Help with dog pulling on leash!

[4tis]

I have a 5 month old lab/mix that I have been trying to train to walk nicely on a leash. The bigger she gets the harder it seems to be to hold her back. (even harder for the my kids). I was trying to teach her to heal with treats, but I got tired of taking cheese with me on every walk..LOL! Since I have seen many training aids that claim to get the dog to "stop pulling" right away, I thought that would be much easier. Does anyone have a favorite one that works?? Oh we have tried the choke chain, but I really don't want to ruin/hurt her neck. Any suggestions would be great! :hail:
Thanks in advance!!!

 

[CelticxConnections]

Have you tried stopping every time she pulls? It takes a bit for them to catch on but it does work.

I have never had to use a training aid for heeling so I won't be much help. Sorry.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

'Easier' isn't necessarily better..

After using a training tool.. you'd have to wean the dog off of it to have used it correctly.. which takes more work potentially than having taught walking properly in the first place.

Praise and treats might be a pain in the butt.. But a training tool isn't a perfect quick fix necessarily either.

 

[4tis]

Thanks

Have you tried stopping every time she pulls? It takes a bit for them to catch on but it does work.

I have never had to use a training aid for heeling so I won't be much help. Sorry.

I have tried to stop and also go the other way... guess I was hoping that there was an easier way. Thanks for your help.

 

[malmo]

Just takes time and consistency. Be patient. Over time you can take fewer treats with you... 5 months is still young, though, and you might have to continue to carry rewards with you so the pup knows what it's doing right or wrong.

It's a good time to get leash walking solid, though. The puppy will just continue getting bigger, and around 10 months will likely go through a rambunctious phase. The more you do now, the better. Don't expect perfection for a while though. It just takes time.

 

[Steponme]

The Halti headcollar!!!!! Works wonderful and it does not hurt them in any way. It is worn over their ears and around the muzzle. When they pull it turns their head and makes them stop. I have heard so many people rave about them so when I was in the situation of needing help I bought it and love it!!!!! I highly recommend it. I have 2 very active shepherds that I worked with and could not walk them without being drug down the street. I got the Halti and it was an instant fix. Plus they are very humane!

HALTI Headcollar http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/halti.php

Kind control
Stops pulling
Calms boisterous behaviour
Simplifies training
Corrects misbehaviours
Allows freedom to pant and yawn
On-off action to close biters jaws
Approved by vets and canine experts
Free 20 page training guide

 

[Mayasmydobe]

I have concerns about the halti.... couldnt it hurt the dogs neck if it were to lunge forward?

 

[Saintgirl]

The halti and other head collars can hurt the dogs neck if the dog has a chance to lunge. If you are determined to get a quick fix, the no pull harnesses that clip on to the lead on the front of the dogs chest work well and do not pose a risk for neck damage like the head halters or cause trachea damage like traditional collars worn around the neck. The best method however is training the dog not to pull. It does take time and patience, but in the end you will have a well trained dog who you have taken the time to work with as a reward!! Nothing better than that!

 

[Melissa_W]

Have you tried stopping every time she pulls? It takes a bit for them to catch on but it does work.

I have never had to use a training aid for heeling so I won't be much help. Sorry.

Yep, this method does eventually work, but you have to give it 2-3 weeks.

 

[Sher]

The halti and other head collars can hurt the dogs neck if the dog has a chance to lunge. If you are determined to get a quick fix, the no pull harnesses that clip on to the lead on the front of the dogs chest work well and do not pose a risk for neck damage like the head halters or cause trachea damage like traditional collars worn around the neck. The best method however is training the dog not to pull. It does take time and patience, but in the end you will have a well trained dog who you have taken the time to work with as a reward!! Nothing better than that!

I tried the Gentle Leader headcollar on my 10 lb yorkie mix, but just didn't feel right about using it on such a small dog, so I got the Gentle leader harness, but she has managed to get out of it twice... well, at least she has gotten one of her legs out. I keep adjusting it and I think I have it about as tight as I can get it. About half way through out walk she starts to do this cartwheel/somersault routine like Houdini getting out of a straitjacket and BOOM!.. she is out! It works great, though for pulling, but I just don't trust it anymore. She pulls like a freakin' sled dog for such a little dog. I also have tried stopping whenever she pulls, but I have to stop every foot, so not sure that is working...

Didn't mean to hijack your thread, 4tis, but we seem to have a similar problem...

 

[Cheetah]

I always just stopped and went the other way. If the dog was REALLY unattentive, I'd go in many directions till the dog started watching me. You just have to be consistent. You have to try one method for several weeks, and don't give up.

I don't think any fancy training equipment is really necessary for such a young dog, because if you become dependent on it, it can become a crutch for you in the future.

 

[MoonStr80]

First all I suggest you buying a 4-foot leash so you can keep the dog next to you. Always use two hands. Also I'd recommed bying a clicker & bring a handful of treats along with you. Since this is a puppy you want to make it fun

If you feel the pup is walking away, give a treat when she comes back & stops pulling, be sure to praise her for coming back on your left side. If she go in circles or go around your leg walk the other direction

 

[4tis]

Just takes time and consistency. Be patient. Over time you can take fewer treats with you... 5 months is still young, though, and you might have to continue to carry rewards with you so the pup knows what it's doing right or wrong.

