Just about had enough of the pulling.

[mycatoscar]

Puppy is nearly 5 months. She pulls constantly on the lead and doesn't seem to catch on when we stop dead in our tracks. We can have some lovely walks where she barely pulls and then ones like today where I've brought her back to the house within 10 minutes because she simply wouldn't behave. I feel like a complete failure

[mycatoscar]

Also when she realises she is going home she growls and wrestles with the lead in her mouth and today leapt up and boofed me in the tummy!

She is very string willed and has high intelligence, she picks up new commands really quickly but just seems to push the boundaries and only do things when she fancies it.

[nevermindthecrocodiles]

When she pulls, just turn and march in the opposite direction (as advised by a vet nurse friend!) total pita but they seem to catch on quite quickly

[Benn]

Yes, what nevermindthecrocodiles said - but also, use a Halti. Puppy won't be keen to put it on at first, but once it's on it's brilliant and she'll get used to it in no time. It made all the difference to walking our very bouncy strong willed dog - it was like a miracle.

[PersonalClown]

Oh yes to a Halti!!
3 months on one and the Staffy was transformed! The Doodle till needs it as he's thick

[DoingTheSwanThing]

Have you tried walking with a bag of tiny treats and teaching "close" or similar?
Waking the other way never worked with my thick puller.
Other than that, halti for a quick fix.

[mycatoscar]

I too am strong willed and would rather persevere and train her not to pull than resort to a halti although I won't say never!

Yesterday afternoon we had a better walk, took twice as long ad it should because I refused to walk when she pulled! And this mornings was better too, I guess consistency is the key!

She seems to sort of get it on pavements but it all goes out the window the moment a child/ bus/ plastic bag/ other dog goes past or when we get near to the entrance to woods or the field. I guess it's excitement and will take take time. Thank you for the tips everyone

[LST]

£18 dogmatic head collar. best money I have ever ever spent.

[Turniphead1]

I can also recommend a chain lead. We just tried that for our pup who is a "bite the lead & go nuts" kind of girl. A light one with a leather handle is great - they don't like the sensation of biting it.

Good luck!

[HormonalHousewife]

A Halti definitely changed my life.

What is your aversion to it ?

[mycatoscar]

I think I'm just determined she won't get the better of me lol I can see the benefits of them though so I may well try it if I can't do it by training alone. Are they physically unable to pull with it on?

[Turniphead1]

Surely the halti would be you getting the better of her

[HormonalHousewife]

Well... I tried training a working cocker spaniel for 2.5 years, I was advised to turn around and walk backwards, stop and wait ... but to no avail.

The first couple of times with the halti she hated it and tried to pull it off with her paws but then she kind of capitiulated and stopped. it was amazing.

they can pull, but the noose sort of tightens around their muzzle so they stop pulling which releases the tightening.

It certainly worked for me.

[LizaTarbucksAuntie]

We got a halti for my Dad's chocolate lab - it has transformed walks.

The other thing that helped a lot with her at about 5 months was making sure she was on a lower protein diet just stopped her being quite so bouncy and bonkers- have you tried that?

[Beamur]

Depends slightly on the dog too - mine continued to pull, even with a halti...she never worked out that pulling made it uncomfortable and would just end up with these awful weals on her poor nose. My dog is none too smart.

[mycatoscar]

The last few days have been better, she now realises when we stop and will walk on a loose lead. We went to puppy class last night where it was lead walking week so going to put all the tips from that into practise. The times which are hard work are when another dog/person/cat appears and when we are first leaving the house. But she is only 4.5 months so I think patience and consistency is the key for now. Thanks for all the tips x

[needastrongone]

Our trainer has said that, when young, you can only really expect them to walk nicely on the lead when there are no distractions. Ours is at that stage. I wouldn't call it walking to heel but he doesn't pull or try to stop and sniff etc if its just is two.

Naturally, walking with friends dogs etc etc and he is too excited to walked calmly for any length of time, it's a work in progress shall we say?!
Trainer just says be positive and consistent and reward etc.

I refuse to be beaten too, lord knows why!!!

[BMW6]

I've changed direction till dizzy but he still pulls...... hates Halti but is the only thing that stops the pulling (just drags his face along the ground th get it off)!
Is a rehome dog a year old when we got him, so I wonder if he;s too old to relearn.

[hoodoo12345]

My dog still manages to pull whilst wearing a halti, he tenses his neck the clever little sod.
Very frustrating at times....

[MannishBoy]

Our GSD is like this, she's almost 3. Stops when you stop and looks at you, looking all pleased with herself. Then gradually pulls less the more you stop. Wants to chase everything, including motorbikes, so ends up being told to sit a lot.
Hated her halti, we stopped using it as she also ended up with sore bits on her nose. It would just rise up, as she scraped her face on everything trying to get it off.

[Booboostoo]

The Halti is an excellent, quick solution for most dogs and it helps that you can keep exercising the dog without getting dragged all over the place.

The stop and change direction also works well if you have the patience of a saint and impecable timing. I was taught it this way:

the moment the dog's nose goes in front of your leg (i.e. moves away from the ideal position you want them to be in), stop (no compromises on this, don't wait till the dog pulls, as soon as the nose is too far ahead you have to stop)

ignore the dog until it turns around to look at you (this can take eons with some dogs), but as soon as it does look at you reward with an exceptionally high value treat (click and treat if you are into clicker)

turn in the opposite direct and walk off...the dog is likely to overtake you almost immediately in which case you start again!

My first dog had impecable lead manners with this exercise if she ever went slightly ahead of me I would stop and she would promptly reverse back to my side, however it was very difficult to do with dogs no 2, 3, 4 and 5.

[TapselteerieO]

We have recently rescued a spaniel, approx 18 months (stray) and are having a hard time with her on the lead.

Not sure if we are confusing matters, we have halti, which she hates, paws at her face until she gets it off, also have normal lead/collar because dh doesn't like the halti, and an extender type lead - which is good for letting her have a run around because we are not sure of her recall.

She seems as mad as a March hare at the moment, she hasn't done any digging until yesterday she took a daft turn in the back garden, I really think she has spring fever! Due to get her spayed next week, not sure what the cabin fever will be like during her recovery period.

Off to google the book recommended.

[TapselteerieO]

Oops book recommended on other thread about recall, sorry I am tired!