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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

arghh, my dog will pull my arm off one day!

19 replies

kid · 06/03/2011 14:14

I really hate walking my dog at the moment
he is still just a puppy at 8 months old but he drives me insane.

I have tried turning in the opposite direction and walking that way when we walk but he'd just pull in that direction instead. If I kept turning in the opposite direction each time, I'd end up dizzy and on the floor!

I also tried holding a treat in my hand so he constantly focused on my hand. This didn't really work either as he would keep biting at my hand to try and get the treats and it would end up hurting me.

My current method is to stop in my tracks as soon as he pulls and remain still until the tension on the lead stops and then we carry on walking.
The problem with this method is, I have to stop every 2 or 3 steps.

Should I give him a treat when the tension on the lead stops?

Walking him is a nightmare and is driving me insane. His recall isn't fantastic either as if he sees another dog or children, nothing seems to get his attention.
He used to be such a good liitle pup when he was 3 months old!

OP posts:

CheeryCherry · 06/03/2011 14:17

No advice but will watch this thread! Our dog dreadful on lead too.

JaxTellersOldLady · 06/03/2011 14:26

OK, here is what I did with Loofa. Stopped dead in my tracks when he pulled, but had a treat in my hand so showed him the treat and put him back to 'heel' position. Then we started again walking until he pulled, I would stop dead, lure him back with treat and continue, always starting off with left foot - dog on left hand side.

Pretty quickly I just stopped dead and he would come back to heel and didnt need a treat all the time. It works, but even now he will still pull sometimes and that is when I use a Halti, especially with my back being buggered again at the moment.

I use a Halti with puppy and treats. I dont think there is a quick fix solution, just time and consistency. Tis a bugger!

Original poster

kid · 06/03/2011 15:10

Thanks for the advice jax.
I've been trying to stop him pulling on the lead for months, this morning he was worse than ever!
I think it felt worse as I'd just been to the gym so was feeling sore and tired.

OP posts:

TheFlyingOnion · 06/03/2011 15:19

get a halti, definitely.

Walking anywhere with my dog when he was younger was so frustrating - the halti meant that finally when he needed to go on the lead it wasn't a constant battle.

He's now 3, and better (although not perfect) and I use an extendable, and try and walk him off the lead as much as I can.

All the changing direction, treats and toys in the world never made a blind bit of difference to him on the lead when he was little TBH

ExitPursuedByABear · 06/03/2011 15:20

What breed is he kid? My Springer pulls like a bloody train. Bit not for DH

Original poster

kid · 06/03/2011 15:43

He is a springer

OP posts:

ExitPursuedByABear · 06/03/2011 15:51

No chance then. Can be useful for being pulled up hills (I have bad feet and struggle up steps etc)

His recall is fabulous now - except where ducks/hens/geese are concerned.

bemybebe · 06/03/2011 15:54

Have a look at this www.labradorforums.co.uk/ftopict-76587.html

It is about labradors but equally applicable to other breeds.

elmofan · 06/03/2011 16:06

I had to buy this for my springer www.thedogoutdoors.com/canny-collar-no-pull-dog-head-harness.html its not a miracle cure but it has helped a little .

iloverhubarbcrumble · 06/03/2011 18:31

kid, we have just the same problem with Lola. A springer just a week or two younger than yours. OKish on the pavement, but nightmare in the park from car park to where I can let her off the lead.

Tried everything, stop, turn around, you name it. There's no way a treat will lure her back to heel when she is in an ecstatic pre walk state. It's so unpleasant, just as you describe.

Just to say me too! I am going to try the Halti.

JaxTellersOldLady · 06/03/2011 18:52

I do agree that when they are in that "need to run" hyper state it is very very impossible difficult to get them to focus and walk properly.

I do think the older they get the easier it gets...

nightshade · 06/03/2011 19:17

having used halti and a canny collar, i would definitely recommend the www.cannycollar.co.uk.

it is much less severe on a dog and doesn't slip over the eyes the way a halti does. you may need a bigger, stronger clip to attach to a lead however.

my dog behaviourist recommended them, they are super once dog gets used to wearing it!

Piffle · 06/03/2011 19:45

I gave in and got a dogmatic headcollar after my 9 mth RR girl tore my shoulder muscles...
It has turned our walking experiences around and nOw aged 2, she is good on the collar alone though I Carry the headcollar always and pop it on if she is pulling
I did find plenty of empty field walks to practice recall, it helped her recall has improved tons

Choufleur · 06/03/2011 21:39

Get a halti. I love our halti. The dog hates it, but he WILL get used to it as I refuse to go back to collar or halter.

TheFlyingOnion · 07/03/2011 09:11

mine hates the halti too, but its simply hard cheese as it has saved my sanity. If he's in it longer than an hour or so I give him a little break (eg when we're at horse shows) otherwise he gets really fed up.

Saying that, he's so much better now I don't have to use it as much - it did its job...

fishie · 07/03/2011 10:02

Kid isn't it horrible when you don't want to walk them. I've got a similar aged puller too - harness useless as he is 25% husky so just goes off like a train. he is pretty good at recall but I am not strong enough to stop him if i need to which means I can't walk him alone.

shall i get a dogmatic then piff? what i'd really like is for ds who is almost 6 to have an occasional go at walking him on the lead, it is just impossible now even for a few steps.

gegs73 · 07/03/2011 10:04

We have a Halti for our dog and it is actually nice to walk him now rather than a chore with his pulling. I can highly recommend them.

landrover · 09/03/2011 21:53

Cannycollar here too!!!!!! Stops a 12 stone newfie pulling so much i can hold him back with one finger!!! Take cannycollar off, pulls straight away, it is a miracle!!!! Much better than halti as well!

Beamur · 09/03/2011 22:02

I've tried using a halti type thing, but my dog just kept pulling - it made no difference!!! The first time it was put on her, at the RSPCA when we took her she went absolutely berserk.
Treats do not work as she is not food motivated but I have not really persevered enough with the stop/turn around tactics.
I think we have not helped though as DP usually walks her, rarely on a lead (her recall isn't bad, except when she goes totally awol) and she just is soooo excited at the start of a walk.
Interestingly though, she was walked on a lead by my MIL a couple of weeks ago and walked nicely without pulling! So that must mean she can, but chooses not to..
I keep hoping when she gets older she'll calm down but she about 8 now and is hardly any different.

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