walking my dog is making me miserable

[Caan]

can you get trainers who will come out with you and help?

my dog is fine in the house and perfectly obedient. the minute we get out the front door it all goes out the window.

he completely ignores me, he pulls to the extent of pulling me over. he wants to chase anything and everything. I can't let him off the lead because I can't guarantee he will come back. I can't wear him out because he doesn't get the chance to run off any energy. I can't find a safe enclosed space where I could let him have a run around.

it is really getting me down, someone help me.

[Psocid]

I don't know where you are but try this. www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/
Nick is a lovely man, and really committed.

[kid]

I had a dog trainer do a 1:1 session with me and my pup in the local park. While he wasn't instantly cured with the pulling, I was given and shown a good way to solve the problem.

What area are you in? I'm sure there are loads of trainers that will come to work with you.

[Caan]

will look at that link thank you. I'm in Kent

[Caan]

anyone else?

[Mrsfred]

Our trainer came out to us when the dog was 9 months and going off the rails. He spent a morning with me and it helped a lot. It cost around £100 from what I remember, but it was worth it.

The trainer was Steve Stokes at Crofton Oak Dog Training. He is based in Orpington.

[minimu1]

Caan a really common problem - don't worry most trainers will be able to help you and come out with you.

I would recommend an APDT trainer as you can quarantee that they will use positive methods. link here to find a trainer near you

They should show you ways of making the obedience inside the house to be transferred to the outside. A good start would be to get a clicker and get your dog used to the clicker in the house.

Just click and give the dog a treat indoors. Once the dog is happy with the clicker I would put the lead on your dog and just go and stand outside. I guess the dog will ignore you sniff and try to pull away - just stand still, say nothing, do nothing but just hold the lead - eventually (it may take ages so be patient) your dog will turn towards you click and treat immediately. Again stand still say nothing and go nowhere when the dog turns to you click and treat.

This is a start to get the dog to "remember" that you are there and much more rewarding than the rest of the outside world.

Hopefully your trainer will be able to show you loads of ways to get your dogs attention and to build up the distraction so your dog concentrates on you regardless. It will happen but may take a bit of time and patience from you.

[2T2T]

what breed?

[Caan]

I have a clicker so I will give that a go. is it best to do it in back garden or out the front so he thinks he is going for a walk.

tried using sausage today to get his attention and he spat it out, normally it wouldn't touch the sides.

he's a black lab cross, approx 20 months, we've had him just over a year.

[2T2T]

sounds challenging Caan. Good luck.

[minimu1]

Ok with a lab generally you will get quite quick results so stick at it and do get in touch with a trainer.

They will be able to see exactly what is going on whereas I am just guessing from a distance!

[emptyshell]

My dog CAN walk like an absolute angel (Ok so it DOES make me feel smug walking past someone being dragged down the road by their dog with him walking perfectly to heel) - but when hubby walks him he just hooks his hand through the lead, rams his hands in his pockets and lets him be pulled round to the park... meaning I inherit the pulling ASBO dog from Hades for a while.

Basically I have to wear him down - he pulls - I turn and go the opposite way until he's lined back up at heel and we turn back and keep going - with a click when he's where I want him to be... lead goes tight - turn again. Otherwise if he pulls and we keep going - he gets it into his head that pulling = he gets to where he wants to go. There's another variation of stopping dead if the lead goes taut as well. It's essentially the exact same principle as when a class won't walk down to PE quietly you go back to the classroom and try again, and again and again - they don't get to where they want to be until they're doing what YOU want them to do!

OK so the neighbours all think you're a certifiable nutcase, and you probably won't get very far to start with - but now it takes a couple of u turns before he takes the hint and we get perfect heel walking back.

Is it worth looking into non-pull harnesses or halti/gentle leader/dogmatic (I think is the other one that I know someone with a lab with real pulling issues) head collars as well to give your arms a break?

As for safe enclosed spaces - the big ones often are tennis courts.... any of those near you? Can get a good long line as well so he can have a bit of a run and still be on the lead - PaH have 10m ones if you want to pick one up quickly - otherwise lots cheaper online.

[chocoholic]

We use a gentle leader with our retriever. She is a terrible puller normally but walks beautifully with it on (although she does try to pull it off and eat it given the chance!!)

[Caan]

He's got a dogmatic collar. I'm going to take him out in a minute, will try the clicker and the stopping and turning. He has a 30' lead so gets to run a bit when we're in a field. No tennis courts round here, I live in the sticks, surrounded by livestock just to add to my stress.