What Is The Best Way Of Walking An Excitable Leonberger On A Lead Please?

[scruffbag]

My leonberger gets excited when we meet other dogs, when out lead walking. What is the way of dealing with it please? I would appreciate your thoughts. Many thanks

[janbee]

What age is your dog?

[janbee]

I see a Leonburger quite often and it's very well behaved and walks beautifully on it's lead. It's 5 years old though.

[janbee]

Do you have an animal behaviourist in your area? They're very good at training methods.

[MargoTester]

Blimey that's one big dog!! I should think it takes you for a walk. Seriously, perhaps you should take it to dog trading classes there should be some in your local area.

[1ozzy]

//Seriously, perhaps you should take it to dog trading classes there should be some in your local area.//

What would you swap it for Margo? ;-).

Only joking....

[MargoTester]

Oh gawd lozzy it's a bit early in the morning for my little brain. I'm not like you early birds. I meant training school of course but....... If I had to trade I'd have a West Highland White terrier much more my size of dog ;-))

[1ozzy]

It's a bit late in the day for me Margo.
My youngest son has invited me out for dinner, also told me he is paying.
I'm happy as a pig in it!!

Hope you have a great day ;-)

[MargoTester]

Cheers lozzy - he must want something (your son I mean) now I am joking:-) enjoy you dinner while I enjoy my breakfast. I can never get my head around this time difference thing. My son went to Australia to play cricket with his uni team and I could never work out the best time to text him.

[1ozzy]

My children always want something Margo.
As to wether or not they get it is another story ;-)

[MargoTester]

:-)

[HollyLouGarou]

I am a trainee Animal Behaviourist. Does he have a favourite food? Cooked chicken is a good one, cut into cubes. Make sure he knows you have some in your pocket when you go out. Stay alert and when you see another dog approaching, get him to sit and entice him with the chicken (or other treat). So this EVERY time you meet another dog. It may take some time but eventually he will 'click' that another dog = sitting for a treat, and he will start to do it automatically.

Make the other dog walkers aware of what you are doing so they (hopefully) don't let their dogs jump about and excite your lad. You could also get the help of friends with dogs to walk and "meet" you on walks, that often helps too.

A Halti or similar dog headcollar may help initially too.

Good luck! Leonbergers are wonderful dogs!

[lankeela]

A HaIti type headcoIIar wiII stop him puIIing straight away but won't cure it - as soon as you Ieave it off he wiII stiII puII. You need to teach him to waIk to heeI and the best way is to find a good training cIass. I wouId say though that with such a big strong dog you shouId have done this from an earIy age, its not as though you didn't know how big he was going to get. A strong big dog can be a danger to both you and himseIf not to mention other dogs if he were to puII you over or puII the iead out of your hand.