To use a chokechain?

[AsahiGo]

Looking for some advice and brutal honesty, hence posting in this section haha. Also sorry for the long post.

We've had our gorgeous labsky for two months, he's a second-hand dog, and aside from being an obnoxious teenager at times, he's generally good. However, on walks he is a nightmare.

He drags, and it's BAD. To add context, my husband and I are both powerlifters, and we both struggle with him! We've tried a harness (swiftly found it gives him more power to drag through his shoulders - I swear he thanked us for it!), We've tried a halti. With the halti, it did hinder his pulling BUT, he learnt that if he walks slightly side-ways, he can still do whatever he wants. And then he started walking on his hind legs whilst trying to get the halti off with his front paws.

The other issue we have is that he is fixated on cars. He lunges at anything that moves, and yesterday he knocked my daughter into the road in front of a 4x4 (SHE IS FINE! luckily). He was on a halti and another lead attached to his collar as a backup. He still managed to get off the curb.

At the moment, I'm walking him at 4am (less traffic!) and I'm wrapping the lead around my waist and using my body weight against him. It's the only thing I can think of doing at the moment. Treats don't work - he flat out refuses them on walks, in fact, he completely ignores me.

I loathe choke chains. But I feel like I'm running out of options, and due to his fixation on chasing vehicles, it's only a matter of time before an accident happens. We have seen a couple of trainers, and they didn't know what to do with him. The last guy screamed 'FUCKING HELL!' as he was yanked across his paddock.

Obviously I need to walk this dog, but I don't know how to do it safely anymore. AIBU to try a choke chain?

Mine doesn't like fetch - he will happily find his toys/some object/ family members! for me, but isn't interested in running after a ball. Chase me, however, is our new Olympic sport.
We've been teaching a lot of 'tricks' just to keep him occupied. He's a fast learner which is great.
I've just had a quick look at Rally on the KC website - first time I've heard of it. It sounds good (will read more on it), would I be right in saying it's low-intensity but more like brain work? I'll have a go at anything providing I can get there. It'd be good to help build up a stronger bond too.

What a ludicrous dog to have as a pet. Sounds very dangerous.

Perhaps give him away? May be best option for you him and general public

lol, thanks for your input!

Helpful, floatyboat

Yes Rally is really low intensity. They basically walk with you the whole time in a heel position except for when you get to the signs when they can come out of heel and do something else you ask of them. But really puts their mind to work. It's great.

(why do people do that lol^)

Thanks again to everyone who offered advice, opinions, tips etc. It's all valued.

Because I can, here's a picture of my majestic, ludicrous, out of control husky (x lab) in his natural environment.

Aww, he's lush! I wouldn't have guessed anything other than lab. If you're near Plymouth, happy to walk my husky cross with you! 😂

Whereabouts roughly are you OP?

Maybe someone could meet up and walk with you, or let you know of a space you can let him off safely?

Your local agility or dog club may have a list of people who are willing to rent enclosed spaces for exercising dogs.

I used to have 3 huskies, sadly over the years they've passed on. All 3 of them pulled like a train but I could manage them in harnesses (they could all slip collars) with the leads attached to a dog walking harness round my waist (think the brand was Canadog or something similar). I'm only 5 2 and as long as I kept my wits about me, watched their movements i could manage quite acceptable walks with them. Holding onto leads would have been impossible.
A technique I did use with the younger girl when she was a pup which was fairly successful was every time she pulled, turn sharply and walk back the other way. You look like a fool constantly turning backwards and forwards but it worked, it makes them look to you for direction rather than the head down pulling that they do.
But, huskies are bred to pull, it's in their dna but then in fairness, mine didn't tend to lunge, I can imagine that's horrendous.

He's more husky in personality I think lol. I'm in the Midlands! a bit far from Plymouth:(

@Booboostwo I didn't think to contact doggy places (duh). I've been calling around recreational spaces etc.

