Does your doodle walk well on a leash? And if so how did you get them that way?

[Alissa Edwards]

My vizsla used to drag me - a couple times even pulled over the stroller. I never walked with him as a result. I really want to walk this dog daily - once it warms up - and have my kids (at least my 7 yo) be able to do the same.

Tips? Harness? What kind? How did you do it? 

Thanks!

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Meg was such a puller that I was not walking her, I have already had two shoulder surgeries and not wanting another.  We hired a trainer, he took five minutes to show us the proper fit and placement of a prong collar, ten minutes working her in the drive way, five more minutes watching me in the drive way and then correcting what I was doing wrong.  We practiced for the next week and he came back, took us to the nearest Rural King store and had me working her in front of strangers...it was like a miracle and have never had a problem since unless the collar slips down lower on her neck.  It has been so successful that we bought one for Polly and fitted it our self now that we know how, I can put them both on a double and control with one leash for walks.  Prong collars used correctly are great.  I know other people will have other ideas that work equally as well, this was just our success story.

[Adina P]

All four dogs we've had so far have walked beautifully on leash.  All trained the same way:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum2/topics/david-dikemans-command

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No dog is born knowing how to walk on a leash, This is part of the basic training that every dog needs and deserves. It's important for not just the teaching aspect, it also teaches you how to communicate with your dog and strengthens the bond between you. 

I strongly urge you to look into the puppy training programs available in your area and enroll in one as soon as possible. 

[Mindy White]

I just adopted my seven month old who was clearly never properly trained.  The first time I took him out he about took my shoulder out.  Second walk was yesterday and he improved by about 80%.  

Years ago I was a dog trainer (which is really just a people trainer in disguise).  There are a lot of methods that work, it's just figuring out which you need.  I'll assume by your photo the dog is still a puppy.  First put on a regular collar and leash in the house (since it's cold) for a few minutes while you're watching just to get the pup accustomed.  Next, even if it's in a hallway in the house walk with the dog up and down for a few minutes a day.  Your focus is to keep the attention on you, not going ahead or behind you.  If you work on this for five minutes or so a day and you don't get your arm pulled off you're in good shape.  If you find yourself being pulled you'll need to step up to either a full or partial correction collar.  A partial is part collar part chain.  This is an idiot proof method.  If the dog pulls you can either do a quick tug back or stop all together and wait for the dog to realize it's not going well.  You may have to stop every half step, depending on the dog.  The full chain collar is more effective for strong pullers, however, if you don't put in on correctly it's useless.  If it looks like a 'P' it's good, like a 'Q', no good and gets to the tightest position and sticks there.  You want the collar to tighten and immediately loosen in training.  The next step for a really strong puller would be either the prong collar or an electric collar.  

Always lots of praise when the behavior is good and a quick NO with a correction when not so good.  With consistency on your part you'll be able to walk the pup on a piece of yarn.  I have a 120 lb mastiff that I can't tell if she's even on the other end of the leash or not, she stays directly by my side or slightly behind me.  : ) 

[Debbie Daniels]

One of the reasons I wanted a doodle was because I live close to the park and I love walking , by the time Miss Beasley was four months old I was ready to throw in the towel , I knew she needed walked because of her energy and I couldn't get her to stop pulling and jumping up on me. I called a trainer and with in 30 minutes with a prong collar she was walking at heel, now it's the way she likes to walk. The air about her is as she is doing a job and wants to do it well. She sits when I stop and I always say heel and start off with my left leg. We now can take a longer lead and I can give her a OK and she knows she can go off and play ...to get her back all I have to do is call her to me and have her sit and she goes right back into a heel It was the best bit of money I ever spent!  My three year old grandson can walk her at heel, he thinks he is the traine , Miss Bea doesn't care as long as she is getting messed with * also she now loves that collar I took it off the other day and you could tell she was stressed ! We don't use it very often bc she is a great dog ~ I wonder how many dog owners throw in the towel just because they don't know the trick ... Hope this helps you be able to walk before spring !! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I taught my guys to heel when they were about five months old, but there are definitely things you can do with a young puppy to begin teaching them about loose leash walking.  This is a trainer who has published a number of quick puppy training videos and I like her approach for pups.  There are about 30 videos shown on the side of this page, but I think this one can show what is possible even for puppies on a leash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD-m5-4_oXU&list=UUMegZvuzHVC60H...

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

When we are out and about, Enzo uses an Easy Walk harness. When we are in the yard training , etc, we have a prong collar. She does wonderfully, until we meet up with another dog, and then she just wants to play. Time and patience, time and patience, time.....

[Julie and Max]

Max is almost six months old and he walks beautifully on a leash. I have put in a lot of time and I started from the day he came home. How I did it (and this may be annoying to some) but it worked for me, if he pulls I do one of two things, I stop completely and just stand there until he lets slack on the leash. When he does this I reward with either a treat, or good boy, rub on the head. If he is just over excited and will not stop pulling even when I stop (usually if he sees a dog or kids) I instantly turn around sharply and start walking the other way. I have also taught him to sit when I stop. This took a lot of work, a lot of stopping and turning around, some days I swear we moved the same three feet 100 times, but he is a lovely walker now 90% of the time. I also found it helpful in the beginning if he could have some run time first, to drain some of his puppy energy so he was more calm when we were practicing. At first I used  30ft lead for the run time, because I can't run. I would let him (and still let him but off leash now as his recall is great) run for about 15 to 20 minutes and then it was walk practice time. When I expect him to walk nice, I keep him very close to my side. In the beginning I would call his name, and when he would look at me I would click with my clicker and treat him for paying attention to me. I no longer have to do that, he looks up at me all the time on his own. I think there are lots of ways to train them, but I really like the stop and turn around method. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Julie, you did it exactly right, and the payoff is that you can take an enjoyable walk with a six month old puppy. I know people who can't do that with their 6 year old dogs, lol. Good for you!  

[John Wang]

Currently our puppy is in a harness when we go out for walks. He used to pull (away, not ahead) but each night he resists less and less, especially now that I don't look back at him or stop when he decides to stop. I hold the leash directly behind me with enough play to let the leash hang loose while he's 3 feet or so behind me. If he stops or moves to the side, I can detect the leash growing taut- I give a slight jerk to get his attention again (without stopping or looking back) and he'll resume his attention on me. If he follows without stopping or getting distracted, I'll randomly turn and pet him (while still walking) or give him a treat (I'll stop for that). I'll also randomly stop and make sure he stops with me instead of continues walking. Posture may be important as well (or so they say). I walk with a straight back, and take very measured steps. I also think very dominant thoughts (I will go there because I want to and I can!) but some part of me thinks that's just silly.

Whether or not it's really helping or he's just naturally starting to follow me, he walks MUCH better than he used to when we first started walking (he would stop and sniff everything, try to get bark and leaves, run ahead, pull back, and we would let him)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Why is the puppy behind you rather than beside you? 

[John Wang]

Hi Karen,

I was told by our trainer that the puppy could either walk behind or beside us. I would eventually like him to walk beside us, however he would keep trying to rush ahead as though he were the leader, or when my fiancee was taking him out he would rush in front of her and trip her. We were then suggested to first start walking him behind us, and as he stops trying to push/pull/deviate, slowly let him start walking to our sides again.

If you have any suggestions on what to do please do let me know!