New puppy - lead pulling

[B2023]

Hi all,

so we’ve got a 17 week old puppy. We’re currently going through a lot of training with him, he’s a really lovely dog. He is a working breed so he’s recurring a lot of exercise.

we’re finding that on walks, he loses interest in us and the treats after 20 mins or so. And if we don’t take treats, he physically will not listen to us. He gets so excited, that he pulls on the lead, jumping mid air in the road and running in circles.

we walk him with a collar not a harness.

does anyone have any advice? As I want my dog to be safe and happy of course.

we have recently been trying to bring him home when he loses Interest, as he is really working himself up and getting over excited, this then means the walk is becoming dangerous for both him and me. Then we try again about an hour or so later. Is this a wrong thing to do?

we are giving him a lick mat, a snuffle mat and other forms of enrichment throughout the day. My god he has so much energy haha

any advice is appreciated thank you.

Is there a reason you don’t use a harness? My dog is strong and I wouldn’t be able to walk her easily with just a collar. We tried a few harnesses and found one that clips onto her chest and it works beautifully. She’s also calmed down with age and some training so that helps too.

Thank you so much for your response. So the lady I brought the dog from said she was a dog trainer, and told me that walking him on a harness will allow him to pull more.

However she also said he was toilet trained and many other things that definitely are not true, unfortunately.

May I ask if you know what brand harness you use? I will definitely look into it if it helps :)

To add to this.

Does anyone know how to get dog urine stains out of a white rug? 😬

So you believed someone who sounds like a back yard breeder. She lied about the toilet training and what other " many things did she lie about? What breed?

Please do not use a collar, they're damaging, Google why. Would you like to wear a collar and be pulled by the neck and throat? Use a harness. Go to puppy training classes.

I use a halti harness for my dog, which fastens on the front and on his back.

A reputable dog trainer taught me to stop and turn around when my dog pulls- it stopped his forward momentum and put me back in control. It's also all about positive reinforcement- when the pup is walking just behind you/to your side, say something like "good walking" and give him a treat.

Some people find clicker training very useful too

Have you got a puppy class booked? This should be a really good way of getting started with these sorts of basic issues.

The only other thing I would suggest is to keep walks really REALLY short for a while, so that you can hopefully get him back home before mental tiredness causes the problems of overexcitement and not listening to you.

Walks at this stage are just little training exercises to get him used to the routine of leaving the home. Even if you just went out the front door, walked 10-20 yards and then turned round and went home again, that would be a valid walk at this stage

We were told to use a collar for exactly the same reason as you.

My advice is to practice, practice, practice. Also, the three Ds, Distance, Duration and Distraction. Ie.As time goes by. Increase the distance you walk, the duration, ie, length of time, and then introduce distraction, ie, different areas.

You puppy is still young. The big bad world is an exciting place for him. Use higher value treats (cheese etc), reward frequency and everytime they look at you. Get him following you around the garden, round your house etc.

Ate you going to puppy training classes? They will help. Or look online - Mcann on youtube for example.

If they pull, changing direction or putting them in a sit is a common strategy.

Lastly, it’s not a quick fix. I’d say it takes weeks not days to get the hang of it.

Regarding harnesses, they designed for sledge dogs such as huskies, so when they pull, they have their full body weight behind them,which makes them stronger.

Thank you all for your advice

I’ve booked some training classes, so hopefully these will give me some insight as well. I have had a dog before, however she was a much smaller breed and wasn’t as strong.

I’ll definitely try the three D’s and try an alternative treat such as cheese. Who doesn’t love cheese haha.

Thank you all, I really do appreciate it. I just want my dog to be as safe as possibly on walks

We were also told by a reputable dog trainer not to use a harness. Most harnesses are ill fitting and can do more damage to the dog when they pull.

Good luck op. It gets better!

Out of interest did you do dog training classes and get told this? Just shows its opinion if yours said this and others don't. Mine trains police and other working dogs and stuff with decades of experience. I trust her.

I was told in training not to use a harness. Honestly, pay for a trainer - our pup is walking beautifully. Also, high value treats!!

I have a 15 month old terrier cross. I followed the guidance by southend dog training on youtube and found it invaluable. Alot of though isn't just about lead walking it is the whole package to engender the relationship.between you and the dog so that it listens to you. Good luck.