Really Bad Leash Pulling

[Kerri]

Hi guys,

I have wrote about this before, and I tried all of the methods and tips I was given. Now.. she is pulling more than ever. She is getting much stronger now, and I really don't know what to do. She just doesn't seem to get it. Some of the methods I have tried are the stopping like a tree, changing direction with every pull (which looks ridiculous because as soon as I turn around, she is already pulling in that direction). I have also tried stopping when she pulls and getting her to come back to me and sit before we walk off again. I have also tried gently tugging the leash when she pulls and saying 'no pull'. She never stops pulling, which is one reason we decided around a month ago that we would leave out the leash walks and just take her to places where we can let her off leash.

Today I decided to take her on a leash walk as I was given advice on here that I should take her on leash walks to busy places so she gets used to being around loads of people. I am just in from a half hour leash walk with her, and the whole time I was dragged. My hands are burning from the leash constantly being pulled, I have burn marks!

I know this problem may also be down to me too. I tried to train her for a couple months and it got no where so that's when we decided to ditch the leash walks for now. I realise though that this is not ideal, as I need to get her out to the really busy places such as the town/city centre (especially so she gets used to the idea of not jumping on people - we are having problems with this also). That is why I am wondering if there is anything else I can try? I am thinking about trying the halti, so if anyone has any advice or experience with this I would love to hear from you.

Thanks in advance.

[Prestt_man]

we got our beagle a gentle leader.. worked wonders... he can still drink and open his mout but its stopped the pulling almost completely, although it tooks awhile for him to get used to =)

[Kerri]

(04-06-2011 06:32 AM)Prestt_man Wrote:  we got our beagle a gentle leader.. worked wonders... he can still drink and open his mout but its stopped the pulling almost completely, although it tooks awhile for him to get used to =)

Thanks for your advice. Is the gentle leader a harness or is the same as the halti (head collar)? Is your Daisy good at loose leash walking?

[Prestt_man]

Yea the gentle leader is a head collar... its good because it goes up around the back of where the skull is and doesnt put any pressure on the neck, but daisy... she has patches... she knows how to heel just chooses not to alot of the time, but if she know i have treats she spends most the walk right beside me waiting for one =)

[youngK9]

There is also a harness kind of like Prestt man said, but it hooks in the front so when the dog tries to pull it turn them towards you so they can't turn. I would continue the tree methond because when you take the harness off of her she's going to figure out that she can pull and nothing is going to happen. Athena was really really really bad at leash pulling.

[Kerri]

Prestt_man - Even the treats won't stop my Zara from pulling lol. That's good that you are not having too much trouble with Daisy though with the pulling.

youngK9 - This was one thing I was thinking about, whether she would just continue to pull once I decide to start walking her without the halti/gentle leader harness after her getting used to it. You say Athena WAS bad at pulling, was it the tree method that helped you? If so how long did it take before you seen dramatic improvement?

Herding Addict - Yes, I remember you mentioning this technique before, the problem was I couldn't get myself in front of her when I tried this. I don't know if it was too much slack in the lead, or if I was doing it completely wrong. If you could explain this step by step that would be great, or if there is a name for this method I will look it up. Thanks

[bcmama]

I find Haltis work wonders! I got one to help me control Enzo when we see another dog as he lunges at them, but it is much easier to control now with the Halti. Take the time to get him used to it so he isnt constantly trying to get it off all walk. Make it a positive experience. When using a halti you cant make an harsh correction ( a leash jerk ) as it could cause damage to their neck since you have such great control over that area of their body with the halti.

Around the house do some umbilical training( have the dog attach to the leash and have it around your waist ) and go about all of your daily routines such as laundry, cleaning...anything. The dog will learn to pay attention to you if he doesnt want to be stepped on ( dont go out of you way to step on him, but dont scoot around him, walk through him ). I have also used umbilical outside while walking him ( *not* with the halti though ) this way when he pulls, it is much harder for him to knock me off balance or pull me over. I would keep up with the direction changing, while on umbilical. Abruptly change direction even when he is not pulling, this will also teach him to watch you so he will know what direction you are going to turn next.

[goldcreek]

I'm a zero tolerance person too. Think about it. Every step you take forward while allowing her to pull is rewarding the pulling. She pulls, she gets to go where she wants! Simply refuse to follow her pull. Do not allow the leash to go tight. However you accomplish that is up to you, changing direction, stopping, silky leash, corrections, treats, etc.. A dog pulling is NOT an acceptable walk to me. I don't even want tension on the leash, I want the dog paying attention to where I am and adjusting. I want to eventually not need to rely on any leash at all.

