Barkley wont let me cross street

Barkley has been trained to not let me cross the street unless I have given him a command to do so. Here is how I taught him to do it. [NOTE: We began training this point back in November of 2009 and it is now September of 2010. I am just now able to fully trust Barkley in not letting me cross the street without the release word. It took a long time to get him to this point because it is difficult to teach dogs to do things without any cue from the handler.]

For this, I recommend using a regular harness, NOT a no-pull one, because the dog needs to have leverage. Your dog needs to have a very solid stay command before beginning to teach this.

While walking on leash with your dog in a heel tell them to sit (or whatever position your prefer) as you keep walking. You may have to tell it to stay after the sit, as I had to do this with Barkley at first. Be sure to keep holding the leash and just go out to the end of it then come back. If it sits and stays until you return to it, click and treat.

After it is used to siting and staying as you keep walking, go to the end of the leash and give the stay command as you tug the tiniest bit on the leash. If it stays, go back and click and treat. If it doesn't, keep trying. Use less force until it stays when you tug.

Build the tugging slowly up by tugging a little bit harder on the leash every couple of times you tug. Within several training sessions the tug should become a pull. Remember to take it slow; this isn't going to happen overnight. Build it up enough that your dog pulls as hard as it can against your body weight before moving on to the next step.

Next, teach the release word (or action) that you will give to you dog before crossing the street. Your dog should remain sitting and staying until you give the release word. It is very important to that your dog does not move until given the command to because you may be "out of it" and trying to get the dog to cross the street when it may not be safe. Say the release word; if they come to you, click and treat. Practice this with the one word, but also talk to your dog using other words so that it knows to only respond to the release word. This should be done randomly. If your dog moves on a word that is not the release word, give the No Reward marker and try again. Repeat until your dog has a firm understanding.

You should practice this every chance you get. Don't forget to practice at a variety of intersections, including driveways, street corners, and anywhere else you want your dog to block at. You must be consistent with this -- every time you walk your dog, practice it. If you do not, you may have to start all over again.

After two to three months of doing this, gradually wean your dog off the cues. Try crossing the street without any cues; if your dog sits and stays without a command, go to the end of the leash and pull. Go back to it, click, and give lots of praise and treats. This is a huge success. But, if your dog doesn't do it, give a No Reward marker and then give the commands. Don't worry if your dog doesn't do it on its own right away -- Barkley did not do it at first either. The next time, try again without the commands. Eventually your dog will do it on its own, though it may not happen consistently at first.

Barkley and I have worked on this for nearly a year (and we had a few setbacks when I wasn't consistent), but it is well worth it. When I am not paying attention or in a rush, I try to cross the street only to be stopped by a force in may hands. I turn around to see Barkley with his butt firmly planted on the sidewalk just as a car zooms by with a near miss.

Happy Training.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• street
• training
• service
• dog

[coolieosun]

Jeez wiz! How did I not get notified of all these new comments?! Better check my email notifications!

[BorderProductions92]

Thats Awesome!! How did you teach that?!

[coolieosun]

@BorderProductions92

I will put it in the description shortly because this comment box is not big enough.

[snowphoenyx]

Phenomenal! He looks a lot like my SD, Hunter. Well done =)

[Baumj0hann]

awesome!!!!!

[BassieX]

Great work! I think an american style guide harness would work better, because the keepers would allow the dog to block you from walking into the street.

Though I think you have a smaller successor dog, so this is a good solution.

[dwilmer7]

barkley keick a.s.s.!!! Hes so awesome! I wish I could have a dog but landlord wont allow... ur lucky! barkley is pure awesomeness.

[420apbt4life]

can u make a vid saying how you did this right on aswell really sweet dog

[therapydogchick]

What a smart boy! Barkley is amazing, Psychiatric Service Dogs Rule!