How to stop my dog pulling
Discussion
Does anyone know what to do to stop a dog pulling on his lead?
He is a 3 yr old male Lab (a rescue dog that we have had 6 months) he walks great when there are no other dogs about but as soon as he sees another dog he pulls on the lead. He is quite strong and could pull me over on muddy ground. I pull him back and he sits down but a soon as i let him go he pulls again.
He wears a harness and we use an extend-able lead.
Any suggestions please.
He is a 3 yr old male Lab (a rescue dog that we have had 6 months) he walks great when there are no other dogs about but as soon as he sees another dog he pulls on the lead. He is quite strong and could pull me over on muddy ground. I pull him back and he sits down but a soon as i let him go he pulls again.
He wears a harness and we use an extend-able lead.
Any suggestions please.
Had the same problem with my collie. A good sharp yank on the lead and short "AH!!" let's them know they're doing wrong. Make sure you give praise after you've passed the problem.
What you can also do is let them know that you're displeased before the incident. Saying their name in a deep slow voice enforces the fact that you're watching them.
Best of luck
What you can also do is let them know that you're displeased before the incident. Saying their name in a deep slow voice enforces the fact that you're watching them.
Best of luck
We had this problem with ours, and 'solved' it by using a different type of harness. I'm afraid I can't remember what it's called, but it has two clips (one on the chest and one on the back) and you put a double ended lead on it. You then hold the front one tighter and only use the back one if you need to control the dog. Autumn used to be a nightmare for pulling, but now only pulls rarely (eg if she's somewhere new and is desperate to sniff everything!)
Get rid if the extendible lead and harness and put him on a "normal" short lead.
Hold the lead in both hands Left hand further down if he is on your left, and visa versa if he is on your right. With the hand that is closest to him hold the lead so he is walking next to you, if he pulls say "no" sharply (not shouting) and stop walking, make him sit, when he is sat and has stayed still for a moment, continue to walk, keep doing this, but beware that at his age it can and will take a lot of time.
good luck
Hold the lead in both hands Left hand further down if he is on your left, and visa versa if he is on your right. With the hand that is closest to him hold the lead so he is walking next to you, if he pulls say "no" sharply (not shouting) and stop walking, make him sit, when he is sat and has stayed still for a moment, continue to walk, keep doing this, but beware that at his age it can and will take a lot of time.
good luck
All my dogs a taught to walk on a slip lead. As per the previous post when he pulls apply slight pressure an stop walking, when he relaxes move on again. Hold the lead on in both hands across you and have his front legs level with you.
Pet hate is those long retractable leads, they scream I have a dog that won't recall or walk to heel.
Pet hate is those long retractable leads, they scream I have a dog that won't recall or walk to heel.
boy said: All my dogs a taught to walk on a slip lead. As per the previous post when he pulls apply slight pressure an stop walking, when he relaxes move on again. Hold the lead on in both hands across you and have his front legs level with you.
Pet hate is those long retractable leads, they scream I have a dog that won't recall or walk to heel.
My pet hate is smug dog owners who think that just because they can let their dog off the lead and have it recall means that anyone who cant has an undisciplined dog..Pet hate is those long retractable leads, they scream I have a dog that won't recall or walk to heel.
My dog has a retractable lead and will walk to heel, she knows that when she hears it un-click she can run free and at the slightest tug she will heel! I wont let her off because she has had three bad run ins with other dogs, mainly because of owners who let dogs that wont recall off the lead!
Back on topic, i am in favor of the stop when the pulling starts with a command of choice (such as heel or something else), and don't move until it stops but ensure there is praise for moving off again.
We use a Dogmatic, www.dogmatic.org.uk on our Great Dane.
It works on the same principle as a Halti, which we also tried, but does not ride up
the muzzle and irritate the dogs eyes.
It works on the same principle as a Halti, which we also tried, but does not ride up
the muzzle and irritate the dogs eyes.
