Dog pulling

[Alittlenonsensenowandthen]

I know it's a time old problem but i could do with some advice on dog pulling. I have a 2 year old border collie. When he walks with me alone he is fab. Can't quite get him to walk to heel but he's loose lead. As soon as i take my kids or we go somewhere where he has to stay on lead that's exciting (field or sheep, woodland that has dog on lead rule) he's a a nightmare. Yelps at kids as he doesn't like them running when he can't, pulling lead etc. The difficulty is that i tend to do training when I'm alone. Any tips?!
What I've done so far...
Treats constantly to stay by my side. Sort of works but he gets a bit manic.
Stopping until he calms down, praise him when quiet and move on. Sort of works except only for 2-3 steps...!
Turning around and walking backwards till he focuses and looks at me.

Its really spoiling family walks. He really loves some off lead time but what with sheep, nesting birds etc it's hard finding places

[BigWolfLittleWolf]

Fellow border collie owner.
I’m sorry but mine is a puller too...
You’ve done better than me as I don’t get proper ‘loose lead’, though she is much better than she used to be.
I get only a slightly tensed lead now.
Only because she’s old now though 🤣

[Alittlenonsensenowandthen]

I'm both encouraged and discouraged 😁 makes me feel better that it's not just me and that I've got one thing right!

[LawnFever]

Can only offer some solidarity I’m afraid, our dog is the exact same! He walks lovely on just a walk with me round the streets but a park/in the country/along the canal where it’s busy and exciting he’s dragging me along and it’s a nightmare!!

Working on it the same way you are but it’s tough, and he’s too daft to be off the lead those kind of places too

[sewinginmyfreetime]

What about a harness with a front clip ring and a double ended lead? My lurcher is a very strong 30kg+ 7 month old and is impossible to control if excited and only wearing a collar, but walks perfectly in a harness on a double lead because if he pulls he just gets turned towards me so doesn’t bother (we reinforce with regular treats for nice loose lead walking by my side and he really is very good now).
It might be trickier with a collie though as their drive will be to keep the “herd” together. Could he maybe be on a long line attached to a harness that you can just step on if there are sheep or ground nesting birds about? I recommend a biothane one, easy wipe clean for the inevitable trail through poo!

[Tronkmanton]

In those situations I would make a figure 8 over his nose with the lead (slip lead type). He wouldn’t be able to pull then and it would be safer with the children. A temporary fix whilst you work on his training. My lab can still pull in a harness but can’t with figure 8.

[Ravenclawsome]

You need to train during these situations too.
The dog hasn't learned to loose lead, he's learned to loose lead in Situation A (if that makes sense).

[Skyla2005]

A halti lead and harness that goes round the nose was the only way I could walk my collie it's not cruel they just can't pull with it on. Ask the kids not to run ahead until the dog is off lead

[Snackz]

A stop pull lead from Pets at Home. It goes around their nose but honestly has made a huge difference to the way our lab walks!

[AvantGardening]

It’s a training issue. Now you have lossie leash in easy circumstances you need to focus on your D’s (distance, duration and distraction).

I’d start with one distraction (like a running child) a fair distance away. Somewhere he can see them but they aren’t tantalisingly close. Gradually work closer over a number of weeks. Then increase distance but make the distraction something more exciting and again work closer over time.

[AvantGardening]

Loose leash.

My kingdom for an edit function

[PollyRoulson]

Absolutely it is a training issue.

Training needs to take place away from the distracting environment to start with. When you are in the distracting environment up the reward frequency and use the best reward possible.

With collies it helps to reward at you bum not side, they tend to like to tuck in behind you.

What is their best motivator ever? Possible a ball. Walk in the garden with the ball in your hand behind your bum take two steps with the dog in position then drop (not throw) the ball behind you as a reward. Gradually increase the number of steps 300 peck is good for this so count to 2, reward, count to 3 reward, count to 4 steps reward etc. ALL of this is being done in low level distraction. (I tend also to train this without a lead so also in a safe place maybe garden to start with)

You may want to change your cue word if you have used a word that has been used and ignored.

I have a "with me" cue which is not strict heel work but just walk at my pace beside me.

A few things to remember:-
Always reward behind you (to encourage the dog to hang back)
always drop the toy or treat (do not throw it as this increases the energy levels too much)
Always work up to distractions slowly.

If you are in an area that is just too much for them , remove yourself from that area and train at a distance from it but up the reward frequency.

TBH collies should pick this up pretty easily and quickly.