Pulling on lead

Own_My_Own

Last Wednesday we became the lucky family of an 18 month old chocolate Labrador. She is very laid back and very well trained.
She is not vexed by loud noises, great with children and won't touch her dinner until told to. She will chase a ball and bring it back, dropping it at your feet.

But she pulls on her lead ! She had a harness when we got her. I have bought her a collar today thinking it would help with her pulling but it hasn't. She pulls until she is chocking. Part of me is wondering if it is just the fact that every walk in new ground to her. But the other part thinks she will pull forever.
While walking she will sit at every curb and sit if someone is passing us, when told to.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can stop the pulling ?

She is such a lovely dog in every way. But I just dread the early morning and late evening walk. The daylight walk is not too bad as the field is only 5 minutes away and she goes off the lead on there.

OMO

westy22

I like the soft nylon 'control' headcollars that tighten around the nose when the dog pulls on the lead. They don't like it at first and will spend the first hour or so trying to get it off their nose with their paws but they quickly learn to accept it and, when they then walk calmly beside you, the nose loop will be loose and not bother them in the slightest.

I have seen a lot of labs using these so pulling on the lead must be a common problem!

teddysmum

There are several versions of the head collar mentioned, the best known being Halti and Gentle Leader, each having a different arrangement of the straps. I don't know if it's still so, but Pets at Home used to stock both, and were happy for you to try them on.

They certainly work on some of the headstrong dogs who are in a rescue I have association with.

I'd also recommend a good training class; one that uses only positive training with no punishment (hitting, punching, choke chains etc).If you go this way, ask if you can go along and watch a class, as you will see if it suits you and be able to check their methods. I've always taken my dogs (spaniels) to classes and they have loved them.

spacey2012

Some gun dogs will never stop pulling, springer spaniels are the bench mark.
Chokers cause fits, by cutting oxygen to the brain, so back on the harness.

However try my method.
You need to change not the dog.
Set off and when the dog pulls have a penalty timer of say a minute, make the dog sit and wait then set off again, remember the dog wants to get where it is going not you.
If you only make the first lampost for the first few walks, tough.
When the dog walks without pulling, set off again, as soon as it pulls penalty time, sit down doggy and wait..
They soon learn they get where they want to go by not pulling instead of sitting on the pavement.
Unless it's a springer, they are just nuts.

Caroline_a

I have a GSD who use to pull (behaved beautifully at classes though, typical!). I used to use a Halti, but he really disliked and bit through it given half a chance. I changed then to the Dogmatic (http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/) and he seemed much happier and contented. Additionally I'm still on my first one 2 years later (went through about 6 Haltis in a year or so), and can hold 2 excited dogs, total weight 100kg ready for their walk in one hand.

Own_My_Own

spacey2012 wrote: »

Some gun dogs will never stop pulling, springer spaniels are the bench mark.
Chokers cause fits, by cutting oxygen to the brain, so back on the harness.

However try my method.
You need to change not the dog.
Set off and when the dog pulls have a penalty timer of say a minute, make the dog sit and wait then set off again, remember the dog wants to get where it is going not you.
If you only make the first lampost for the first few walks, tough.
When the dog walks without pulling, set off again, as soon as it pulls penalty time, sit down doggy and wait..
They soon learn they get where they want to go by not pulling instead of sitting on the pavement.
Unless it's a springer, they are just nuts.

I'll give it a go tomorrow evening. It's quite hectic on the morning walk as we only live one road away from 2 schools. She tends to pull less in the morning because I make her sit when any children walk pass so we don't knock them over. So maybe she is getting the idea already. I'll have to try harder on the evening walk.

lee111s

8 month springer owner here, he gets it, he knows that we get MUCH further when he's calm. Doesn't stop him having days trying to convince me otherwise!

krlyr

If you use a headcollar, please do take the time to introduce it slowly. Whilst some dogs do "learn to accept it", it is an alien sensation that many dogs dislike. You can make it much more pleasant for the dog by taking a few days to slowly build a positive association with the headcollar before using it on a walk. There are lots of videos on YouTube that will explain how to do this.

I wouldn't recommend walking any dog, especially one that pulls, on just a collar, as it puts a lot of pressure on the neck. The alternative is a harness - not all harnesses ate built equally. You'd most likely be best off with a harness with a front attachment as well as a clip on the back, e.g. like the Maputo, the Halti harness, or something like the fleece Dog Games harness with additional front o-ring.
You use these with a double ended lead so that you have control over the back and the front of the dog. This helps give extra control when the dog tries to pull.

Aside from all the equipment available, training is essential. The dog needs to be taught to walk nicely - there are lots of methods available, one of my favourites is the 300 peck method. Google "300 peck loose lead walking" for more info.

catkins

Please don't walk your dog just with a collar. A collar on a dog that pulls can cause damage to the dog's throat.

I used a harness with a double ended lead on my puppy as he was a puller. The harness has a ring on the chest and one on the back and it gives much more control.

I know a lot of people swear by head collars but a lot of trainers do not like them. I agree with Krlyr that dogs may learn to accept one but that doesn't mean they are happy with it. I think harnesses are much nicer and the majority of dogs don't have a problem with them even the first time they wear one.

Own_My_Own

I am walking her on the harness.

So can you all please stop replying about the collar. She needed a collar to put her name tag on. Yes she is chipped.
I walked her once on the collar and it didn't help so we are back to the harness.
I asked what would help and nearly everyone is ignoring that question and going on about the collar as through I am trying to harm her.

Thank you to the posters who offered helpful advice.

Raksha

It takes two to pull, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyG0oF5-d0w this is my favourite method, just make sure you keep your lead hand tucked into your waist, hold the lead in the hand furthest away from the dog, use the hand closest to the dog for administering the treats and use a long enough lead, the dog can't choose to keep the lead loose if it can't walk where it is comfortable because the lead us too short