Training A Dog

Question: How do you train a dog to walk on vinyl and tile flooring?

(Posted by: Mandy on 2010-03-04 14:55:29)

I have a two year old dog that was always kept outside by the previous owner. If he is placed on any vinyl flooring, like in our kitchen, he just stands frozen. Obviously he doesn’t like the slipperiness of the floor. My grandmother’s dog refuses to walk across her kitchen floor so he goes around it. What’s a good way to train a dog to walk on such floors?

Posted by: Kirsten on 2010-03-04, 15:22:54

Put his dinner on the objectionable floor. At first, put it near the edge so he only has to put one or two paws on it to reach the dinner. Gradually (over several days or weeks, if needed), move the bowl further and further from the edge and toward the center of the room. This is called desensitization or building a positive association (dinner) with the object of his fear (the floor). It is the kindest, most effective way to resolve this issue. Forcing a dog into a stressful situation for a sustained period (called flooding) is both cruel and psychologically harmful to the dog. If the problem is not entirely psychological, ie if he actually does slip around on the floor, try treating the bottoms of his feet with "Show Foot " (an anti-slip spray designed for show dogs) or "Musher's Secret " or a similar paw wax product. This will give him additional traction, as will keeping his nails short and the hair between his toes shortly trimmed.

Posted by: el montii on 2010-03-04, 14:59:28

Start with your dog sitting next to you on leash. make sure you have your dog under control before you attempt walking with your dog. Dogs pull because when they feel the pressure on the leash they will pull away from you. This is called opposition reflex. As you step off, give your dog the command "Let's go " and start walking. Once your dog starts to pull, let out all the tension in the leash and go in the other direction. When your dog gets to the end of the leash you'll be walking in the other direction. As your dog comes to your side quickly praise your dog and gather up the leash. If your dog starts to pull, let out the leash again and go in the other direction. Then try to get them some socks.

Posted by: Curtis M on 2010-03-04, 15:00:53

A dog who won't walk on slick floors = has weak nerves. This is the #1 reason police dogs flunk out (well, it used to be, now most PDs want a slippery floors demonstration). You can't fix weak nerves, you can condition the dog to it and give it it's favorite treats on it or feed it on them or whatever, may work, may not work.

Posted by: ms manners on 2010-03-04, 15:17:40

Yeah - I used to have a dog that hated tile - she would move from throw rug to throw rug to avoid it. She never came into the kitchen willingly in the twelve years she lived with me. Its weird - it was the only thing she was afraid of. Try putting a leash on him, and tethering him to you. That way he will have to go where you go, and hopefully will realize that the floor is not hurting him. Make sure his nails are short....long nails make slippery flooring more slippery.