"Here's something to think about...Your rugs and floors are not wall to wall in feces because it deeply matters to you that they not be, and so you were relentlessly diligent about preventing the dog from making "mistakes". EVEN when you were tired, even when the dog was "excited" or "distracted" or company was visiting or it was late or he saw a cat, etc. Pooping in the house just wasn't acceptable behavior on ANY day!!"
- Suzanne Clothier's hand out, "Pulling On Lead"

So should pulling on a leash...


I would much rather see you use collar corrections than continue to allow her to drag you around. The correction HA mentions works well too. Being effective is extremely important. Nagging the dog and getting no result is worse than worthless, it is detrimental to your training and relationship.

I've used gentle leader head collars in the past and they do give you some relief from a stubborn puller. But I don't think they really help teach the dog, I found I became reliant on it. Also, you need to keep the lead short, because if the dog hits the end of the leash with force it can really damage it's neck. You can also give no corrections on a head collar, you can only redirect the dog. No jerking on the dog's head and neck. I would use them more for a fearful reactive dog who needs direction than a dog who is simply pulling from enthusiasm and lack of training.

[youngK9]

I used the tree method and it took her awhile to pick up on it. But she finally got it, well(I know alot of people on here aren't going to like me for this) she was just horriable at the kennel club pulling and just wouldn't stop. I ended up getting a little prong collar, and put it on her. I DID NOT pop or correct her, I let her correct herself. I was not mean and it didn't hurt her. So then she figured out when she'd pull it would pinch and I'd say Pfui! (Pronunced like this--pfoo-ee. I use German and French commands and Pfui mean's no.) she she realized I didn't like this behavior and the pull would be followed by a pinch and a verbal correction. So I took her prong off and when she was going to pull I told her no and she didn't pull. It is not mean, It was the only other method that worked for her. I tried EVERYTHING! Before you have to use the prong, I'd suggest the front attachment harness. That may work for her.

[Tassle]

http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-29119-trix...-pull.aspx
I use these with a double ended lead attached to the collar as well.

Head collars can be useful - but be aware she will not like it. You should take time to desensitize her to wearing it before you place it on her.

I understand your frustration, but it is very easy to teach a dog to pull by allowing the walk to continue.

I would start practicing teaching her where you want her to be on your off lead walks. Teach her to follow your face or hand as she is walking. Once she is doing this nicely, introduce the lead, making sure you keep it as loose as possible (just for short periods while you are walking her in fields etc)

For her onlead walks, stick to the device, until she has learnt how to walk on lead on your 'other' walks.

[mcturtle]

I had a similar problem with Emmy. Initially I wanted to stick with the clicker training that works well with her inside the house. I tried the "be a tree" method etc etc. Nothing worked. Leash corrections did nothing.

The obedience trainer showed me how to do the Millan "bite". Emmy is much more aware of anything on her behind vs front quarters. By making the "shhht" noise with a bite or a tap on her butt with my other foot, she gets back to where she's supposed to be. It's not a hard correction, just a tap to get her focus. It works well because I can do the correction if she gets ahead of me. Now all I have to do on a normal walk is make the "shhht" noise and she gets out of her own head and back to me. She had to learn that getting ahead of me was not OK and there were consequences that she wouldn't like. When she is with me and walking nicely she gets lots of treats and praise.

I did find that the "be a tree" method works really well if there's something Emmy really really wants to get to. For her it's usually another dog. So we can practice that at the dog park. On a normal walk it doesn't have the much impact.

[Mandy89]

Gentle Leaders are awesome.. I another thing i like to do is stop walking when the dog pulls. While doing that i tell them no pull. They finally get the hint that if they pull were not going anywheres..

[domeend]

Have a look at this tut great work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgtqgiAK...ata_player

[Tassle]

I had a watch of the link -
The trouble IMO with the 'tree' method does not work that well as the dog has often been pulling (read lacking awareness) of the owner a few paces before it is employed.

Has anyone ever dona 'Join up' with their dogs - just loads of clicking for getting the dog to orient itself to you? That can be a fun game - no words - just clicking - it is a game we sometimes play in classes.

[mcturtle]

(04-08-2011 02:38 PM)Tassle Wrote:  I had a watch of the link -
The trouble IMO with the 'tree' method does not work that well as the dog has often been pulling (read lacking awareness) of the owner a few paces before it is employed.

Has anyone ever dona 'Join up' with their dogs - just loads of clicking for getting the dog to orient itself to you? That can be a fun game - no words - just clicking - it is a game we sometimes play in classes.

I think so, except we call it "watch me".