dog constantly pulls on lead and started not coming when asked

[starodyssey2015]

So I've got this dog who's, honestly, more than I bargained for. The breed is something me and my partner was researching and overhearing this my parents bought me one for my birthday. It was on one half a lovely thing for them to do, on the other hand quite silly of them as we had decided (and not told them) against it.

He has so much energy that we can't seem to keep up with. We've got in control at home mostly (lots of toys that makes his brain work - saying that would love for some tips on more). But on walks he's beggining to become a pain. He was pretty well trained off the lead but recently becoming very reluctant to get back on his lead. He won't dissappear. Just runs around you. But the worst thing he pulls so much. My palms are red raw when we get home. I've tried standing still till he stops then setting off and repeting it. (30 min walk was nearly 2 hours). He's even got a choker chain now (which I strongly disagreed with before but was desperate)

Any advice? Please don't insult my parents they were only trying to be nice. He's a border collie. Thanks in advance.

[Nearasdammit]

Thought you might say he was a BC.... !

Have you tried a trainer?

It's probably much easier to be taught by someone who's actually there with you as opposed to words on a screen.

[Effnjeff]

Professional training ASAP. Only way to go even with the gentlest of breeds. It's as useful for the owner as it is the dog!

[Buttholelane]

I have a border.
First of all, have you taught him to how to be calm and settle in the house?
If not, do that immediately.
Some will disagree but I think that loads of training, exercise and stimulation (as in hours of walking plus an hour of brain training plus agility twice a week plus fly ball once a week etc) is to the detriment of this breed.

Working collies have vast portions of the year when they are not really working and by and large are expected to mooch around and entertain themselves.
Generally, they will do whatever you ask of them and keep going and going and going.

when overstimulated, they will find it hard to settle and will be in a near constant state of arousal which isn't healthy.

Re recall, get a long line, a treat bag and a selection of high value treats eg hot dogs, roast chicken, cheddar.

I am not the best person to advise on loose lead walking as I made a right pigs ear of this when she was a pup and spent the next two years trying (and failing) to teach loose lead walking.
Although she is hugely improved and doesn't pull too much now.

I have had most success with a combination of luring with treats starting indoors and gradually building up the distractions and the use of leash corrections.
The collar is up high - right behind the ears and you give a quick tug to the side when you start feeling tension on the lead.

Get rid of the choke chain, they have been proven to cause horrendous damage even when properly used.
Even a prong is safer than a choke chain!

[Nearasdammit]

I agree that BCs need to learn to switch off and that over stimulation can be counterproductive.

However I disagree with leash corrections - especially with the collar high on the neck. That is the most sensitive place, loads of nerve endings but not much muscle. Not recommended at all.

I start LLW off lead, around the house and garden. I also prefer a harness. Contrary to popular belief they do NOT cause dogs to pull.

Lure into position, treat and praise, stationary at first then start to walk 2 steps then 3 etc. if the dog pulls - stop. Or turn and go the other way. Or walk backwards a couple of steps. The point being that pulling NEVER gets the dog where he wants to go. Ever.

[Buttholelane]

I think leash corrections generally are frowned upon now, I wouldn't use them for a future dog but I really messed up with walking and the pulling was so ingrained that I found it almost impossible to fix.

A combination of luring and corrections was worked best for me personally but I accept there will be other, probably better ways.

[starodyssey2015]

How would I train him to be settled in the house?

Thanks for your responses. Won't use choker from now on but chokes himself with collar too.

[EasyToEatTiger]

We have collies. They learn easily. We have just got a new pup. Masses of the energy is thinking energy. Collies like to have a job, whether it's rounding up sheep all day or finding their food. They have a huge capacity to do nothing, as long as when they are working, they have a job to do. Wiccaweys Border Collie Rescue may be able to advise you. Carol Price has written a lot about BC behaviour and living with a BC. Treat calm behaviour. If you go to dog training classes, it helps if the trainer is used to dealing with working dogs. Lots of classes are based on pet dogs. Talk to sheepdog trainers. Border collies are brilliant brilliant brilliant. It is a way of looking at the world. If you join in their world, you won't look back!

[EasyToEatTiger]

Don't put your dog on a collar with a lead. Use a harness. If you use a line, a horse lunge line is good. You want him to pay attention to you. Not just getting to the walk. You need him paying attention to you. End of. On the lead, reward any attention to you. He can't pull when he's looking at you. When you've got his attention you can both have fun!

[Nearasdammit]

Agree ^

As for not coming when called - you can't go wrong with Pippa Mattinson's "Total Recall".

[VeryStressedMum]

Practice recall in the house and everywhere by calling him with a treat in one hand extended out and with the other hand put two fingers under his collar then he gets his treat so he gets used to being called to you and his collar touched so it's easy to put him on the lead or if you need to keep hold of him. Hope that makes sense!

[SunshineAndShadows]

he's dancing around you when you try and put on his lead because you're only recalling him when you want to leash him and he perceives this as much less fun than being off lead. You need to start regular recall training, and when he comes back to you (for a high reward treat and lots of positive reinfocement) then let him run on again. Keep repeating this and he'll learn that recall does not mean he will always be leashed and his recall to you will be much more reliable. Start with a straightforward recall and when he's got that then add in a collar touch, reward and let him go. It means that the times you do need to leash him, you'll be able to get him.

You don't say how old he is but from your posts I'm assuming 5-8 months-ish - would that be right? Many dogs go through puberty at this stage and can regress in their training - You will get through it!

[SunshineAndShadows]

Also I find that training to heel work off the lead is really useful as a first step to then getting your dog focussed on the lead. If he'll walk to heel off lead then keep practicing this and use the same commands and techniques on-lead. Start in the garden or at the end of a walk initially. The beginning of a walk will be too exciting for him to focus properly

[TheHoundsBitch]

My dog is a terrible puller, we have a front leading harness now which seems to have solved her pulling. I can't help with recall though as dpup has none!
This is the harness we have.

[Lilcamper]

I don't like that harness because of the martingale bit on the front. It is designed to tighten and cause discomfort if a dog pulls. You are better off with a fixed harness like this Perfect Fit

[TheHoundsBitch]

Really? I haven't noticed it tightening on her, the ring just moves side to side on her chest. We are going to replace it with a perfect fit or another front leader when she's fully grown anyway.

[SukieTuesday]

Are you in the Berkshire? I know a brilliant trainer who does one to one and weekly group classes who lives BCs. If you are happy to say roughly what area you're in I'm sure someone will be able to give you the name of a good trainer local to you.