@ADrabLittleCrab - when I can, I do the changing direction thing. It confuses him into trotting along beside me 'what's that crazy human doing now'. It's getting him to the places I can do that first! Walking on a narrow pavement beside cars is difficult, although I have tried it. The lunging is horrible, and it catches me off guard. We can spot when he goes to do it, he becomes stiff, focused, OBVIOUSLY he knows a vehicle is coming. Those times I'm prepared. On occasion, he hasn't done ANY of them, I've fussed him, 'good boy good boy' stuffs a treat near his mouth, and then he's darted around and behind me and lunged AFTER the car. It's hard to put it into words. At times when I think he hasn't been bothered he's played me haha

A technique I did use with the younger girl when she was a pup which was fairly successful was every time she pulled, turn sharply and walk back the other way.

Yeah we did this, turning circles the whole way...looks a bit daft, but might have some luck.

I have seen someone use the waist lead - ie when you have them clipped to a special belt around your waist. It was a guy with two husky type dogs and he looked incredibly fit and was running with them and it was on a beech. Might be a thing for you or your DP to try when you find an open space away from roads, to give the dog some work.

I know that my puller is a lot less anxiety ridden when he's knackered and feels he's done his job. Good luck op, and good on you for working with him and not giving up on him.

I would like to add that I walked all 3 at the same time and I am far, far from fit. In fact the only time I had real trouble was when I had my boy first, before the 2 girls joined us and walking through the woods, think I'm clever and I'll run along the trail for a bit......big mistake! He was off and because of the momentum, I could not stop. In the end, I had to run myself into a tree to bring his fun to an abrupt end...man it hurt!!!!
Of my three, boy had been used as a stud dog and badly mistreated, we rescued him and on our first check up at the vet, he had to go in and have back teeth out as they were broken - vet said it wasn't an age thing, he'd most likely been kicked a few times. Our next girl was rescued, had been a race dog but owners didn't want to race her as a veteran so gave her up. And our last girl we got as a pup, a young couple had bought her from a backyard breeder and after a month realised what they'd taken on and ditched her! I loved those dogs...first two went purely down to old age but my younger girl died last year from a very aggressive tumour, miss her so much :-(
I was lucky, they weren't lungers (unless a squirrel was spotted) so although hard work, I knew where I stood with them. I'd agree with a PP who suggested desensitization and sitting near traffic for ages until DDog realises that it's all quite boring

Hi again, very handsome boy btw, just in case you didn't notice, I really recommend the NBN (Naughty but Nice) FB group, its great for chatting about issues like you have and can also give trainer recommendations, local places for exercising etc. There will bound to be someone in the group near to you.

Depending whereabouts in the midlands, there is here: www.developingdogs.co.uk/safe-dog-walks/

thanks for the link @missbattenburg.
@MrsPMT im not on fb, I think I need to be! thanks for the group rec.
@BlindAssassin1 thanks for the luck!
@ADrabLittleCrab you know how instantly they manage to pull off then! it's like a cartoon - the legs on the person are just spinning unable to stop to simply keep vertical. Your dogs sound like they had a very good life with you, they certainly landed on their feet. There's a of adolescent huskies in shelters near me - they're gorgeous bundles of fluff, and the noise is cute - for the first few months.

OP if you're anywhere in/near the East Midlands, look up Melody Todd. She's APDT accredited and helped us a few years back with our difficult dog of the time.

sayhello .... THANK GOODNESS someone has come to this thread with sensible advice!!

OP .... please listen (I know you are) to sayhello. One of the very few on this thread with some actual sense and knowledge to help you.

