TRAINING

Dogs soon work out whether it is rewarding to stop on a walk.

Q My little dog has got into the habit of sitting down on a walk behind me and then waiting until I call him with a treat. If I do this, he will recall, but then he stops a bit further up the path and waits again (still behind me). If I don’t do this, he will just sit there and refuse to move so the walk is ruined. I realise he has very cleverly manipulated the situation so he’s in charge, but how do I get him out of this habit?

Linda Halls, Shropshire.

Tony says: Ensure that your dog is healthy and he is not stopping because of an ache or because he is tired. With puppies and dogs, you need to rule out lethargy or injury first. Assuming he is 100 per cent healthy, it sounds like your smart little dog has trained you to whip out a treat every time he stops on a walk! Putting on the brakes is common behaviour, particularly for puppies who stop and observe the world, and get tired quickly. Often the owner produces a treat, and the wrong lesson is taught

. Owners often inadvertently cause this stopping action by either rewarding the dog only when he has stopped walking (maybe in a sit), or using the treat as a bribe to lure him along the pavement. This means it pays off for the dog if he stops! The best way to reward is on the move, walking when the lead is slack. Never yank the lead, and try to stop bribing.