Two weeks of leash training, and my doodette is still pulling...

[Sara & Trix]

I was so excited in early July when Trixi finally got her last shot! We had been leash training in the house and yard in anticipation of being able to start walking as soon as possible. I was also very aware that our first dozen walks would be challenging, even if she got the concept of heeling in puppy class, in the house and in the yard. It's been two weeks now (and over 30 short walks) and I every time she pulls, I stop, lead her back to the heel position, she sits, I praise and give a treat. Then, three steps later, she's pulling again. I've also tried holding a treat in my left hand while walking to guide her...but that usually only works for a couple steps before she lunges for the treat, or looses interest and runs head. Some days we don't even make it to the end of the block! So I have two questions....first, am I being too hopeful thinking that she should have gotten the concept by now (she's now 4 months old)? Second - does anyone have advice or person experiences they could share that could help me? I'm a first time dog owner, so I'm not sure if I'm missing something here. Thank you!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Here is the secret - it works in 5 minutes or less, I promise you.  You need a martingale collar with the chain.  As you walk, when your pup gets just a little ahead of your feet, you do a very quick "snap" motion.  This tightens up the collar in a micro second and then instantly it releases.  It doesn't hurt your pup in any way and because of the chain, the release is just as fast.  You only have to do this a time of two for the puppy to learn that THEY are causing their discomfort.  They will stop pulling.  For a wonderful video of this technique go to www.seaspray.shutterfly.com and go under the "more" heading to the training videos section - it is there.  Rooney came to me at 11.5 weeks able to heel because of this training.  I have a video of Rooney doing it as a very young puppy but I don't know how to put it in this message.

[Melody & Bruin]

Jane, where did you get the martigale collar?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

They are hard to find.  Go to www.dogcollarsboutique.com and search for a Martingale Dog Training Collar.  Make sure it has the chain.  Rooney came home with his first one and I just ordered a larger one for Stuart.  Dogs that can't walk on a leash have just never had proper training and as a puppy can be taught in 1 session. 

[Melody & Bruin]

I saw a couple on Amazon, but guess I will have to wait until I get my pup, as I am not sure what size to buy!  Thanks for sharing

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

http://www.thecozycritter.com  has really good Martingales with the chain.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Jane, I watched this and it's brilliant.  Thanks.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Walking without pulling is a tough lesson.  It most definitely takes more than two weeks.  You can expect to work constantly on it, get it pretty good, then in a few weeks or months have trouble again.  First of all do not expect to walk anywhere for awhile.  When Trixi gets ahead of you turn 180 degrees( half around that is going back where you came from).  Do not talk, just let her hit the end of the leash and then she will turn herself around just as she gets in the exact heel position, treat and say good girl.  Repeat, repeat repeat... Do not walk in straight lines turn very frequently - left if she is getting ahead and bump her with your knee gently, no talk if she backs up into the heel position - good girl.  Turn right when she begins to lag from being bumped and let her hit the end of the leash, when she is in the exact heel position -good girl.  Do not always treat - treat frequently but keep her guessing - treating should begin always and drop to a high random level then medium random etc.  This helps maintain attention.  It is also perfectly okay to use only praise and no treats.  Treating at the exact right time is trickier than praise at the exact right time.

 

Remember to keep it short and interesting for Trixi, not necessarily for you.  She is young and eager to see the world.  intersperse heeling with "sniffers"  5 minutes heel and 2 minutes "sniffers" Gradually increase the heel time.  Sniffers means Trixi gets to wander as she pleases with you keeping up so there is never any tension on the leash.

 

Interesting things to do: make circles, figure eights, spirals (both directions) and other designs in the street and around obstacles.  Walk close to a wall on your left so Trixie is in between the wall and you.  Find a playground and walk randomly around the equipment -in and out and under and over.  Walk on different surfaces and in different places.

 

Trixi does not have a clue what you want, but she does want to figure it out.  Help her by praising her with short but a distinct phrase "good"  "good girl" "excellent" reserved only for training. Timing is crucial.  Use the word exactly as the behavior occurs.  Try not to use this word randomly as a love word.  I use "excellent" because I am not apt to say it when I am just loving them up and it has a distinct sound.

 

Patience, practice, consistency, and timing, and  find a good beginner training class.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think this is awesome advice.  The only thing I would add to this is to walk her in several different environments (using this technique) and around lots of different distractions.

[Sara & Trix]

I have a nice quiet park down the street from my house - I will try this tomorrow!  She is actually graduating from level 1 puppy training tomorrow!  We are taking level two in September, when she is a little older and we've had the chance to practice what we learnt in level 1.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thanks so much for this, brilliant advice.  I am writing it all down to carry with me on my training lessons!

[Adina P]

You almost have to disconnect 'leash' and 'heel' training with going on a walk down a sidewalk in a straight line.  Heel training is about training a position relative to you.  So to get a good and reliable heel (assuming you're training 'heel' the command to mean a specific position relative to you) you can't really plan on walking 5 blocks. You want to plan to work on 'heel' however many steps that means.

 

On the other hand if you really just want to be able to go so many blocks on the sidewalk and have a somewhat normal walk, then you might do better with one of the management tools like a gentle leader, no-pull harness, or prong collar and just go and complete your walk and then separately work on 'heel'.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Rosey uses a Gentle Leader Head Collar, nothing else worked... but yes your doodette is still a bit young....takes tons of practice.  Good Luck!