Stopping a Spaniel from being too strong on the lead- any tips?

[jollyboysmum]

A novice requires the Mumsnet expertise! So the dog we like at the rescue centre is a lovely Spaniel cross (maybe Collie), who apparently is too strong on the lead. How could we go about rectifying this? Would it be very difficult and take a long time? Any advice welcome!

I have a spaniel, he is 4 and still pulls especially when out somewhere new. I have just started to use a halti on him to calm him down on the way to his walk.

However my previous dog was a Springer x Collie and no headcollars, harnesses or anything else stopped him pulling.
I used to stop and make him come back to heel and then start walking again, but he was just full of energy and wanted to walk twice as fast as me. He was a well trained dog but walking at human pace wasn't something he felt was necessary!

You could try a halti or gentle leader to help, but it's really just a case of being consistent and praising / rewarding when he/she is walking nicely. I find the stopping and changing direction when they pull does work but it's really hard to be consistent as it isnt always practical to do it every time, every day.

A harness can be really helpful.

My cocker is awful on a lead. She either pulls or puts on the brakes. We favour places where she can be off-lead.

We are going to puppy classes and the trainer says not to use harnesses as this allows the dog to use even more strength to pull against you. He recommends you just give very quick jerks on the lead when the dog pulls. Seems to be working with our puppy (so far)

Our trainer advises stop dead in your tracks when the dog pulls, call him/her back, wait till they come and continue. Talk to them ask the time whilst walking and treat often ie hand or pocket full of treats whilst waking along. Worked with both ours (not spaniels, but training classes had all breeds and same methods used for all).

We've always had problems with our cocker, she pulls so much that she's always walking just on her hind legs, she's 4 now and we've tried a normal collar & lead, a halti, a harness and none of them have worked. We tried training using treats but she's not interested in any food when out on a walk, we tried stopping, getting her to heel then carrying on, but that hasn't worked either, we tried stooping and going in the other direction, but she just found that a game so that didn't work.
We needed a car harness for her, so I looked on amazon and there was one on there that had a review that said it had stopped their dog from pulling on walks, so I decided to try it, it's the best thing I have ever bought for the dog, she try's to pull but she just can't, it's amazing.
It's the clix carsafe harness.

Thank you all so much, this has been very helpful, especially LoveDogs product recommendation. Just seen a lovely spaniel (18 weeks) on the beach for the first time ever, I get so excited for the dog and the owner! We hope to take a dog that is about 2.

We have a Springer who pulls like crazy. What has helped is teaching her 'look at me' and 'heel' while walking and a gentle leader harness. Now she's much better and we rarely use the GL anymore as she responds so well to the voice commands. I also find it helps to get her out for her crazy-run first thing, saving the leash walking for later on in the day. She's a bit like a horse that needs to be lunged before it can be ridden! Always carry treats so you can keep working on it .

I have Dalmatians and have to use harnesses as they are so strong.

There are different types of harnesses - the types used for Huskies and the opposite type which is for dogs that either pull and you don't want them to (as opposed to working Huskies that you would want to pull if that makes sense!).

Would recommend a halti. Designed by animal behaviour specialist. Worked for my dog who used to nearly choke himself pulling.