It's a good time to get leash walking solid, though. The puppy will just continue getting bigger, and around 10 months will likely go through a rambunctious phase. The more you do now, the better. Don't expect perfection for a while though. It just takes time.

Funny because this morning I brought snacks with our walk to try again and she knew when I say "side" that she comes to my left and looks for the treat. She also remembers to sit when I stop and looks for a treat or I just praise her. I guess it also the young age and also keeping it up. But did you really say rambunctious phase... I thougt we were already there: ~

Thanks for the advice.

 

[4tis]

Thanks

Have you tried stopping every time she pulls? It takes a bit for them to catch on but it does work.

I have never had to use a training aid for heeling so I won't be much help. Sorry.

For some reason the stopping everytime only makes her more excited. She does sit and wait for me to walk again, but eager and ready to take off once I start off again. I have had luck with saying "side" just as I see that she takes off and giving her a treat when she returns to my side. But if I have no treats than it is a tug a war and she is so strong. I was hoping something else would work since I have seen training aids in stores. I'll keep up the basic training. Thanks for the help!

 

[4tis]

Thanks

The Halti headcollar!!!!! Works wonderful and it does not hurt them in any way. It is worn over their ears and around the muzzle. When they pull it turns their head and makes them stop. I have heard so many people rave about them so when I was in the situation of needing help I bought it and love it!!!!! I highly recommend it. I have 2 very active shepherds that I worked with and could not walk them without being drug down the street. I got the Halti and it was an instant fix. Plus they are very humane!

HALTI Headcollar http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/halti.php

Kind control
Stops pulling
Calms boisterous behaviour
Simplifies training
Corrects misbehaviours
Allows freedom to pant and yawn
On-off action to close biters jaws
Approved by vets and canine experts
Free 20 page training guide

Is the halti collar a pain to get on them? And another post said I would have to wean her off of it, what do you think, do you always use yours? I will check out the link. Thanks!

 

[ChrisM]

A correctly fitted prong collar will take care of your issue post haste. Your lab will run to the end of the leash and the prongs will pinch his neck. It will only take him once or twice and he will figure out that he needs to stay with in the area of the loose leash.

 

[frantichippie]

I've been having a similar problem with my lab mix pup. She was a stray and had a collar when she arrived here. The first time I hooked a leash up to her, I quickly realized that her throat had already been damaged and she chokes herself very easily, so I got one of those cheap harnesses from Wal-Mart which kept the pressure off her throat/neck when she pulled.

She was still dragging me around the yard, so I started looking online for methods to teach her not to pull so hard. Then I saw this harness that had a spot in the front, at the chest, where you hooked the leash up and if they pull very hard it causes their chest/body to turn towards the side and they stop pulling. Well, the harness I got from Wal-Mart has a circular metal piece where all the nylon pieces join together at the chest, so I started hooking her leash up to that and saw an immediate improvement! I can't see that it could cause her any harm either since there is no pressure anywhere except on her chest/body area.

I've also been stopping completely when she pulls and telling her 'no', then praising her when she's walking without pulling the leash completely tight. She's made a lot of improvements over the past couple of months and in fact I don't even bother with the harness anymore since she doesn't pull hard enough to choke herself anymore.

She still wants to pull, but she knows she's not supposed to. She's just more eager to get places than I am usually

 

[elegy]

A correctly fitted prong collar will take care of your issue post haste. Your lab will run to the end of the leash and the prongs will pinch his neck. It will only take him once or twice and he will figure out that he needs to stay with in the area of the loose leash.

this is a BABY. there is no need for physical punishment with a BABY.

i would use the treats but i'd stop asking for the position. when you see it happen, mark it (clicker, "good", whatever) and feed it. in order to get treats, *she* needs to make it happen on her own. you'll have to be really paying attention, especially at first, because it'll be a really quick moment you'll have to catch. and yes, you might have to do stuff to manufacture it at first- like turn around and go the other way so she starts out behind you and has to pass you to get back in front.

this is what i did with my mushroom dog who could pull my arm out of its socket even with a prong collar on. it worked better than anything else i've tried.

 

[ChrisM]

If you do not use the tool correctly then yes your dog could load the collar up and then just keep pulling, if you pop the collar like it is meant to be used then the dog will quickly learn how to stop pulling on a lead instead of the extended process that they have/currently working on. Yes the dog is only 5 months old but I would presume that it is around 40 pounds...thus alleviate your worries of it being a *BABY*?

 

[sisco16]

Okay people people im a little confused here all this talk of how gentle leaders can hurt the dogs trachea I dont think thats proven It actually helps to control my siberian husky on her walk and she used to lunge and pull very much. so on further note pinch and choke collars yes if they are used incorrectly can cause trachea damage. A good site for dog training info Is www.amazingdogtrainingman.com