How to stop the dog pulling me!

BeenieCat

hi leekat thaks for your input. Like yours she likes to spring around fields and she's generally quite good and comes back for the whistle, it still needs fine tuning though but i'm not worried i'm pretty new at it too and she's still fairly young.

It's the walking to the fields that's the problem, and i don't keep her on the lead any longer than she has to be, do you think i should keep her on lead and only reward her with free run if she walks well? Not sure she'd see the connection between them but like i said i'm new to it all

bettyboop61

Hi All,

Re: Dog pulling and barking when I get the leads out for walkies

I am pleased to say that I have solved this problem in the space of 2 hrs, using an empty small water bottle with dried pasta in.

Step 1. got the lead down, dog did the usual thing barking like mad and jumping up and down .... I sharply shook the bottle and my dog stopped barking and sat down immediatly, she was still whining so shook the bottle and said no loudly, she went quiet.

Step 2: I then proceded to put the lead on, she immediatly pulled, so I shook the bottle and said no firmly and she stopped pulling.

step 3. I then walked up and down the garden a few times with her on the lead, every time she pulled I shook the bottle and said no and she sat down and waited, without being told.

Step 4. I opened the back gate and walked towards it, she went to pull so I shook the bottle and said no and she stopped.

Later that evening I got the lead down and there was no barking and jumping, I took her for a walk round the block with the bottle in hand, and I have to say it was the most enjoyable walk I have had with my dog since before she started this behaviour.

Obviously I rewarded her when she was good etc .... I can't believe how quickly this worked, although she is a sprocker.... cocker/springer spaniel, and I guess she has more springer in her than cocker, she is a very intelligent dog.

So all those out there who are struggling with their dogs re walking etc ... don't give up ... it can be done

bettyboo

tandraig

Haltis are fantastic! they are not cruel - they were developed by a dog psychologist a very famous one. I had a springer spaniel who was a total idiot on the lead. she would dart from one side to other get tangled in pushchair or legs. I bought a Halti when they first came out and it was the answer to a prayer. I put it on her - she objected at first as not used to anything around her mouth - but i bribed her with treats until we got onto pavement. oh boy - my neighbours must have been amused. the silly !!!!! whipped round and round with me standing there (trying not to laugh). when she settled down we set off. and she was totally gobsmacked to find that I was in control. she shook her head to try to get it off and I waited patiently then set off again. within half an hour she was walking beside me!!!!!! at no time was she hurt! its the same principle as a head halter on horses - and my husband used to keep horses and ponies so when he heard of Halti he said I should try it as I had refused to take meggy for walks as she pulled and messed about so much and I am disabled with back probs. honestly - I used to love taking her for walks after and it helped so much my own back probs.

jenhug

I use the dogmatic head collar on my Mastiff, I never used one until recently when I became disabled and lost my confidence in walking him. It gave me back my confidence and he is a happy boy on it! He weighs 80kg and now my 8 year old can walk him (not alone I should add!)