Pulling too much!

yorkshire_terrier_owner

krlyr wrote: »

How does it 'distract' though? And how does a slip lead differ from a check chain, other than in material?

Exactly that. Check chain - solid metal that will cause discomfort, slip lead - soft fabric. The check should not be harsh or cause undue tightness around the neck.

I train and compete my dogs in agility - the slip lead is the most favoured in the agility world. We never use harnesses in agility training for safety reasons.

hmc

Our springer pulls too. I use different things for different times lol. The dogmatic is a must for any pavement walking, I recently used a harness and extendable for a few weeks in woods when he had to stay on lead to rest a leg. On normal every day loose walks in woods I carry a slip lead for if we meet other dogs.

JencParker

krlyr wrote: »

How does it 'distract' though? And how does a slip lead differ from a check chain, other than in material?

For working gundogs a slip lead is used as it says - they can be slipped on and off quickly when needed.
Personally, the easiest and best way to teach a dog to walk not pull is to teach it to heel off lead. The dog then knows exactly where it's position is when walking (by your left leg) and a lead can be put on or off.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who allow their dogs to pull as puppies. If they never let them pull, they never would, but they allow it when puppies, do nothing about it and don't like it when the dog gets older, heavier and stronger and it becomes a strain.

Johnny_Dangerously

Agree on the slip lead not being the same as a choke. They are designed specifically for what the name suggests, slipping on and off quickly. Put on the right way (lead feeding the top of the loop) they shouldn't actually choke at all. They can also benefit it being able to sit higher up the neck giving much more control of the dogs head preventing them pulling against their throat.

Got to also agree with Jenc, that the ideal way from young is to do it off lead. The ultimate aim is to have the dog focused on you and the lead becomes a secondary control. But, I do think haltis and other devices can be a practical way to manage. Put it thus way, I'd much rather an owner use a 'device' and have positive walks than get frustrated and not enjoy walking the dog.

Saying that, the OP has probably solved the issue ages ago and it's just us muppets left rambling:D

GBNI

I also use slip leads for ease of use. The Dogmatic is used on a lab which never had any training prior to me getting her at 18 months. She weighs half my bodyweight so I love my Dogmatic for getting control back She is learning and getting better though!

Jacko_amz

I did not mention that when puppy training stopped i therefore stopped training at home, we're doing well with the lead/collar not too many turn around's and stopping.

Thanks everyone.

krlyr

Johnny_Dangerously wrote: »

Agree on the slip lead not being the same as a choke. They are designed specifically for what the name suggests, slipping on and off quickly. Put on the right way (lead feeding the top of the loop) they shouldn't actually choke at all. They can also benefit it being able to sit higher up the neck giving much more control of the dogs head preventing them pulling against their throat.

Totally agree with all of this (but even still, I favour a harness over even a flat collar for walking a dog, to avoid any pressure on the throat/neck) - but the poster who mentioned it said they 'checked' the dog with the slip lead. Surely to 'check' the dog, you are using it in the same manner as a check chain.

I cannot see how a check can be anything but aversive. How else would it work, if the dog didn't mind or enjoyed being checked, they wouldn't change their behaviour. The check works because the dog finds it somewhere between unpleasant and painful (depending on how hard it is done) and wants to avoid being checked again.

I would much rather have a dog that doesn't pull because it finds it more rewarding to stay beside me, than a dog that doesn't pull because it finds it unpleasant to pull.

Johnny_Dangerously

With you on that. For me, correcting a dog is best done vocally. To be honest, I've got all kinds leads at home. I very rarely use slip leads mainly because they aren't as comfortable for me to hold, let alone what the dog thinks of them:) My go-to is a long training lead with a clip on each end. It means I can attach both dogs if I need to, but I can also wrap it around myself when walking off-lead, which is most of the time.

I need to get into the harness thing a bit more though as I'm determined to give my dobey some pulling experience this year. Not sure if I'm brave enough to try it on the bike straight off the bat. Maybe if I can find a long safe straight.

MallyGirl

maybe get hold of an old tyre to give him the 'pulling' experience and see if he likes it. I have seen Dobes doing bikejor and Cani-X

krlyr

Training leads are my favourite too. I started running with mine (Rottie x and GSD) a couple of years ago, it's certainly an experience to be attached to two big dogs at speed, but we all have great fun.

Last year we stayed at a holiday barn down in Devon and OH and used the loan bikes to do a bit of Cani-X, one dog per bike - the long dirt tracks (edged in by hedges) where we were staying were perfect for it, though the hills meant we got up to quick a speed on the way down! Fortunately because of the running, they both had a good grasp on directional commands and a 'woahhhh'! I'm not sure I'd brave it in many places here though.