how to train my dog to stop pulling on her leash

[Cathy McCann]

My almost 10 month golden is still pulling slightly on her leash. A few months  ago I switched from a collar to a harness because she would always pull. It is  much better with the harness, but there is always tension on the leash. If I  loosen the leash she keeps going ahead. I used to pull on the collar, say "no"  and pull her back to my heel. She would walk 2 steps beside me then pull ahead  again. I would like to teach her to heel, but I'm not sure how at this point. I  feel like I had been fighting with her through the fall and now I just accept  the way we are walking, though I don't like the constant tension. Her  shoulders/chest are at my heels. I try to keep the leash short. We did go to  puppy school, but I didn't feel like I got much out of it. At 10 months should  she be walking in a "heel" position or a loose leash? Any suggestions?

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[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I taught Cubbie "close" and as long as he was walking close to me and not pulling on the leash I would say "close" and give him a treat.  He eventually learned that walking close to me was a good place to be.  He also knows how to heel on command but I no longer have to give the close command and he walks nicely on leash.  Have you taken any obedience classes beyond puppy class?  A good basic obedience class should help you with this.

[Cathy McCann]

It was an obedience class, sorry not puppy class that we went to. I should have quit in the beginning as I wasn't fussy on the instructor. I didn't feel I or Josie was getting much out of it. Then after a couple of classes I just continued so it wouldn't be a complete waste of money. I used to keep her close, and praise when she was doing good, then as soon as I said "good dog" she would take off ahead again. I have thought about enrolling for some personal classes one on one to work on a few things.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Maybe a couple of one-on-one sessions where a trainer works with you both on training heel would be a good idea.  We found our trainer through our Vet, and you should also "interview" him/her, even if it's just over the phone to determine if you are in agreement with the basic method and style. 

[Adina P]

Close or far if there is tension/tightness in the leash, she isn't learning what you want. It isn't so much an age as training.

[Carolyn Shusterman]

I trained all our Shelties and took them through obedience trails, winning first place while getting them their CD degrees.  Even this did not prepare me for my scent driven chocolate doodle.  I tried everything I would tell my students, to get Hershey to walk at my side with her chest even to my chin bone.  What finally worked was putting a GENTLE LEADER headcollar on her.  She didn't like the muzzle/head strap at first and it took a bit of gentle coaching.  Now I walk slow, she walks slow keeping pace with me at my side.  She doesn't get to smell trees, hydrants and such until I tell her okay.  The Gentle leader headcollar and instruction DVD is on sale in the DrsFosterSmith.com catalog for $9.59 until 4/30/13. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think a Gentle Leader can work really well for some dogs.  I have one who responds to the GL and one who just fights it the whole time, but I agree it can be a great tool for teaching "heel".

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Shaggy turned a year old almost a month ago and we still have to do "back aways" over and over but he is getting it. When his nose starts going past me or he puts tension on the leash I stop and walk backwards. There is no popping or jerking and no verbal correction which is hard for me. His reward is forward motion and a good boy when he walks properly. He is getting it finally just like the trainer promised=;)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We've done something similar, except I actually quickly turn around and walk in the opposite direction for a few steps.  My guys know now there's no moving forward (which is what they are driven to do) if the leash isn't loose.  Now they are constantly aware of where they are in relation to my leg because they want to keep moving ahead.  I can actually watch them "check in"...slight turn of their head just to check proximity.