English Bull Terrier - help with pulling?

wilykit

Hi everyone,

I have an English Bull Terrier who is 2 years old and he is terrible when I take him for a walk!

I have had him for just over a year and he has never walked nicely on the lead.

My mum uses a halti for her Labrador and this stops him pulling, but obviously due to the shape of his head I cannot used one of these!

I am just wondering if anybody has used anything on an English Bull Terrier that has helped with pulling?

I have tried turning and walking back the opposite way when he pulls - but this doesn't work - it makes him pull more!!!

Thanks

elsien

Not sure why a halti wouldn't work for you - I have a halti which works for my EBT. I did have to get one of the padded ones though as her nose was a bit sensitive for the ordinary ones.
I have to say she dislikes it immensly and spent an inordinate amount of time rubbing her nose on the grass trying to get it off when we first got it, but it really helps. I tried harnesses and she just got all her weight behind it and could still pull me over but with the halti even when she completely loses the plot I'm still able to hold her. Wouldn't be without it.

wilykit

I didn't know if I would have to get a special one seen as their faces are a different shape to most other breeds?

elsien

The ordinary halti seems to work on mutt ok. She can get it off if she tries really hard, but she gets a biscuit as soon as it's on her face and then we go straight out. There's a strap that comes with it that attaches to the collar so if the dog does get the halti off (which was a bit traumatic the first time it happened!) he's not running around causing havoc.
I met a woman in the park the other day with an EBT who'd tried a halti and given up, not because of the shape of the face but because he kept having a strop and scratching his face trying to get it off. So you might need to prepared for a few doggy tantrums when you first try it.
The only thing I've ever had a problem with because of the shape of mutt's head is a muzzle - never managed to get one that fitted, and the manufacturers of the baskervilles said that was a head shape thing.
Good luck.

Edit - I think you'll need to try them for size first though - you might find the strap is a bit close to the eyes.

ali-t

M friend uses dogmatic headcollars on her bullies and the work a treat. The dogmatic ones you have to take nose and head measurements so they end up fitting really well. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/

wilykit

Thanks for your reply

I know what you mean about the tantrum - when I lived at home and I took my mum's Labrador out he used to try his hardest to get the halti off - he would rub his face on concrete or anything he could to try and get it off!

Bully is stubborn too so I know he would try his hardest to get it off if he didn't like it!!

At the moment he has a harness - but I know what you mean about getting their weight behind it - I think it makes it easier for him to pull! Half the time he walks on just his back legs as he is pulling so much!

He doesn't bother with other dogs which is a relief, he just darts if he sees a bottle as he loves carrying them!

I will look into it more when I get paid, as he really is a pain to walk at the moment!!

wilykit

Thanks Ali - I will also contact that company to enquire further

elsien

wilykit wrote: »

I will look into it more when I get paid, as he really is a pain to walk at the moment!!

You have my sympathy!
I remember the frustration of going to dog training classes, doing everything they said, and mutt being fine until she got nervous or scared at which point all the training shot out of the window and she didn't take in a word I said. I might as well not have been there.
The theory of using the halti as a temporary measure while you get the dog trained is a lovely idea, meanwhile back in the real world.........

ali-t

They are really good at recommending the right one if you have your dogs measurments and really nice on the phone if you have any queries.

wilykit

elsien wrote: »

You have my sympathy!
I remember the frustration of going to dog training classes, doing everything they said, and mutt being fine until she got nervous or scared at which point all the training shot out of the window and she didn't take in a word I said. I might as well not have been there.
The theory of using the halti as a temporary measure while you get the dog trained is a lovely idea, meanwhile back in the real world.........

I did take Bully and my American Bulldog to dog training classes - but they got thrown out!!!!

Sadly, I am rehoming my Bulldog and will just have the Bull Terrier and I am going to throw all my spare time into training him and taking him out more etc. Last summer me and my now ex took him to the local park alot and he really enjoyed it. I live on my own now and he is like my little shadow so I am going to take him everywhere with me and try to train him

elsien

Is there a minimum amount of exercise he needs?
I remember when mutt was that age if she didn't get about an hour and a half a day (plus longer walks on my days off) she'd be climbing the walls and get really naughty.
We used to do these 5 or 6 mile hikes, she'd have 10 minutes kip in the car on the way home, then she'd be boinging around as if we hadn't been out at all. Never had a dog with such a fast recovery time.

Sorry to hear you're having to rehome your bulldog - I remember your other posts a while back where you were struggling a bit with the two of them.