Dogs pulling on leads - have you noticed this?

[PacificState]

Posting because we've just discovered something and I'm wondering if it's just my dog!

DDog is a 3yo springer who pulls like a train on the lead, especially on the outwards leg.

The other day we went for a walk with my OH and by accident fell into a configuration in which DDog was in the middle with me and OH walking either side of him.

And he just.... stopped pulling. Immediately. Walked really nicely to heel all the way.

You could tell he didn't want to and every now and then he'd sort of break the spell and lunge off to sniff a wall.

But mostly it was really, really weird - it was like a force field that was stopping him running ahead.

I think it's partly that he wasn't right next to the wall and so not so many interesting things to sniff, but he's a springer so it's not like he couldn't smell the wall just because he was a couple of feet further away.

Anyone else noticed this or have an explanation for it?

(And yes he does need to be trained to walk nicely anyway! He's my dad's dog and my father is pretty resistant to training himself...)

I think for scent dogs - like springers and lab, being able to sniff every blade of fecking grass, while frustrating is important, and I wouldn't prevent this. But he should be able to do this without pulling.

Interesting! I've not noticed it but I'm pleased you've found something that gives some relief! We have a puller and despite our best efforts the training is just not working. Very frustrating!

I have a very strong pulling springer and the Gentle Leader was recommended by my niece who is a vet - gamechanger!

It's me that's the puller. My labs sniff. Everything.
Honestly, I try to chill and let them crack on with it, but when it takes us 30 minutes to go 100m I lose the will to live.

And so yes, I walk them in the middle of the road and we actually get somewhere. Slowly mind you, but there is so much less to examine......

Gentle Leader looks worth investigating @Dora26 thank you

Watching with interest

@Dora26 how long have you used the gentle leader & what does DDog do if you take it off?

I have 7 month Springer, massive puller and started reward based training classes 10 days ago.

The trainer mentioned the gentle leader but wanted to try reward based training first & I know it's early days but he pulled the training lead so much tonight & got away and went absolutely crackers with his new freedom!

Do you use an extendable lead at all?

Just an observation with my new dog, i wanted to train him to be safe off lead so concentrated on that and never got round to extendable.

However someone gave me one last week, so thought I’d give it a try.

He wouldn’t walk with it. Because he has to pull against it to extend and also to maintain tension.

Thought occurred to me that maybe extendable leads train them to pull?

Mine is a terrier though and rushes round making sure no-one gets lost and trying to get everyone to go home.

Yes! Our 2 year old working cocker is very much a work in progress as far as loose lead walking goes, but he improves hugely if we walk either side of him. Sadly often not possible as pavements are narrow her, but it's lovely when we can.

We have a springer cross who pulls like an absolute train, unless as you say, he's in the middle of everybody, then he's happy as Larry! Irritating because you know they can do it, but they won't! 🙄

Oh, it's interesting it's not just him! I wonder if it's a pack thing...

Hey @leosayershair - I am using it about a year. Got springer aged 2 and she was a real pain on leash. Once Gentle Leader is off she is back to pulling like a train!

When me and my ds took our dog to puppy training classes, she taught us to walk together with the dog in the middle of us - the dog then stays behind us both.

He is now a really good walker and doesn't pull at all. So it does work

My other dog pulls all the time. It's so annoying.

My trainer advised getting ddog to walk in between my partner and me to feel more safe as she’s a bit of a nervous little pup, unfortunately DP rarely comes out with us so I ask friends or if alone try to squish her against the wall a little, it’s not perfect but there’s definitely improvement on the pulling front.

Yes, us too! DPup is a 7 month old Springer and DH and I do this too. It also works beautifully when my 5 year old walks beside me with DPup in the middle!

Interesting what a PP said about them feeling safer - Dpup is definitely a nervous type.