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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use a chokechain?

299 replies

AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 07:24

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:24

Sorry, I posted at the same time you replied I think

OP posts:
sazzle27 · 02/10/2019 09:27

Have a look on "Dog Training Advice and Support" page on facebook - join, ask your question to the admin and they will respond with really effective and results based advice

www.facebook.com/groups/374160792599484/?ref=share

Alittleodd · 02/10/2019 09:27

I spoke to my husband about this (I need a life, I'm discussing MN threads) and he's worked with military trained huskies and pointed out, as pp said that pulling is in their very nature - he suggested having an outlet for pulling (so fitting him with a harness and having him pull a sled over grass etc or my husband described a harness that connects to a harness for you which they used to use to build up strength with the dogs, I personally wouldn't go for that one but then I'm not a 6ft tall bloke!) The point is to make pulling a thing that he can do on command and ONLY on command. It's like helping to train a a dog who barks at everything out of it by teaching it to "speak" on command - it redirects the instinct.

And this thread has reminded me to do some hardcore lead training on my 10 month old pup. Problem is he's teeny so if he pulls it does nothing.... Which means he gets away with bad lead behaviour. Must do something about that!

Frazzledbutcalm · 02/10/2019 09:29

Sounds like you got a dog that you didn’t understand - a one that needs way more working, walking and attention than you can give. Instead of looking at different leads etc .... learn how to train your dog, it’s the owners that need training, not the dog. The dog learns from the owner ... if the owner can’t do the job properly then the dog can’t learn.

I feel sorry for your poor dog.

theapplesarecoming · 02/10/2019 09:29

I can't believe you never let him off the lead. Is there really nowhere you can go to allow this poor dog to run and shake off some energy?

smugmug · 02/10/2019 09:30

Sorry I doubt that this helps you but I had a collie x husky who when I first had him ( second hand !) pulled like mad on the Lead but walked calmly to heel off , we did obedience classes and he eventually became much more settled on the lead too

smugmug · 02/10/2019 09:32

And mine also had a fixation on engines and bicycles , luckily we had a farm so he had freedom away from the roads

Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:33

@Alittleodd -Thank you! My dh wants to get a harness so that pooch can pull something (he's thinking of a tire) when we find a field or area to rent - would your husband recommend that? dh spoke to someone who uses huskies in competitions, and they said they do it in summer (the guy is in America so), when they're 'off-season' as part of their training. I also want to do canicross, but I was told my dog is too young for it.

OP posts:
gingersausage · 02/10/2019 09:34

@theapplesarecoming don’t be daft. A dog who hasn’t yet learnt reliable recall is much safer on a flipping lead.

Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:37

@theapplesarecoming if I could guarantee he wouldn't kill himself by running into a road, I would let him off. I would train him in recall. As it stands, unless I rent somewhere (which I'm in the process of doing, see above posts), he can't be let off yet. There are no secure 'away from roads' areas near me.
But yes, I agree he would thrive if he could have a good run. I'm doing the best I can.

OP posts:
adaline · 02/10/2019 09:37

Good luck - huskies are not easy dogs and need a lot of work even as adults. A husky cross is going to be similar - yes, labs are fairly easy to train but only if you know what you're doing. I know plenty of young labs who leap and jump about and don't behave well at all.

My sister in law has a husky and she runs it everyday - a walk (even a 90 minute walk) just doesn't cut it. She's trained it to run alongside her bike and she takes it for miles and miles everyday. It's the only way to keep it calm. Her dog also has zero recall - she plays around and will not come back once off the lead, so all her exercise has to be on lead (lots of livestock here) unless at the beach and with another dog whose recall is reliable.

Are you sure you have the time and patience it takes to own a husky cross? Leash manners/pulling are only one thing you're going to have to conquer.

WorraLiberty · 02/10/2019 09:37

You sound like you're giving up on each thing too quickly.

You've tried all of those things and 2 dog trainers and yet it's only been 2 months.

The main way to train any dog is through repetition and that can take months and months. Sometimes a year or more.

Try to choose a solution and stick to it. That might help you.

NoSauce · 02/10/2019 09:40

@NoSauce - we use(d) the Dogmatic one lol. He has a red one. First time we tried it he figured out how to unbuckle the leash clip from the hoop

Did he?! That’s impressive, how on earth did he manage to do that?

