Pulling When Walking

[Training - Experiences, Challenges, and Mindsets]

My puppy is such a puller on walks! We have been working really hard on "heel", but he just still loves to pull. I know it's a work in progress...but I can't wait for the day when he can walk nicely next to me. We have done one training class and PetSmart and we start another class next week at a local obedience club. I know he will get better as we keep working, but I'm wondering if anyone has used the gentle leader? We have tried a harness, and he still pulls. I'm thinking of getting a gentle leader to try it out..but wondering if anyone has feedback before I purchase it? Thanks in advance!!

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

I didn't like the idea of the Gentle Leader as it ' Changes their personality'.

We use the Sensation Harness on a long walk. Although Chester mostly walks loose leash without it.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It will be interesting to see with the trainer suggests at your obedience class.  Usually individual trainers have a preference about this since often the tool corresponds with the training methodology.  You may want to wait for that class before moving to another tool for walking.  I used a Gentle Leader for a while after my younger Doodle was heel trained.  I don't think it's a great training tool, but once he knew how to heel, I found it to work fine and for him it had a calming influence. There are lots of dogs that have not had a such good reaction to the Gentle Leader....some never get used to having it on their face.  I have since moved away from the Gentle Leader because he has developed other issues.  I'll be interested to see what your trainer suggests....please keep us posted.

[Adina P]

The Gentle Leader is a way to keep the dog from pulling WHILE you train it otherwise, but like Jane said, your trainer may have a preference and recommendations. 

Pulling is a dog's way of getting to where he/she wants to go.  They don't consider it pulling you..or at least they don't view it as a problem.  The way to 'cure' pulling is to train heel or some form of heel.  But you can't just go on a real walk right away.  It takes a lot of work on yours and the dog's part to learn heel and to make the command into something the dog will reliably obey.  Training ANY command is more than just teaching the dog what it means to heel. It involves training the dog to CHOOSE to obey the command no matter what else it would rather do.  That's the hard part. Your dog may have a perfect understanding of heel position but until and unless you gradually practice that under more and more difficult distractions your dog won't ever heel for more than a few steps at a time in real life.  Your class, will, hopefully teach YOU how to train your dog to walk nicely by your side regardless of other dogs, squirrels, people walking near.

[Moe]

My dog knows how to heal perfectly, in training class. In the real world she chooses not to. It takes so much practice.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

A collar - corrective ('choke chain') or prong  can help you with control.  Our Springer doesn't pull continuously but jerks ahead and then 'remembers' where he should be and it has not been fun to walk him.  We used a gentle leader collar on him for a long time - he hates it and has never gotten used to it, but it does help the walk.  I see many people walking their dogs with it with the dogs not minding the collar.  We recently got a prong collar for him and it has helped tremendously. 

[Cathy w/Shiloh~Cody]

I used the Gentle leader for several months. It does let you walk the dog without being pulled-that being said, it did not train the dog not to pull. I took him to obedience training and they used the clicker reward system, meaning you would click when the dog was beside you, and then reward with a treat- which is suppose to let the dog know that is where you want him to walk. My dog still is not consistent and I currently use a prong collar. He walks loose leash most of the time, but if something like a squirrel teases him and takes off I feel better knowing I will not be pulled over. My dog did hate the Gentle leader being put on his face-and he does not seem to mind the prong collar. You will also run into people who think your dog is mean when they see the Gentle Leader and that he will bite. They do not understand what it is.. good luck.

[Karen Kramer]

We also use a prong collar...which I was not a fan of at first, but we have notice a tremendous difference.  Our Zoey (2 years) does not pull at all with the prong collar on...in fact, it usually dangles loosely around her neck.  Tucker (8 months) still pulls occasionally, but just a quick little tug is enough to get him back in focus.  Now, even on a regular collar, Zoey doesn't fine, but it's nice to the the extra reinforcement when at the park.  I particularly like the prong collar better because if they pull, they don't cough like they do with a regular collar....and they really don't seem to mind the prong collar.  Hope you find something that works!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have used prong collars on both my dogs since they were old enough, they really need to be at least 4-6 months old I think. I have written many times how wonderful I think they are. Quick release prongs are great if you have trouble with the regualr ones and Leerburg.com has videos of how to use them.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

F.  couldn't find anyone making the quick release anymore.  Perhaps I have looked in the wrong places.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here is the page. Shannon apparently is no longer braiding regularly, but she still does collars. The kind I have are at the bottom.

http://www.leashesbydesign.com/ProngCollars/ProngCollars.html

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Does this keep the prongs from falling apart?  Gordie's did this once when I was taking it off - only once but.....

[F, Calla & Luca]

The more you open and close the collar by the prongs the more likely they are to open accidentally I think. But the side closure doesn't really prevent this from happening except in that way I think. If the collar is tight then the prongs shouldn't open and it is supposed to be high on the neck and have little slack. Leerburg recommends a backup collar hooked to the leash to prevent any failure but I don't do this. They no longer sell quick release collars but the kind I have is different. I do think a backup collar is a good idea.

http://leerburg.com/flix/videodesc.php?id=140

http://leerburg.com/flix/videodesc.php?id=748