Given that you say your dog pulls on the lead specifically toward other dogs, I personally wouldn't use the halti collar. They work by transferring the forward movement of pulling into a downward movement of the nose toward the chest - if your dog is pulling in an over-excited manner (i.e when it sees other dogs), it might be a bit risky.
You could approach this problem in a few ways. One way is distraction. When he pulls toward another dog, simply change his line of sight from the other dog (e.g. turn him slightly, or go the whole hog and turn 180 degrees!). Then, just distract him. Whip out a morsel of his favourite food, and make him sit. Make him give you "5"... whatever. Just take his attention off the dog, and transfer it on to you.
Or could you find a command for what you want him to do - a few examples:
You could approach this problem in a few ways. One way is distraction. When he pulls toward another dog, simply change his line of sight from the other dog (e.g. turn him slightly, or go the whole hog and turn 180 degrees!). Then, just distract him. Whip out a morsel of his favourite food, and make him sit. Make him give you "5"... whatever. Just take his attention off the dog, and transfer it on to you.
Or could you find a command for what you want him to do - a few examples:
- "leave" (as in, specifically "leave the dog alone") - behaviour for this might be achieved by simply turning and walking the other direction;
- "watch" (as in, give *me* your attention, right now) - whip out a morsel of incredibly smelly smoked ham, wave it in front of his nose, then hold it on the end of your nose, so that he makes eye contact with you;
- "heel" (as in, get back into a position tenable for me as well as you, you dozy lump) - his nose to the back of your knee, rewarded with a tasty morsel, etc.
Changedmyname said:
podwin said:
Halti sorted it for us: http://www.halti.co.uk/
Yes a lot of dog owners swear by these.People confuse it with a muzzle though which is disappointing.
geeks said:
boy said: All my dogs a taught to walk on a slip lead. As per the previous post when he pulls apply slight pressure an stop walking, when he relaxes move on again. Hold the lead on in both hands across you and have his front legs level with you.
Pet hate is those long retractable leads, they scream I have a dog that won't recall or walk to heel.
My pet hate is smug dog owners who think that just because they can let their dog off the lead and have it recall means that anyone who cant has an undisciplined dog..Pet hate is those long retractable leads, they scream I have a dog that won't recall or walk to heel.
My dog has a retractable lead and will walk to heel, she knows that when she hears it un-click she can run free and at the slightest tug she will heel! I wont let her off because she has had three bad run ins with other dogs, mainly because of owners who let dogs that wont recall off the lead!
Back on topic, i am in favor of the stop when the pulling starts with a command of choice (such as heel or something else), and don't move until it stops but ensure there is praise for moving off again.
How does keeping your dog on the lead stop it from having a run in with another dog? Surely it's as easy to recall it when you see another person with a dog.
Jasandjules said:
Don't pull him back. Stop. Wait for him to stop pulling, then walk. As soon as he pulls, stop. It will take time but he will learn that you don't move forwards until he is not pulling.
Or even turn around and walk in the other direction - you do feel a bit self-conscious though.As with any training, you need to be consistent, so he can never be allowed to pull - it always needs to be dealt with regardless of who is walking him.
+1 for the Halti too - works a treat in conjunction with other training.
Thank you once again to the piston head collective - the source of knowledge on all subjects.
Some very helpful ideas that I will try.
Never thought about distracting him, and the chance of a treat, especially for a lab, maybe that will work. Albeit I am not sure that food would distract me
Some very helpful ideas that I will try.
Never thought about distracting him, and the chance of a treat, especially for a lab, maybe that will work. Albeit I am not sure that food would distract me
podwin said:
Halti sorted it for us: http://www.halti.co.uk/
Definitely - or the Gentle Leader, which we use. When we got our GSD from a rescue, she pulled like crazy, on a standard collar and lead. She was better with a harness but as our (police) trainer pointed out, you've no control of the head when using a harness.Your dog will hate the head collar for the first 5 or 10 minutes but that's all it took for our dog to accept it. Another trainer tip - ALWAYS use it, never think "I'll just nip out on the normal lead" as the dog needs to accept that this is a normal and consistent thing which happens when going for a walk.
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