Walking dog question

[Jenny & Henry]

What did you do when your dog would pull on the leash while walking?  I don't want to resort to any other colors yet and am hoping to really work with him.  Sometimes he's perfect and others he's pulling.  I think it goes with the mood of my daughters.  If they are annoyed they have to go on a walk with us, he trots along at their pace.  If they are excited and running, or on their scooters, he's all excited and pulling. 

 

Just wondering what the one thing you do when the pulling starts?  I have been pulling him to the side, getting him back in heel and making him sit and startingover.  It is helping but I just didn't know if this was helpful.

 

 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

we tried so many things with Cooper, turning round and walking the other way, stopping.... I refused to use even a training collar, let alone a choke chain or prong collar, though for some dogs thats all the works. A work colleague lent me her Easy Walk harness and Cooper walks beautifully in it (results were instant, though she still pulls a little when really excited). Plus i like how the leash attaches at the front, rather than the back like most collars, as she can then also wear her rain coat or back pack.

 

http://www.premier.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/collars/easywal...

[Jenny & Henry]

I do like this collar better then the ones that wrap around their mouth.  I was hoping if I kept up with walking and taring I wouldn't have to go there, but I do like this collar if it comes to it.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

You would be suprised at the difference, I know it's not the proper way to train but you can work her with both maybe the regular collar when you walk alone?

[Michael Gurley]

I use the Easy Walk harness on Sunny. Since it attaches in the front, when Sunny pulls a little bit, she turns herself around and gets confused, which stops the pulling immediately. Harnesses that attach in the back simply give them more strength to pull since the pressure is on their chests instead of on their necks. I've seen many dogs with back-attaching harnesses who just put all their weight into pulling, sometimes so hard that they lift their front feet off the ground while still pulling hard!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Chloe would not fit in any of these-I had a small then medium then even ordered the (nonreturnable) reflective one on ebay which is called a tweener size-she must have the wrong shape.

 

When you find out the real answer Jenny please let us know-it's been 3 & 4 years, WTD??

[Adina P]

I start training my dogs at about 5-6 months and when we start training that's the ONLY kind of 'walks' they get.  On our training outings I don't allow pulling in the first place and make corrections before the dog is far enough from me to be able to pull.  It all starts with attention training so they are motivated to stay somewhat near me and moves on to training a formal 'heel'.  When I can walk them on a long leash and they don't go more than 2 feet from me no matter where I go and then can HEEL officially...then I might go on casual walks.  But not before then.  That's what I do =)

[Jenny & Henry]

Thank you Adina.  I am doing the attention (watch) and heel work in the yard, but I do like taking him for walks, where I keep it short around my block and try to work on it.  Maybe I am jumping ahead to far.  He is getting much better, but when he pulls it sucks.  I do keep him right at my side, I don't let him out on the leash when we walk around our block.

 

So, when the dog would pull, what correction would you give?  A stop/sit? Then start again?

 

 

[Adina P]

Jenny we follow a very strict, step-by-step program that really can't be summarized in a quick post. The closest thing you'd find that is reflects what we do is the David Dikeman Command Performance video series (VHS)--I have written a review of it in the Reviews section if this site..

But no I don't stop as a correction. Stopping to sit is not much of a deterrent in my opinion. A dog should, with training, always sit when told to sit...but sitting on command is hardly a negative consequence. It's just obedience. In my opinion if being told to sit was an undesired consequence it would make dogs quit doing a lot of things that they do prior to being asked to sit...and that's not the case. Also the dog never GETS to pull with the training we do...the correction comes before they can get to the pulling part.

[Jenny & Henry]

Thanks for the info.

[Jenny & Henry]

The DVD set is $60 dollars!  Geez!

 

[Adina P]

We have the $15 VHS videos :) But for us $200 would have been worth it because I've never had to sign up for a single obedience class with any of my 3 dogs. Now, I have still needed extra help from trainers and I've gotten lots via email and just last weekend I made a trip to see relatives and meet with a trainer...but we are long past pulling and just want sharper obedience and to hone my skills. I know a couple people on here who have the DVDs that might be willing to let you borrow them. No sense in buying them until you have seen them and decide it is what you want to do--it is not for everyone and you can't necessarily do this with kids in tow. It is pretty strict and methodical.

[Jenny & Henry]

Thanks so much Adina, if anyone would be willing to lend DVD's I'd surely appreciate it.  I really appreciate your input.