Question about leash training

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

I have been working with Gracie to walk and not pull on her leash. We are doing well when in training mode. However, for the other 95% of the time when she's on the leash, she pulls and can even pull me out the door. I make her sit and wait before going out, but as soon as she jumps out the door she's in pull mode.

I have to have her on a leash when she goes potty because we are in the country and it's open fields all around us. I do have a longer lead that we are using for training and play time. Should I just use this lead for potty breaks? I just don't want her to hurt her neck (she's very strong for a 14 week old pup!)

When I've done a search (via google or whatever), I only get leash training queries. Nothing regarding what to do when you aren't in training mode.

Thanks!

[Missy]

Get a harness.  And you have to be a real stickler on not allowing pup to pull. (play or training time)  I think the harness works great, cause you can give it a quick pull, with command word and the pup feels it in the chest. 

if Gracie is 'allowed' to pull 95% of the time....then this will be her habit in my opinion.

I used the harness to work with command words.  This is a constant struggle in the beginning, but consistency will yield success! You can do this!!! small steps

best of luck!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thanks Missy. It has been ordered. I don't allow her to pull, but even if I stand still she pulls hard and that's why I have a fear of hurting her neck or I should say of her hurting herself. She pulls even harder to get away from me when it is time to poo. ;)
She doesn't give up on the pulling as easily as all the training videos I've watched has said they would or as easily as all the books I've read (blogs, etc.).

[Missy]

Stay consistant, it WILL get better.  I was in tears the first 3 months, frustrated that it wasn't happening as the books state.  Breathe, take a step back.  Try a different approach. Books and such are great learning tools, but only you can interpret your dogs personality.  Just like kids handle discipline differently, so will the dogs in my opinion.  ( I only have one dog, so not a professional)

I spent a lot of time outside those first 6 months.  The lessons begin inside, getting harnessed, sitting and waiting for me to go outside before the pup.  IF he failed, I would take him back inside and start over.  If he pulled on leash even during potty time, there was correction and then we moved forward with our sniffing. Sometimes our potty breaks would take 30 minutes because of the time it took of correcting of behavior. Let me tell you, I spent more time outside than inside those first few months.  These dogs are SMART, so she will learn fast.  And because these dogs are SMART, they will also test boundaries.

hang in there, the training takes TIME, but in the end it is so worth it.  The more consistant you are now, the faster she will understand YOU are in charge ALL the time!!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thanks. I am consistent as far as where we are in her training. I do make her sit and we are working on wait. However, sometimes it's not possible. I miscalculated her age. She is only 13 weeks just today. Anyway, last night after a 2 hour nap she woke up and I didn't rush to take her out because she was whining, etc. I misunderstood her whine (because it was late in the evening) and apparently her bladder was full as she tinkled a bit in the crate waiting for me to open it. She rushed to the door and as she got there sat and tinkled some more. I was hurrying with the door and then out to the garage side door - she tinkled a puddle! Then outside she peed the rest. So, you see my dilemma is a bit more complicated. I guess. But, definitely I am adding more for her to do and increasing expectations as she ages.

[Missy]

yes I see!! You've got this!!  It will all come together.  She is young..13 weeks.   It does seem to take them some time to learn 'have to go potty' before it is coming out!   Sometimes it just 'hits' them, and there is no training time.  I have picked up my dog and carried outside many a time as we were learning his potty habits.  Don't worry...she will grow and I am sure she already understands what she is suppose to do, just learning her own body signals too!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would use one type of collar and lead for potty breaks.  I would use a different type collar for training and walks.  She needs to learn the difference.  On potty walks, she can sniff around and you pretty much follow her, but on walks, you are in charge.  From the other answers, perhaps I didn't interpret your question correctly.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Nancy, I am getting her an ez walk harness and we will use that for walks. It is hard to type your thoughts out so that they are clear - we should just start doodle clubs in our area so that we can have open conversations. Lol
Thank you for the suggestions.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I guess I have kind of a different view of this.  I live in a condo so I've always had to take my guys on leash for every walk...potty or otherwise.  I really don't think my two were capable of differentiating between the two kinds of walks.  So EVERY WALK WAS A TRAINING WALK.  That was my basic premise and so there were always "rules".  It started from the beginning....from leashing them up.  I didn't allow excitement, because that would start them off in the wrong state of mind.  It was all very calm.  They had to wait until I went out the door first and gave the "okay".  If they got excited or tried to dart ahead I would correct verbally and we'd go in and start over.  It takes tons of patience, but if you're consistent they do "get it".  My guys are always on either a slip lead or a Gentle Leader for their walks...all walks.  I really don't think the collar matters much, it's more about the expectation.  My little guy, Guinness, is the excited one and so he still needs reminders about not getting ahead of me because that always leads to pulling.  My rule is "we don't move forward until everyone is calm and walking by my side"....and I stick to that.  I will either stop and wait or turn around go back a few steps and begin again.  They hate that because for them it's all about moving forward. I usually have two of them together with one on each side, so when one of them decides to get ahead the other one has to stop.  When I decide it's time I tell them "you're free" and if they're on the long leash I let them move away from me to sniff.  They do this when I say it's okay....otherwise I don't let them stop to sniff.  So I guess it's all about what you want your walks to be.  Consistency is the key and it takes lots of reinforcement of the "rules", but they will learn it and IMO it just makes life much easier when you don't have a fenced yard.  My challenge always was with Murph when he saw some other dogs.....we still deal with that from time to time.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

With my other dogs, they eventually were allowed out w/o a leash. But, again I didn't get them as new pups so my experience has been a lot different. With that being said - I don't think we ever polished the come command, because Barkley does not come right away and we have done a lot of dumb things as far as his training is concerned. Like going after him when he doesn't come, etc. So, you see I want this dog to do better and be better trained. Lol
Plus, as smart as she is now I'm trying to keep on top of things.
So, I guess part of my problem from what I'm reading with the suggestions is that I'm expecting too much (due to age) and not giving her the tools she needs so that she doesn't pull me out the door to go potty. I am more concerned at the moment due to all of the snow that has turned to an icy mess right outside the door and in her potty area.
Thanks for your reply and the suggestions!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Since your guys are always on a leash, Jane, I can certainly see why all walks are pretty much the same. Plus you are my training hero, and I know your dogs are beautifully trained.  With my guys, we only leash potty walk when we are camping. We used a different type collar for training, and Ned and Clancy know exactly what that collar means, especially Ned, who is usually has a flat collar. Gordie, on the other hand . . . .  he don't know nuttin' :-}

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

LOL....I'm not sure I should be a "training hero"...it took me several years with Murph.  If I only had a fenced yard it wouldn't be so important that they walk well.  Now with ice everywhere if they wern't good on leash it would be a disaster because I'm walking both of them several times a day.  Gordie makes me smile.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Luckily for Gordie, he makes us smile too. :-}