puppy pulling on lead

starlight29

Hi
My springer puppy is now allowed out we ve been going for a short walk everyday as advised by the vet so he gets used to it . Trouble is he pulls alot and chokes himself hes only 11 weeks and its all new to him I just wondered if anyone has any ideas ? Hes not keen at all on walks yet he trys to hide when I get the lead out once out hes fine but pulls so much his eyes water I keep stopping and making him sit every couple of minutes which he does poor little guy seems to hate the whole walk thing

Starlight

krlyr

Have you been practising lead walking at home/in the garden over the last few weeks? Dogs don't instantly know how to walk nicely on a lead, they need to be taught. There's lots of articles and videos online to help - http://www.YouTube.com/kikopup is fab

lee111s

My Springer is 23 weeks tomorrow and still pulls like a train. I've been super consistent with im by simply standing still when he pulls and wait for him to come back to my side before setting off again, we still get about 3 steps before stopping. I'm going to stick with it though in the hope that one day he just "gets it"! He does it perfect in the house and in the garden, but as soon as we're out the front door he just wants to be off exploring everything.

aliasojo

Behaviourist advice is usually to immediately about turn.

So if you're walking and dog pulls, immediately turn round and walk the other way.

Eventually dog will learn that pulling only gets him the opposite to what he wants.

You look really daft mind, as puppies pull so much you are constantly about turning for the first wee while, passers by think you're a looney.

catkins

Are you just using a lead on his collar? If so, please get him a harness as studies have shown that dogs with just collars that pull can damage their throats. One of my neighbours has just been told by her vet that her dog, aged 9, has throat and eye damage caused by him pulling all his life and she now feels really guilty.

He will need to be trained to walk on a loose lead but that takes time and 11 weeks is very young.

I use a harness with a double ended lead on my dog (1 year old). The lead clips to a ring on his back and ring on his chest. It makes it much much easier to control him and stop his pulling. Or I should say it did, as he now walks with a loose lead 99% of the time.

I always use a harness now though as I think they are much kinder than just a collar. My last dog was big and strong and a bit of a puller and he developed thyroid problems which could have been caused by his pulling

dibuzz

I prefer a harness too.
Stopping and turning round didn't work for us so we tried pulling back and saying "oi" when she pulled. When she walked nicely we praised her and gave her a treat.
One thing we were told was to show her she isnt the boss by making sure she is last in and out of the house and isn't too far in front when walking.
Even though she was 5 and a rescue dog it only took a couple of weeks to work and she now walks happily along with a loose lead (most of the time )

starlight29

Thankyou for your help yes ive been practicing in the garden but in the garden all he does is chew it or mess about ive been practicing since I got him at 8 weeks as I thought it would take a while for him to get used to it. Think I will definitely try the harness sounds like a good idea im going to see if the pet shop has one this morning. Ive had a dog trainer out for a home visit but this was before he could go out his place at puppy class is for september so im hoping that will help him lots as well.

Oh and if I turn round he pulls that way too I think hes quite scared hes very nervous of trucks and noises when out just hope he calms down with it soon poor little guy in the house hes super confident lol

Starlight

catkins

I too, had no joy with the stopping and turning round - my dog wasn't bothered by it and would just sit nicely but then start pulling again as soon as we walked. He already had a harness but I researched online and found the ones that use a double ended lead, bought one and he was like a different dog from day 1. Once I could control him more he seemed to understand what I wanted him to do and it didn't take that long to get him to walk well with a loose lead. Most days now I don't use the slip on his chest as he walks lovely. Every now and then he forgets and gets excited about something so I just clip the lead to the front ring and he remembers what he is meant to do

starlight29

Ive never heard of a double ended lead I will look this morning def sounds like what he needs hes just so excited I know thats puppy stuff but its hard work hes like a small steam train lol

Starlight

Caroline_a

I've never liked harnesses, as with a strong type of dog I feel it just teaches them to pull harder and builds up their chest muscles.

I use a Dogmatic headcollar, which is kind and teaches them not to pull. It takes a very short time for the dog to learn how it works and I can now walk both of my dogs (100 kg in total) in one hand with no fear of being pulled over.

catkins

Caroline_a wrote: »

I've never liked harnesses, as with a strong type of dog I feel it just teaches them to pull harder and builds up their chest muscles.

I use a Dogmatic headcollar, which is kind and teaches them not to pull. It takes a very short time for the dog to learn how it works and I can now walk both of my dogs (100 kg in total) in one hand with no fear of being pulled over.

The ones with double ended leads do not teach them to pull harder - it stops them from pulling. They are recommended by lots of dog trainers and behaviourists.

Headcollars can be ok and I have heard dogmatic is one of the better ones but they are not usually recommended by trainers or behaviourists