Pulling dog - help !!

[Countrywalks]

My lovely cocker spaniel bitch loves to pull on her lead. She wears a harness to protect her neck. I have tried but not consistently done treats to get her to walk to heel. It takes ages to get to the nearest field , and if I'm honest I don't always have time to spend half an hour coaxing her each way before an off lead walk. I am thinking of buying either a perfect fit harness or a gentle leader type lead. Just wondered if anyone can point me in the right direction of what to go for. It could be I'm expecting miracles and the product and not me will give a beautifully heeling dog!
Thank you !

[Countrywalks]

Woof woof woof. Woof, woof woof woof woof. Ruff ruff woof. Woofuty woof woof.

Woofa woof woof woof.

[BeeMyBaby]

I've used a halti before which worked wonders with pulling and was painless to the dog, but that was on a lab rather than a spaniel. I've read that using a harness for pulling is pointless as you are allowing the dog to use its whole body/strength to pull you.

[Countrywalks]

Oh thank you Bee. So is a Halti a little different , it looks like a harness on website, I was a bit puzzled if it would work any better than a harness , only because it looks like a harness. Thanks so much for answering. It's a lot to spend on something that looks to same. Have you tried a gentle leader, I wasn't sure if they are a bit unpleasant for a dog? I'm a novice and any advice is gratefully taken.

[NeverKnowinglyHelpful]

We use a halti harness on our springer x lab. There's a ring at the front in the middle of the chest to attach the lead to. The idea is that if the dog then pulls, they just end up pulling themselves in a circle. Works well for us - she doesn't even try to pull when she's got the harness on.

I think you can also get a head collar type halti, but I've never tried one of those out.

[Countrywalks]

Thank you Never. That makes sense. I think I will invest in one and keep the ego dog harness to use in the car with her seat belt! Sounds like money well spent. I will report back and let you guys know if I have an new improved spaniel!

[BeeMyBaby]

I used the headcollar version which was very good but depends on snout length I think and children and parents assumed the dog was dangerous in some way because it was around his nose and mouth. However he actually stopped pulling after about 6 months of wearing it as he must have learnt something from wearing it.

[ghostofawasp]

I've got a King Charles and I have to use a head collar for him because he's absolutely hideous to walk without it. He doesn't like it and tries to take it off but it's the only way to make it bearable. I think that was the gentle leader one.

[StoorieHoose]

I use a Gentle leader on our border collie - he walks so much better with it on and I don't feel as if my arm will be pulled out the socket. He is getting used to it, some days he does try to get it off but he is okay most of the time

[Frettchen]

I've used a gentle leader before, and have nothing against that. However, having just gone through puppy training with FrettDog, I figured I'd throw out an alternative - potentially could be used in conjuction with the new harness/head collar;

We started loose lead training by walking backwards, facing our dog and calling it; treating (and clicking if clicker training) when the dog came to us. This could then be transferred into walking facing forwards and treating/clicking the dog when in the right place.

My pup also responds to the whole stopping and taking a couple of steps back if he's pulling, however I'm really rubbish at remembering to do that all the time, esp if we're in a hurry, so it isn't a long-term fix.

[Countrywalks]

Thanks Bee for confirming you used a head halti, that sounds a good choice.

Thanks Ghost and Stoorie for the Gentle leader feedback too , sounds like they work too!

Thanks Frettchen for the training ideas, they are solid. I have started classes too , but I find it so tiresome to consistently of those things , the walk just never starts. I hoped perhaps with a gaget plus good training disciplines I might start getting somewhere! We are the " need mist improvement " pair at the class! It doesn't help the lovely trainer has very clever collies that apparently knew how to walk to heel straight away !

I would be interested to hear how the dogmatic head collar works too Everlong!

I can see myself buying both a halti and gentle leader. What fun! A move on from all the baby gadgets, all of that has moved on dramatically from when I bought all that, so now I get to buy dog stuff. Yay !

[Nataleejah]

One professional recommended me a choker lead. I wonder if its a god or bad idea?

[saintlyjimjams]

We had a canicollar (similar to a halti) but it made my dog jump like a kangaroo. I think he actually needs to learn to control his excitement (he is worse depending on where we are walking - beach =bonkers, park = semi bonkers, lead walk = fine.

I've gone back to stopping everytime he pulls & telling him to get back into position beside me - he learned that very quickly & park walks aren't too stop start now. Some

[saintlyjimjams]

Someone at the bus stop told me he was improving the other day.

I'm also doing some general work on being less excitable - teaching him to chill. At home at the moment but it will transfer outside.

[saintlyjimjams]

I found classes hopeless for him btw - he was so excited by the other dogs he couldn't do anything. Now I train without other dogs & add them in later if that makes sense.

[saintlyjimjams]

I wouldn't use a choke.

[NigellasGuest]

i don't think chokes are a good idea.

OP I also have a cocker spaniel - he does pull - but he's a puppy still so perhaps it will improve. He does have periods of walking on the lead really nicely.

How old is your cocker?

[Countrywalks]

Your kangaroo dog made me laught, Saintly!

She is seven months old now Nigella. I wouldn't use a choke lead, they sound awful. Planning on getting a gentle leader and a halti. Good to hear your puppy is getting better at walking nicely. I hope one day we will achieve this! Will report back soon.

[Countrywalks]

I like the sound of that Everlong! Decisions decisions. Do you think it would be helpful on your spaniel , or have you cracked it with her/him, sorry could remember?

[Countrywalks]

Couldn't