Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

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

how do you teach an old dog not to pull on the lead?

7 replies

Morrigu · 06/10/2013 23:15

I've tried, my dad's tried throughout the years but she is an insistent puller (pound pup with a bit a bit of a bad upbringing). Now at ten years old with her hips going so I can't just run her at the fields but have to walk her with a buggy, is it possible to train her now and how? Help please

OP posts:
TotallyBursar · 07/10/2013 01:47

Totally possible but as with any ingrained habit it will take longer to undo than to prevent it happening in the first place like teaching pups.
Rather than writing my usual novels Blush take a look at loose lead walking on Kikopup's channel on YouTube.
Pulling is a rewarding behaviour so the alternative, walking nicely, has to be at least as rewarding, usually high value treats like chicken or livercake fit the bill alongside removing the previous reward of pulling - getting where you want to go, but that's all shown to you.

If you don't already clicker train you can use voice commands but the same conditioning principle will apply, work on this first and it will make her more engaged with you and set you up to change a behaviour. I'd also recommend some dry runs with the empty pushchair once you have got walking just with you sorted.

Scuttlebutter · 07/10/2013 13:04

You might also find it useful to do a few classes with a local trainer. Have a look at the APDT website. It's not expensive and it's really useful to have someone there with you on the spot explaining the finer points. It can also be a real revelation seeing someone else walk your dog.

Our local trainer that I go to classes with does regular Loose Lead Walking workshops as it's such a common issue, and will also do one to ones - may be worth investing in a session with someone.

Our ten year old greyhound (aka the Norty Minx) was terrible at lead walking when she arrived last summer. We started doing training classes and also lots and lots of practice - now she looks like she's been doing it all her life. Took her a couple of months of consistent work from me and DH to go from terrible to polished. Age is definitely NOT a barrier.

Good luck. Smile

HormonalHousewife · 07/10/2013 13:08

i use halti which gently constricts on their nose when they pull, then slackens when they ease off.

Lots dont approve but its revolutionised my walks

quoteunquote · 07/10/2013 13:48

Bring it to me (other dog trainers available), it takes less than half an hour if you know what you are doing, I train owners, dogs get it really quickly, they just have to know what you want, and what is acceptable.

Don't use food it will cloud the issue, they can always decided one day they have had an enough food, and something else is more interesting, you have to be the focus, which is why hand commands must be used, it is their responsibility to focus on you.

dogs always look for job opportunities, at the moment the dog thinks it a scout, you have to let know you do not want it to fulfil that self appointed role,

It all ready knows your failings, you don't have smell vision, it has observed you putting your feet where no self respecting owner of a working nose would go, it's compensating for your failings.

Use an slightly(only) longer than normal lead, hold the lead by the handle in one hand at hip hight(with the inside of your wrist just above the hip bone) , never ever put your hand through that loop, it is for hanging up the lead nothing else, hands through loops lead to broken bones. run the other hand down the lead, and hold against the front of your thigh, the remained of the lead should drape down and come back up to the dog's collar so a loose loop.

Start in the sit position, as you move off give the command, 'with me" (and click the fingers of the hand on the lower part of the lead each time)if the dog's nose passes your knee, stop instantly, turn 180 degrees, "with me" and off you go, opposite direction, repeat until the penny drops, that if nose passes knee, no progress will be made, dogs like progress.

If you decide to do this, you have to be 100% consistent, no allowing the dog to pull ever again,

You also have to make sure that you walk every single inch of the surrounding square mile, dogs need a smell mind map of their home area, they crave it, so be an inspiring leader and fulfil that need,

Use your commands, not the dog's name, If I said Morrigu, Morrigu, Morrigu, Morrigu, Morrigu, Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu,Morrigu, Morrigu, you will start blanking me.

make sure anyone handling the dog is using the same commands, agree them in advance, they must easily slip off the tongue,

I don't repeat a command, they heard it, demand immediate execution of command, I don't need to say anything as they soon get the hand commands,

A dog must never walk in front of you, as it is you who should decide which route to take, how any encounters with other humans or animals should go, you who clears the adders from the route, and no one wants to walk looking up a dog's bum hole.

You may look like a loon for the first ten mins, as you barely manage to get a hundred yards from your door, but the penny drops fast, and stays dropped if you are totally consistent.

I always feel really sorry for people with dogs pulling them as it can't be an enjoyable way to walk.

All my dogs walk behind me, without leads, I only click for new learner dogs if a nose passes my knee.

CiderwithBuda · 07/10/2013 13:57

Quoteunquote - can you come and live with me please? I have two labs and the pull like buggery. Well one tends to but isn't too bad and will stop. The other is a nightmare. She tries to jump on the other one. Tries to chew her way out of the other one's lead. Always has to be ahead of the other one. Walking them is a nightmare so I'm afraid they don't get walked. We have a half acre garden and they spend lots of time there so it's not too bad. I would love to be able to walk them though. I had a halti for one and a gentle leader for the other which helped a bit. We also had a season with a trainer but didn't keep it up. She recommend a lead that you put into a figure of eight.

Lilcamper · 07/10/2013 15:24

It doesn't matter if a dog walks in front of you as long as the lead is loose. I teach LLW using high value rewards, I won't work for free and I don't expect my dog to.

Lilcamper · 07/10/2013 15:26

Cider I can recommend a harness like this dog-games-shop.co.uk/perfect-fit-fleece-dog-harness and a double ended lead. The dogs need to learn LLW individually before you can try and walk them together.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page