Apart from training classes...

[Frenchie]

Any tricks to help me walk my dog on a lead .? He 's so powerful, Lab X Husky ...    he REALLY  pulls  too much..

We went to training classes for a year ; with a disappointing result.

he's a lovely dog, easy, but that is the pb with him..

He is often off the lead for hours in the countryside , he loves running.. I mean he has a lot of exercise, but the lead is still a pb..

 

[mossie]

Not really a solution,  I know, but I have two big powerful dogs and I use headcollars with them.  I prefer the gentle leader brand to the haltis but this is up to personal preference.  My pointer is a persistent puller.  She had never been put on a lead before I got her at a year old and so has never been really good.  However the head collar helps a lot.  Although because she still pulls, I have had to put a band of sheepskin around the nose band, but this does the trick.  Before this, the band made her nose sore.  The problem is to the best of my knowledge, you can't buy them in France, but can probably get them over the internet.  Also be prepared for all the questions you get from curious french people.  I spend a lot of my time explaining that she is not wearing the head collar because she is naughty but because she pulls.  I say it is like a horse bridle and this seems to do the trick.  I hope this helps.  If you use one, you will find that the dog won't like it at the beginning but they do get used to them.

[cooperlola]

Sounds a little batty, I know, but when he pulls, don't yank but walk backwards.  Persist.  This method really does work with some dogs.  Worth a try. Reward your dog with a treat when he co-operates.

[Joerger École]

We also use the gentle head collar for our two Aussie Shepherd dogs.  They are a great solution in that the dog must turn it's head naturally toward you when you pull back.  It does not hurt the dog as a choke chain can do for a strong dog, and it naturally trains them to walk without pulling (takes a bit of time for the dog to get the message though). Highly suggest you try this method.  See the following web site for some information:

http://www.premier.com/pages.cfm?id=29

James

[Aly (used to be Charlotte3)]

I found a lot of help watching "The Dog Whisperer", Sky3, today (on in the background now, actually), started at 6pm our time.

It's on every week, and we never miss it. I think it's on during the week as well in the evening.

I have learned some really usefull techniques for my dominant but lovable (and impossible to walk) dog.

Give him a try.

Aly

[Aly (used to be Charlotte3)]

Should also have said......I'm a big fan of head collars too and have had success with Halti.

Aly

[Patf]

Aly - I watched that programme today and it gave me an idea to use with our male border collie who is having "dominance issues " with me at the moment. Can you get that programme Frenchie?

[Frenchie]

Hello you all and thanks for your answers, which I read with interest..

No, I can't get that programme, I only watch French TV ..

I ve tried that head collar but I let it down, Shadow really couldn't get used to it, but maybe I should have given it another go..

Here's the little monster..

[IMG]http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r20/regine79/Shadow062007.jpg[/IMG]

[L&J]

Oh he is so gorgeous and looks like "butter wouldnt melt".

I bought a harness for my collie who started pulling - she had learnt to walk beautifully on a lead at training classes, but all went to pot - think that she also spends far too much time off the lead, especially now in France - as she has 6 hectares to run around in.

We invested in a harness, the type that goes on like a car harness, under the legs.  When she pulls, it lifts her slightly off the ground and she now walks like an angel on it.  Im not sure where you would get one in France as we bought ours from the big Pets at Home store back in the UK.

Good luck with it and sometimes takes a while to find the best product.

 

 

 

[cooperlola]

Frenchie, you can get a number of the products mentioned above by mail order, here

http://www.polytrans.fr/index.php

but do try walking backwards for a couple of weeks before parting with your hard-earned cash!!

This was a method recommended to me by a lady who does a lot of obedience training and it's worked wonders for me.

[Frenchie]

Yeahhh .. if you see a lady walking backwards and a powerful  white dog.. might be me   LOL

Thanks for your advice, I will try all this, I WILL SUCCEED ...  [;-)]

Merci encore, très sympa toutes ces réponses !!

 

[londoneye]

When you walk backwards, what does your dog do ?   Sounds a daft question, but I tried it on our 'uncontrollable on lead' large mut, and she looked at me and just kept lunging forward, dragging me with her, as normal.   