Hi

we have a big brown lab and he used to pull like a bastard! We have more or less solved the problem but he's not perfect - but much better.
We went back to basics with loose lead walking, using clickers and treats, so he got a treat when he responded to the clicker. We used this to get him to walk more or less to heel and sit before crossing a road and as a distraction if another dog was on the horizon.
We got a front clip harness, we tried a halti, he hated it and could reverse out of it somehow, he didn't get loose as it had a halti link on but it didn't stop the pulling. A back clip harness just gave him more leverage to pull harder. The font clip harness works, don't know why but it really does works for us.
www.amazon.co.uk/PHOEPET-Harness-Reflective-Adjustable-Attachment/dp/B07GVD3M28/ref=sr_1_126?s=pet-supplies&crid=3PGXM2MUIETR2&keywords=front+clip+dog+harness&sprefix=front+clip+%2Cpets%2C139&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1570105242&sr=1-126

We had him neutered at 18 months old, he calmed down considerably after that.

Hope there's something there that can help, having a dog that pulls is not a pleasure to walk!

@Frazzledbutcalm I get you don't agree with me, I get you think im an idiot, but yes. I have paid attention. and I am. I'm really, really not that daft. and if you knew what I did for a day job, I imagine you'd be temporarily speechless.
There are tonnes of people on here who have spoken sense, yourself included.
Lots of pully labs @KilburnOriginal! Thanks for the link. we do do clicker training with him. atm im not quick enough to do it on walks. cant take my hands off the leash!

@Hydrogenbeatsoxygen He is NOT. He’s a twat. Please don’t follow Cesar Milan.

^ this with bells on , I will add my bells on too .
The idiot is a bully and forces dogs into scared / uncomfortable situations to make them react so when he removes them from the situation it looks like he has cured them

op ... i think you’ve misunderstood me .. i definitely don’t think you’re an idiot. On the contrary ... you sound like you love your dog and want to do the best for him.

My frustration is the rubbish that a lot of posters are saying on here. You have a highly energetic dog that needs a huge amount of specialist care ... I sincerely hope you both/all get there in the end with the professional help that is necessary. It was a relief when someone spoke sense here, with constructive help and advice, and with excellent knowledge of dogs.

Honestly, I wish you all the best, I really do

He looks lovely OP.

Please don't clip a long line to a collar though, if you do have to grab him and stop him with it you could do pretty serious damage to his neck.

What a lovely looking dog OP! You're right, not a lot of husky in his looks! Except maybe his nose. Beautiful boy.

I just want to say (maybe an update? idk) the chokechain thing is literally all I've thought about for the last few days. Dh and I have discussed it LOADS and I'm going tofollow the majoritys' advice and persevere with 'stop/wait/go' etc. If a good trainer comes to my attention, I will have another go (fucking hell guy cost us £500 for 2 hours, so a bit hesitant).
I'm sticking to the early walks - if he drags me but knackers himself out in the first half I'm happy, because then the training will be more efficient in the second part! He has been coming back to me when I've stopped! He still sets off again with gusto, but he isn't continuously pulling through the 'stop' bit.
I'm also taking him out for small 'training' sessions on the green when it's quiet - and yesterday he came back to me for treats! I did try in my garden the lead walking, and he had a temper tantrum at not going out! So will do it out-out.

I found a husky dad yesterday who was WALKING his husky. Yes, WALKING. So I chased him down shouting 'excuse me! excuse me!' (because I'm one of those) and I asked him what sorcery he's using on his dog. He actually told me to go and get mine so he can see whats' going on and his diagnosis was 'He's taking the piss out of you'. HE THEN WALKED MY DOG … Whilst I held his very well behaved goodboy. He never used any gadgets or 'tricks' but he told me to get a shorter lead. So I'll look into that.

Traffic situation - I'm planning on 'exposing' him to traffic purposely everyday at a decent grass verge I found on my travels. I'm more optimistic about the pulling tbh.

We've not entirely ruled out choke chain. But we are going to give this a real good go first.

Thanks to everyone that replied, it sounds very insincere but I really, really mean it. You've all helped (the both of us!) loads.

We've not entirely ruled out choke chain. But we are going to give this a real good go first.

That says it all op .... everyone should just give up with you.

I said upthread it’s the owners who need training ... the incident with the man clearly shows this.

You need to rehome the dog .... you’re clearly not right for him.

🤷🏼‍♀️