Need help with problem

[Gail and Bailey]

I am new to this group and I am hoping someone can help with my problem.  My sweet 9 month old doodle, Bailey is a great walking companion...until we come across other people or animals.  She pulls so hard on the leash she is up on her hind feet trying to get to the people or dogs.  This is not done with aggression but just wanting so badly to get to them to meet them and play.  She barks nonstop and seems to be frantic.  I have tried (with people I know) to just go to them and let her greet them and all is fine once she gets to them. We have even walked with a friend and her dog and all is well. But...when I do not know the folks or dog, I try pulling her back and correcting her verbally but she is absolutely uncontrolable and if I turn the other way and try to walk away with her, she is still jumping and barking and looking backwards to the people or dog until we get out of sight.  I have done some  training with her and she is very responsive and learns quickly...when it is just one on one.   I am signed up for a class here in town but it does not start till May 10th...meanwhile, I love to walk her several times a day but am always hoping we don't meet any other walkers. I am at my wits end and hoping someone can suggest something that I can do to stop this behavior.

[Shannon and Finn]

My GD is only 12 weeks so we are still working on the "loose leash" training but with my older dog we had the same issue when he was excited.  You may want to consider a gentle lead/head collar while she is still training, they are great training tools.  We used a prong choke collar with our 90 pound guy but should have tried the gentle lead when he was a puppy.  You can then give rewards every time you walk past other dogs or people and she doesn't pull or bark (which she probably won't with the gentle lead!)  It will probably be a lot less frustrating for both of you to go that route since you want to keep exercising her but it should be fun for everyone.

[BG and Gavin]

My trainer would say to do something unexpected like spead way up (run) or do a sharp turn the other way or start moving backwards to refocus his attention on you.  Move and then move again and be unpredictable.  She would say you should do this several times during the walk which will help keep your dog on his toes.

[The Pooky Professor]

I would definetly invest in a "No Pull" Tool. What works for 1 dog doesnt always work for another, try the Gentle Leader, EZ Walker Harness, and Prong  Collar. Be sure they are fit properly before you try them. Once you have control with the pulling then you can work on Greetings. 2 Things I like to practice are "Leave it" and Eye contact which Im sure youll learn in class. And remember at 9 mos everything is still new to her everyday! Good Luck, you'll work her through it....

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If you are signed up for a class, I would call the trainer as ask what type of training tool they recommend.  Usually trainers have preferences, and they will ask you to use that tool for your training in and out of class.  I think it will be helpful for you to be consistent in your approach...you don't want to start training Bailey to walk by your side only to have to change the technique when you start class.  Once you have that answer, please let us know.  Different Training Group members use different techniques, and I'm sure we can help you once we know which one you'll be following.  You are fortunate that the reactiveness is coming from Bailey's desire to play and meet other people and dogs.  That's not a difficult one to fix once you have a training program and lots of practice.  I've been training a Doodle who is reactive with other dogs on walks, but for him it's out of dominance....a much more difficult problem to solve.  Good luck and please let us know more about what your trainer says, and we'll try to give you more help until your class starts.

[Gail and Bailey]

Jane...I called the place where I will be taking Bailey for classes and they said they use "prong collars" for their training. I was told they use positive reinforcement but that they do not think other collars or harnesses work as well as a prong collar. I don't know how I feel about this.  I am trying to keep an open mind.  Bailey walks with me several times a day and because we do not have a fenced yard ... I like to let her sniff and enjoy the outdoors.  Part of our walks are "formal training" as I make her "heel" and "sit" and follow me.  But, because I feel she needs time to just be a dog I also let her go out on the retractable leash for a bit and roam the grass and sniff and enjoy.  Is this where I am making my mistake?  Do I need to make her be in "formal training mode" the entire time we are walking? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's fine to have informal times when you are out walking, you don't have to be in formal training mode all the time. BUT- you will look long and hard before you find any trainer or any authority on dogs, period, who thinks it is ever okay to use a retractable leash. Aside from the fact that they are dangerous (do an internet search on that, you will be amazed at how many serious injuries they have caused to both dogs and humans), a retractable leash gives all the control to the dog and you have none. Use a long line (20 foot leash) to give her time to just be a dog outdoors.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here are just two articles; there are hundreds more:

http://ocdogs.com/dangers-of-retractable-leashes/

http://www.dogchatforum.com/retracting-leads.htm

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, I lied. One more, from the training perspective:

http://oldtownalexandria.patch.com/articles/theres-one-kind-of-leas...

From this trainer's article:

From a trainer's perspective, it's a terrible leash. It encourages a dog to pull and relinquishes any and all control you may have of your dog - unless of course he is well-trained already.

When you use this leash, you are rewarding your dog for walking away from you.  This leash allows the handler to slip into patterns where they aren't actually paying attention to the dog. It gives an owner a false sense of security that the dog is on a leash and therefore nothing can happen to him.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I also use a prong collar for training....I really think you'll find that it works well and is actually very fair.  Here's how I would approach it until your class starts.  I would get a prong collar fitted and google prong collar training or look on YouTube.  There are tons of videos that will help you to learn how to use this tool.  Then I would use it for all walks...the retractable leash will only reinforce bad habits.  I would always have the first part of every walk as "work time".  I'd use a command like "heel" and correct if Bailey pulls ahead. If he's walking right by your side I'd keep some treats handy to reward while you're walking.  While he's in this command, I will have to consistently correct for pulling at the leash or he'll get confused.  For the second part of the walk, you can release him from his command with whatever word you use (for me it's "okay") and then allow him to smell the ground and walk in a more relaxed manner.  Your trainer will probably have a whole technique to teach you, but until then this should help and it will start to get Bailey ready for his formal leash training.  Keep us posted and good luck.

[Shannon and Finn]

I was nervous using a prong with our dog at first too, but since he was as big as me I needed to be sure I could handle him (he liked bikers)!  I tried it on myself before I used it on him and they really look worse then they are.  It is a gentle pinch to the skin and corrects the pulling quickly.  Also dogs have a lot of skin around their neck so it wouldn't hurt them.  The regular neck collar chokes them and puts dangerous pressure on their necks, the prong evenly distributes the pressure and doesn't "choke" them just pinches.  I haven't used a gentle lead yet, but since Finn is little I might try that with him first, but won't be afraid of the prong if I need it.

[Adina P]

You don't have to be in formal training mode all the time, but the 'just be a dog' time needs to have some sort of structure and off and on switch as well as not promote bad habits.  The problem with the retractable is that the only way to BE on it is to be in a pulling mode.  The retractable leash is always tight...it is just the way it works.  You can get the same effect without putting Bailey in a constant pulling mode simply by using a 20 foot leash. 

[Julia Bibbee]

You have a social butterfly like Finn.  Finn has gone after me and the dog walker if he can't socialize briefly with another dog.   He will pull on his leash, try to pull it apart and jump like a crazy dog.  I have him in doggie day care twice a week and my trainer showed me how to do the alpha roll properly if he will not listen to his commands.  He has gotten so much better.  Has become very focus.  Go luck with yours.