She doesnt really need to be on a lead around here, so I havent worried about it, but yesterday I went to some open air flower show type thingie, and there were so many dogs there, all trotting obediently around next to their owners.   My heart sank at the thought of the havoc mine would have caused in a similar situation - lurching up at people, loving them to death.   But it also made me a bit sad, because it means that she never really comes out with us (other than walks).

It is our fault, not hers, for not training properly, but I'd love to have a well-trained dog which we could trot around to be admired and petted by all and sundry (as the well-behaved specimens at the garden show seemed to be).

[cooperlola]

Then Londoneye, don't reward her by following her and continuing on her much loved (it is enjoyed, that's why she pulls) walk.  Stand still for a moment, then turn round and go home.  She really should not be allowed to drag you about, sorry. 

Practice this in your garden.  Walk forward, when she pulls, stop and take a couple of paces backwards, dragging her with you, and then make her sit.  Walk forwards again, when she pulls, walk backwards, stop, make her sit.  Repeat... ad infinitum if necessary.  Eventually, she should sit automatically once you pull back on the lead - now's the time to give her a little treat and make a big fuss of her.  It works, it really does but you have to persist.  Some people will hate me for saying this, but YOU are the boss in this relationship, not your dog.

As far as the jumping up is concerned, then it's a case of training the jump-up-ee as well as your dog.  Invite a trusted friend round to your house to help you.  When they arrive, and your dog lunges at them, make them push the dog away with a firm (not a feeble, whimpy, I don't really mean it) "OFF" (do not use the command "down" as this is confused in your dog's mind with "lie down".)  If your dog does not obey, then the friend should turn their back, firmly, on the dog and ignore her until she calms down.  Then she should turn and face the dog again.  If the dog does not jump up then she should reward her with a greeting and a treat - but the greeting should stop if she jumps up - she should remain with all four paws firmly on the ground if she's going to get a reward.  If she does jump up, then it's turn around and ignore time again.  Repeat....

Everybody who meets the dog should be shown how to do this and your dog never allowed near them unless they practice the back-turning technique, until she's properly trained.  Also, you must do it yourself.  It's no good letting your dog jump up at you and then expecting her to behave differently towards others.  What's important is that the person who's being jumped up at does this.  It's no good, having you yelling "Off" at the poor dog, while she's concentrated upon somebody else.

[Bernice]

I agree, very helpful and practical.    The Dog Whisperer has his own website with advice and tips at    http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

Bernice

[londoneye]

I will try ......

[cooperlola]

Honestly, Londoneye, it's worth it.  I had a series of dogs who, although delightful and pretty obedient by their natures, had some of the problems yours has.  When I met my mate Meg - who specialised in obedience training - and she taught me some of these techniques - with time and effort they really began to work.  Our current mut, the fabulous Troy, I trained following her methods from puppyhood.  It was quick and easy and he is a real delight to own.  Even off the lead now, he just potters along beside us, beetling off to sniff at things but always watching to see where we are and coming back at regular intervals.  He'll lie down and wait for us, even with a distance command, greets people by rushing up to them and sitting patiently at their feet, and accepts treats in a very polite manner, never putting anybody's fingers at risk.  Oh, what a pleasure he is to own, and everybody, even those who are wary of dogs, adores him.  But then, of course, I'm biased.....

[londoneye]

Oh, OK rub it in then !

Mine has some saving graces, she doesn't wander away on walks, she always takes treats 'nicely' as instructed, she loves cats, she is happy to share her bed with visitors.

Think thats it.       Start tomorrow, been too busy today.

[Rob Roy]

One of the most useful things we were taught at training classes many years ago was that when out walking you need to make sure the dog's collar is not lying down his neck, so that he can use the strength of his shoulders to pull you, but keep it right up behind his ears, so that if he pulls it hurts him rather than you. We use a half choker collar for our dogs and after a couple of sharp tugs as well as a stern 'no' if they try and pull away they usually learn to walk nicely beside you - always on the left, right hand holding the end of the lead crossing in front of you to left and left hand hold lead by your left thigh so dog is comfortable.