lead training an older dog

[giddly]

We have a 16 month old rescue dog. When we first got her at around 4 months she was extremely nervous so lead training was a bit of a disaster - we concentrated more on improving her confidence. Now she's a lot more confident when out and about and not too bad on the lead, but does still pull at times. We'd really like to crack this, but not sure how. She wears a harness, which takes the strength out of her pulling, but doesn't really encourage her not to pull. Using treats doesn't seem to work - she either ignores them or we get a pull - heel - pull -heel sort of pattern. I've tried stopping when she pulls and this helps a bit, but we can't seem to stop it all together. I'd rather not use a "gentle leader" style face collar - we tried once and she hated it and we couldn't seem to stop it going near her eyes.

Someone recommended "Total Recall" to me for recall training and we're working our way through it. It's great because it's designed for the older "non standard" dog. Can anyone suggest anything similar for lead walking?

I agree that Total Recall is great for recall training! Try the Mikki Training Anti-Pull Harness. Hopefully that will help!

Thanks. We have a "prefect fit" harness - are the Mikki ones better?

You just have to do what you are doing. Stop when she pulls, then restart when she has loosened the lead
Changing direction helps too if you are having a really bad day
Have you taught look at me? That seems to help my dog if she's in one of those moods!

I would take yourself off to a dog training class. Loose lead walking is an issue easily addressed by a good dog trainer and basically is what Owllady says, but it's helpful to have the encouragement of a class environment. Look for an APDT trainer in your area. We had a bonkers Lab in one of our training classes (practically towed the owner through the door, knocked over a table display, and overturned some chairs the first week ). By week 3 he was almost there, and by week 6 was walking perfectly on the lead. If you're consistent, it's one of the quicker training issues to resolve. Good luck.

My dog knows what to do the but the beginning of the walk she really cannot contain herself and then generally gets so over anxious I am herded from behind

I think it depends how clever your dog is too. I find with mine she often needs more direction to focus. So we walk, heel, sit, walk heel, sit. And adding the sit in a rhythmic pattern calms her
She's a collie though. They are generally high maintenance

We've been to dog training for some months (should havem mentioned this). She is like some sort of crufts obedience champion while in the room, but reverts to type outside. She 's not dreadful - doesn' t haul us about like she used to - but the lead isn't loose at all times by any means.
Owllady - she seems extremely bright when learning to do something, but we have real problems teaching her NOT to do something. She really doesn't seem to get that I've stopped because she's pulling rather than because I want to look at the scenery (she politely sits at my feet until I move off again).
We haven't taught look at me - she's not very foccussed on people generally which is a broader problem (has her nose to the ground at all times).