Dog pulling on leash

[Cindee56]

Hi, I have a question to anyone who has experience with dog-walking.  Our new dog, Connor, loves to go for a walk, but he pulls like crazy on the leash to the point where he is almost running.  We got him a harness so he doesn't choke himself and it helps some, but he is just in such a hurry and we can't slow him down.  The dog instruction book says to stop dead in your tracks and say STAY and not to start walking again until he stops.  He will stop, but as soon as I start walking him, there he goes pulling on the leash.

What do I do to teach him to calm down and walk nicely?  Also, Connor is getting to know the area and he realizes when I'm turning around to leave the park and head for home, and he tries to go back the other way, and pulls again.  He will stay out walking for an hour if he could, but I can't.  He does do his business and I give him plenty of time for that, so that's not a problem.  It's just the walking.

[Savvyraven]

I would also like to add that helping them to figure it out is good too. Keep your arm relaxed that is holding the leash (I often use both hands-1 hand holds the loop and the other shortens the leash), but keep it tight to him. When he pulls, stop. He will try to keep going most likely so just side step away from him. It will naturally cause him to move closer to you and loosen the leash. And try making him sit before you head out the door. This one is hard. My puppy hasn't mastered it yet, but we're working on it. She is very exciteable too. Take baby steps. Work with the standing still even in the house or in the yard or just on the sidewalk. If he gets used to it enough, he won't pull.

Hope that helps!
Kathy

[Cindee56]

Thank you for all the suggestions.  Some days he's not as bad as others, but yesterday he was pulling a lot.  I actually had to stop walking and pick him up because I thought he was going to choke himself!  He just gets so excited, especially when he knows we're going to the park.

[hatepuppetart]

We have 3 patterdale terriers.  Patterdales are very excited dogs to begin with.  My oldest male is a racing dog.  He is apparently one of the best. (we have an arrangement with the breeder where they still have showing and breeding rights to him).  Well they all love to pull.  They wear normal collars and will choke themselves pulling so hard.  This has worked for me.

When walking I start out by simply shortening their leach by winding it up in my hand a few times until the lead leaves them directly beside me.  I walk at a slow but constant pace.  When the dog pulls or puts tension on the leash then I GENTLY tug the leash and say "BACK" or with my female "EASY".  The important part is to always use the same word and the entire time they are doing it correctly, give them lots and lots of praise.  My youngest I have to use two words with... He needs the "NO" before "BACK".  Gradually I give more distance but do the same GENTLE tug and key Word if they pull.  It seems to work great with all of them...

The key I believe is the praise and using the same command each time.... but you can not praise them too much when they are doing it right.  

[peekawho]

Yeah, Gentle Leaders and Halti's are sometimes mistaken for a muzzle, but aren't.

Cindee, if you are using a regular body harness, that could be why he's pulling so much.  Dogs LOVE to pull against those!

[sk123]

The Gentle Leader is definitely not a muzzle. In fact, it's supposed to be one of the most humane ways to keep a dog from pulling. It doesn't choke them or muzzle them.

[haidee]

my springer always pulled i tried everything, i think he was just so excited and he never got tired, he is old now so he isnt bad but i just came to the conclusion it was cruel choking him so i just took him to the woods or fields and let him run every day. As long as he comes back when you call his name i dont see the harm after all its there play time.  Unless i had an aggressive dog i wouldnt use a muzzle i think they are cruel

[sk123]

I use a Gentle Leader on my two Samoyeds. At 75 pounds each and designed for pulling sleds, they really LOVE to pull. The Gentle Leaders go over their necks and their snouts and looks like a muzzle but allows them to fully open their mouths to breathe or drink water.

They behave a thousand times better when they're on the Gentle Leader. I think partially they feel ashamed to be in a lead (similar to a horses's lead), so they don't pull as much. They're like different animals when they have their Gentle Leaders on.

[peekawho]

I use a Halti HeadCollar for our dogs.  They can't pull with it.