Darting on lead

Henry walks very well. He does pull, but I'm using a martingale and and am setting a slow steady pace which he is getting used to. But ... when he sees a squirrel or another dog, he becomes completely focused on it and ignores me when I ask him to stop. He goes for the other animal as if he were off the lead and it is so hard to regain his focus. I am trying to engage him when I see a possible target animal so as not to lose his attention, but occasionally something surprises us. Is this something he will outgrow? He is nine now.

If he is 9 I doubt very much that he will outgrow this does he know the leave command? My girl is similar - we worked heavily with impulse control exercises, and use "leave" and "focus" (with food reward) to distract. Catching before over threshold is important too. U turns may help also

Rachel33 wrote:If he is 9 I doubt very much that he will outgrow this does he know the leave command? My girl is similar - we worked heavily with impulse control exercises, and use "leave" and "focus" (with food reward) to distract. Catching before over threshold is important too. U turns may help also

Lol ... I suppose not.  I have been using "focus."  I will try "leave" and food rewards as well.  I find if I have his attention I can keep it, but once lost it's hard to get back.  I will try U turning too.  Hadn't thought of that.  
Thanks!

Another thing to try maybe the Watch Me command while you are walking which may help to get his concentration back on you rather than any small furry creatures he may see.

Same with my girl - 2 seconds out and she's lying on the floor and will not budge!! I find commanding "leave" then the u turn and acting like a loon with silly excited voices "What have I got - what's this - come on then" with a toy or food lure most helpful to snap out of that mind set and distract most useful, then when far enough away from the "trigger" I ask for a "sit-focus" and then reward like crazy. Prevention is always better than cure - once they've learnt that impulse control they find it easier and you don't have such a small window to catch the behaviour. I taught impulse control using a squeaky rag toy - hype up LOADS and then just suddenly command "leave" and reward heavily when they do - that way even when she's above threshold she can still follow commands, if that makes sense!

A squeaky toy may be a good idea

Thanks! I will try the squeaky toy and "watch me" and keep working at it. He is so enthusiastic. lol

Thanks all! Your advice has been really helpful. Someone has used "watch me" with him before - he responded immediately to it and "focus."

Cool... Looks like you may have found something that works

Well done Ann, I'm glad this one worked for you