SusanneLinder · 02/10/2019 09:40

*24KUGA

Try googling the dog whisperer Cesar Millan.
He`s a top man.*

Guy is a twat, and shouldn't be allowed near dogs. He has been slated for using prong/shock collars.

( Ads are annoying but he is sponsored by dog food)

I second the posters that state Zak George or Kikopup. Positive reinforcement is the way dogs should be trained.
I used a double lead training my puller, harness and head collar. I walked her the other way when she pulled to point I was dizzy at beginning..Grin.
Train dog off lead with a whistle and high value treats ( like chicken or hot dogs), and release them after they come, so they never actually guess when it's time to go home. Helps with pent up energy on lead. If you always put them on the lead everytime they come, they won't come cos you are spoiling their fun. In fact practice in house first, then extend to training lead.
Also dogs need to exercise their minds as well as their bodies. Google scent games to play. I also have a bubble machine that my dog loves, with peanut butter or bacon flavoured bubbles.

Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:40

@smugmug - did yours calm down overtime? I'm on a waiting list for a group training class. Everyone I meet says 'oh, he'll calm down, he's just a baby', and then online it's the opposite and it's a bit like 'now what?'.
Someone on another forum suggested I walk him with an older, calmer dog and he'll follow the others' lead. The only other dogfriend I have makes mine look catatonic in comparison

OP posts:
adaline · 02/10/2019 09:46

Everyone I meet says 'oh, he'll calm down, he's just a baby', and then online it's the opposite and it's a bit like 'now what?'.

He will calm down as he gets older but that won't solve the problems you're having. If he hasn't been trained, he'll still run off, pull on the lead and do all the things he's doing now, except he'll be much bigger and stronger and harder to control when it does go wrong.

Frazzledbutcalm · 02/10/2019 09:48

You need to train him ..you seem to be missing the point OP. You need to learn how to train the dog and look after his needs. You’re not doing that.

Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:49

@NoSauce He's proficient in walking on his hind legs... And whilst he's doing that, he uses his front paws to just keep fiddling with the lead/hoop. I know, right! The first time he did it, it was a fluke and I noticed it before he did. I watched him do it in the house a coupld of times before we went out.
@adaline, thanks for your suggestions. Again with exercise, other people I've spoken to suggest he gets TOO MUCH (by using the 5 minutes per month rule), and say he's over-stimulated. We do a lot of scent work, brain games etc, as well as play. Others' say most of his exercise should be mental. I work from home, so I'm always here with him.

OP posts:
Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:50

@Frazzledbutcalm how am I missing the point? I'm not trying to be confrontational with you, I'm not sure I understand you

OP posts:
IceIceCoffee · 02/10/2019 09:52

Please don’t. My rescue husky cross arrived to me with his neck torn to pieces from a choker. A ruffwear harness has helped us.

pigsDOfly · 02/10/2019 09:53

I never understand why people get these sort of dogs when they've no idea of the commitment and amount of training time the dog needs.

They're really not suitable as family pets, partly due to the amount of exercise they need every single day.

Using a choke chain will cause damage, please don't

Get professional help, a good trainer with knowledge of the breed.

And if you don't have the time to spend on more than, what for the dog, is more than a few short walks a day, then perhaps you should think of rehoming him.

An under exercised dog is just going to get bored and restless and destructive.

Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:54

@IceIceCoffee you're the second person to recommend that harness, looking into it

OP posts:
Frazzledbutcalm · 02/10/2019 09:56

From your posts it sounds like you’re looking for an easy, quick fix. You’ve not persevered with much. I’m not being rude at all (hope I don’t sound it) but it seems the dog is not suitable for your lifestyle/personality. You could have a fantastic dog if you learn how to train him. Like I said earlier, it’s the owners who need training - need to learn how to train their dogs. The dog is guided by you. You have a very high energy dog ... he needs so much more than you’re giving him right now.

WatchingTheMoon · 02/10/2019 09:57

OP, even if you do get that harness, you still need to do training. It's useful as a tool but not a replacement for the dog knowing how to walk properly.

Original poster
AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 09:57

Thanks everyone for the replies, loads of good advice

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