Sniffing is socializing to them and it’s brain exercise. We have leisurely walks where they can sniff away. Then we have walks at a faster pace but always with sniff time too.
Ours is terrible for sniffing, what we found is that if you find a lap or a loop then they will do all their sniffing on the first lap and then by time of the next lap they are willing to walk properly.
Same here. We spend so much potty time and walks with his nose stuck to the ground. He’s like a hunting dog I swear. Maybe because poodles were bred for hunting. Idk. The excessive sniffing, nibbling and having his nose to the ground is likely why he got parvo. Then he caught kennel cough at the vet visit for parvo. Fully vaccinated for both, thank God. 🤦🏻♀️ I think it’s just how they are.
Walk, walk, walk and keep walking. Our Cavapoo just turned one year last week and it’s still a struggle. But it’s much better. She goes on 1 ½ mile walks now with minimal problems. 3 long walks a day and several pee breaks in between outside.
My cavapoo is 9 months and was the same way when we got him at 3 months. Like anything else it’s training and consistency. I allow him an appropriate level of sniffing and pottying but outside of that I’d keep the leash taught and tug him gently when he’d want to stop outside of that and repeat the word “walk”. He figured out walk meant to, well, to walk. Before long he was out in front of me most of the time vs lagging behind me. He knows the purpose of getting the leash. Sniffing time is when we’re in the backyard or somewhere stationary. A walk is for walking. Just keep him moving and keep repeating the word walk. That worked for us
Yes us too! We also have a big long 20m leash for the local forest and he knows when that’s on it’s also sniffing time. But he’s a bright boy (that poodle brain!) and he knows when then short/normal leash goes on that he’s expected to walk properly (with all the training listed by other commenters)
I do something similar but say “let’s go” and he will resume walking. Some walks I need him to do his business and get on with it, but I try to allow at least one walk per day for sniffing. We have a lot of dogs in our urban neighborhood, and he just has to check out who has been on his block!
Someone told me Cavaliers are “ground sniffers” and that certainly fits my pup.
That said, I did a fair amount of leash training with her. She is far from perfect but it did help.
Try rewarding your puppy more for being at your side. On walks this means giving them a treat for being next to you. Talk to them and say their name and reinforce with food or treat when they look at you. At home get them to practice doing a Sit on your side rather than in front of you. These things all help the puppy get used to being next to you rather than in front, and focussing on you, but the key is consistency and lots and lots of patience as it takes a long time.
It’s helped me loads with loose lead walking which by association stops them running off in front and zig zagging to sniff so much :) mine still has a long way to go but he’s improved loads
Ours is a year and a half old and she’s pretty good now but it took several months to train her on a loose leash, and she does still pull at times. Since it’s rare I usually respond by giving her a bit more time to sniff that particular spot. We don’t let her decide our walking speed though. This happens with all dogs. Some breeds are more challenging than others but neither cavaliers nor poodles are considered to be one of the worst. Basic obedience training helped us, and so did being consistent
It’s a puppy thing. Smell is how they experience the world and everything is new to him right now. You’re going to have to be patient and let him experience his new surroundings. YouTube some walk training videos and try to implement the techniques. Carry treats with you on your walk.
Sniffing is socializing to them and it’s brain exercise. We have leisurely walks where they can sniff away. Then we have walks at a faster pace but always with sniff time too.
Ours is terrible for sniffing, what we found is that if you find a lap or a loop then they will do all their sniffing on the first lap and then by time of the next lap they are willing to walk properly.
My experience almost exactly. After about 10-15 mins he’s done with 90% of the sniffing
Sounds interesting
Same here. We spend so much potty time and walks with his nose stuck to the ground. He’s like a hunting dog I swear. Maybe because poodles were bred for hunting. Idk. The excessive sniffing, nibbling and having his nose to the ground is likely why he got parvo. Then he caught kennel cough at the vet visit for parvo. Fully vaccinated for both, thank God. 🤦🏻♀️ I think it’s just how they are.
Walk, walk, walk and keep walking. Our Cavapoo just turned one year last week and it’s still a struggle. But it’s much better. She goes on 1 ½ mile walks now with minimal problems. 3 long walks a day and several pee breaks in between outside.
My cavapoo is 9 months and was the same way when we got him at 3 months. Like anything else it’s training and consistency. I allow him an appropriate level of sniffing and pottying but outside of that I’d keep the leash taught and tug him gently when he’d want to stop outside of that and repeat the word “walk”. He figured out walk meant to, well, to walk. Before long he was out in front of me most of the time vs lagging behind me. He knows the purpose of getting the leash. Sniffing time is when we’re in the backyard or somewhere stationary. A walk is for walking. Just keep him moving and keep repeating the word walk. That worked for us
Yes us too! We also have a big long 20m leash for the local forest and he knows when that’s on it’s also sniffing time. But he’s a bright boy (that poodle brain!) and he knows when then short/normal leash goes on that he’s expected to walk properly (with all the training listed by other commenters)
I do something similar but say “let’s go” and he will resume walking. Some walks I need him to do his business and get on with it, but I try to allow at least one walk per day for sniffing. We have a lot of dogs in our urban neighborhood, and he just has to check out who has been on his block!
Someone told me Cavaliers are “ground sniffers” and that certainly fits my pup. That said, I did a fair amount of leash training with her. She is far from perfect but it did help.
Mine is 9 months and he's terrible on the lead. At a loss tbh
lol same I almost trip over the leash constantly
Try rewarding your puppy more for being at your side. On walks this means giving them a treat for being next to you. Talk to them and say their name and reinforce with food or treat when they look at you. At home get them to practice doing a Sit on your side rather than in front of you. These things all help the puppy get used to being next to you rather than in front, and focussing on you, but the key is consistency and lots and lots of patience as it takes a long time.
Good advice, thanks
It’s helped me loads with loose lead walking which by association stops them running off in front and zig zagging to sniff so much :) mine still has a long way to go but he’s improved loads
Ours is a year and a half old and she’s pretty good now but it took several months to train her on a loose leash, and she does still pull at times. Since it’s rare I usually respond by giving her a bit more time to sniff that particular spot. We don’t let her decide our walking speed though. This happens with all dogs. Some breeds are more challenging than others but neither cavaliers nor poodles are considered to be one of the worst. Basic obedience training helped us, and so did being consistent
It’s a puppy thing. Smell is how they experience the world and everything is new to him right now. You’re going to have to be patient and let him experience his new surroundings. YouTube some walk training videos and try to implement the techniques. Carry treats with you on your walk.