford a dog walker - but my brother would see it as me judging him. I am of course judging him, but the dog walker would be for the dog’s welfare and not a passive aggressive act. But my mum has already told me he thinks I am being holier than thou about the dog - ridiculous apparently as the dog is fine.

I can’t walk the dog every day - but if I could add say a Tuesday night and Thursday night to the routine that would be be four walks a week.

the weekend walks are usually two hours each.

I took him on a walking holiday with me in the summer - he was a different animal. None of the destructive behaviour he displays at home. I think he slept for about a week when I returned him🤣.

My brother and his family looked after my cat for the week. She was a much better fit for them😊.

You sound lovely OP and I am sorry your brother is seeing you as being judgmental rather than helping out! His dog is lucky to have you!

It may not help you - I am raising my first puppy, a Labrador - he is 8 months old so I don’t have as much experience as others but I’ve got loose lead walking almost perfected now (although that could go out the window as he gets deeper in to adolescence!)
I clip the lead to the front of the harness which has made all the difference and reward him for being in the ‘correct’ position but I think what has made the biggest difference is training him to walk to heel off lead. For a portion of every walk I recall him, ask him to heel, then give him a release command and then repeat. Obviously giving him treats when he does. It seems to have made a huge difference to walking to heel on the lead. Also it’s an added bonus of training tiring his brain out as well as the exercise. I’m sure I read somewhere that 15 minutes of training tires out as much as 45 minutes of exercise but I don’t know how true that is.
Are there any pedestrianised, well-lit areas near you? I tend to use mostly those if it’s dark and do more of a ‘training and sniffy’ walk than loads of exercise but appreciate that I can walk mine during the day as I work from home so that would usually be his second walk of the day.

Good luck!

Two point harness and loose lead training - lots of reward based videos available and the training will help tire him out.

You have all been so helpful - thank you.

I have lots to look up and try. He really is a lovely dog - and I want him to have a happy and healthy life.

my brother, his wife and the kids do love him in their own way, but they are so dismissive of me when I say he needs walked. The kids are older teens, but even they don’t seem to be able to take him out. He gets lots of cuddles from them- that’s about it.

he was a Covid purchase. I would never suggest rehoming him because I am scared he wouldn’t go to a kind home.

I just don’t understand why they had to get such a high energy dog when they clearly had no intention of putting in the hours.

OP you could just do half an hour of lead training instead of a walk. The dog will love his brain being engaged just as much as a walk. Look up a couple of videos, find a quiet street with a street lamp or two, and just take it steady

Agree OP. Why why why do people get cockers as first time dogs?! And working ones at that! They are totally unsuitable for vast majority of owners let alone first timers.

I like walking and I love nature. But after 18mos of dog ownership I only really enjoy 60 mins a day of walking (especially in muddy months). Of course I started off dog ownership at 2hrs every day....don't we all!

Thank goodness I ended up with a mini poodle.

ETA - this dog will come to ADORE you and everything you represent to him 🥺🐶

We luckily have a lit glen where we can take our dog after work in the dark. She still wears a light up colour. We recently paid for a dog trainer to help with ours who pulls on lead walks - it was just one session but made a huge difference. I know he's not yours but it might be worth investing to make on lead walks less of a chore.

It's such a shame you can't take him full time....

@BeQuirkyMintScroller my first was a cocker, albeit a show type, and I agree they are a handful. I read up loads about what they needed and as she was my dog, I was the only one doing all the walks. My dh joined in a few years after we got her and regrets not doing so earlier.
@Bellyblueboy I did street walks with mine in the dark as I was too scared to go in the park when it was dark. More scared of my own shadow, though I did also worry about other dogs off lead running over. She liked these as she would sniff a lot, and I could tell when she knew we were on our way back home 😆
I think it is wonderful you have taken on walking your brother and families dog, but what a shame they don't want to. One of the nicest things is a long weekend walk with your dog, and one of the most rewarding things is it doing what you ask because you have trained them well.

Why not find an evening training class to join in with doggo? Safe environment, brain tiring for the dog and a night out 👍🏻 doesn't have to be obedience, you could try flyball, hoopers, agility, all sorts of different things out there.