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Original poster

Which double ended lead for a pulling lab

30 replies

Smellyporcupine · 14/03/2022 22:28

My parents have a one year old lab, and I suggested a double ended lead, but they are using two single leads one on the collar and one on back of her harness. I'm not sure this works the same?

What do I need to get that I can get on pets at home or Amazon ?

Should they be clipping to the front of a harness or do I need an additional harness thing? Happy to pay for them to try if it helps. They are exhausted.

When my much smaller working dog was young I just would have him on a very short lead slip lead, but would let him off 90% of the time, so I'm not much help. These can't walk their lab on a slip lead, it just pulls: They never let theirs off so it's a bit different.

OP posts:
CannaBelieve · 14/03/2022 22:42

Halti

our lab was a puller,Halti went some way to stop that!! I have the halti harness and the lead which is a clip at chest and one on back ...then they clip together

good you tube videos on this

CannaBelieve · 14/03/2022 22:42

also, neutering helped!

Original poster
Smellyporcupine · 14/03/2022 23:07

@CannaBelieve

also, neutering helped!
Dog is a bitch, but has been done recently.

Which halti harness ? like this .. obviously in the right size. She's about 24 kg I think, I'll check.

Which double ended lead for a pulling lab
OP posts:
Twotothreeagain · 14/03/2022 23:11

I was going to recommend the Halti double ended lead, it's really good quality and comfortable to hold. We just use it with a very basic Ancol harness, not a specific control harness.

CannaBelieve · 14/03/2022 23:14

yes! thats the one we have...really happy with it as lead can be used normally once theres more control

PollyRoulllson · 15/03/2022 08:32

I would recommend the perfect fit harness to be used with a double ended lead. Not from amazon though but online at website can be confusing but give them a ring and they will help you

Halti double ended lead is great or if you want it to match the perfet fit double ended lead.

The issue with the no pull halti harness is that it tightens on the dog and will cause discomfort and will actually slow down the ability for your dog to walk on a loose lead.

Idratherhaveacuppa · 15/03/2022 08:38

We have a Woofles harness. Our dog is a strong puller (35kg and we got her at 4 years old. She had no experience of the outside world or lead walking)
Woofles are a small business but they were so helpful with helping me size her. It has front and top rings so I use a lead splitter (like the ones for walking 2 dogs at once) and a lead with 2 handles, one half way down. That way I can hold her close with both hands or give her a bit of a longer rein.

BuildThemSkywards · 15/03/2022 08:47

We have a one year old lab - he's a bit bigger at 37kg, but he's also a puller (we adopted him recently so no chance to try to resolve as a puppy). I noticed a huge improvement using a Perfect Fit harness and Halti double ended lead. If you find a Perfect Fit stockist near you, they can fit the harness for the dog - the harness comes in 3 pieces and each piece can be a different size depending on the shape of the dog.

Scattyhattie · 15/03/2022 09:26

I like the Julies K9 supergrip
julius-k9.co.uk/colour-grayr-super-grip-double-leash-thick-adjustable-length.html

I'd go with the perfect fit over an anti-pull harness as those are designed to cause discomfort or restrict shoulder movement which can cause physical issues. These aversives can help temporarily but also risk increasing reactivity as they pull towards another dog and it causes pain and link it with seeing the dog not the pulling etc. I've used headcollars in the past but more as an emergency brake to be safe out walking. TBH they'll often ignore any discomfort and pull away to get where they want without putting in the groundwork with training.

CMOTDibbler · 15/03/2022 09:32

The Perfect Fit harness and double ended lead are great - the front clip stops them pulling by turning them, not an aversive technique at all and the PF harness is very comfortable.

Training and reinforcement is vital though as well, and if they never let the dog off the lead they should look into hiring a secure dog paddock once a week to give them a proper run

crossstitchingnana · 15/03/2022 09:35

Do not get a Halti two ended lead. We have had two and they don't last six months. Ordered a Mekuti lead as the last one we had lasted 3 years. I find the clasps go. I recommend the Perfect Fit or Mekuti harnesses. Overall the Perfect Fit.

Branleuse · 15/03/2022 09:36

A halti collar was the only thing that improved my old dogs pulling many years ago. It works like leading a horse. I
Since the lead is attached to the snoot, if they try and pull, they just end up turning their head so they have to walk calmly.
I wouldnt do a full walk with one, but at least helps you get to somewhere they can run

Branleuse · 15/03/2022 09:38

Really though, you do need to train them to try and walk at your pace. The pulling is no good for either of you.
Its very boring to have to keep stopping every time they pull. It can take a while, depending on the dog, but its really important. Horrible walking a wheezing dog that feels like its gonna pull you over

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 15/03/2022 09:39

We don't recommend any harness as they afford a dog more strength for pulling due to sitting across the chest. A simple slip lead is best for training them to not pull.

Start with simple follow you round games in the home/garden. Never chase the dog. It takes time to get them to follow you by the leg with no lead on but once you have that cracked you then introduce a lead. I

If you need to walk out on a lead straightaway and don't have time for loose lead training then get a halti head collar instead.

CannaBelieve · 15/03/2022 09:39

i just looked into hiring a secure dog field...ranges £7.50-£10 an hour. thats not bad

Original poster
Smellyporcupine · 15/03/2022 11:08

@ImJustNotMeAnymore

We don't recommend any harness as they afford a dog more strength for pulling due to sitting across the chest. A simple slip lead is best for training them to not pull.

Start with simple follow you round games in the home/garden. Never chase the dog. It takes time to get them to follow you by the leg with no lead on but once you have that cracked you then introduce a lead. I

If you need to walk out on a lead straightaway and don't have time for loose lead training then get a halti head collar instead.

Yes yes, but honestly the dog needs some exercise. The slip lead it just straggles itself, it's beyond stubborn. It's a working lab and it's the wrong dog for them now they are in their 70's. In the garden it can do it fine, out in the world not. As I said I have a dog myself and use a slip lead. I have tried to walk their dog and do the stopping and the way I trained my dog, but it will take some time. I can't train my parents and I do not live close by to them, plus I have young kids. So I need an interim solution.
OP posts:
Original poster
Smellyporcupine · 15/03/2022 11:26

@CannaBelieve

i just looked into hiring a secure dog field...ranges £7.50-£10 an hour. thats not bad
They have looked in this as it's a great solution, but my Dad isn't comfortable with how secure they are. They are very nervous owners despite having 3 previous dogs, two of which where labs. They don't really let their dogs off sadly.
OP posts:
kindlyensure · 15/03/2022 11:34

But pp does have a good point. Exercise is not just about a walk - or even off lead running around. It's about getting the dog mentally engaged which will really exhaust them.

A good way of getting a dog not to pull AND exercising them at the same time is to put the dog on a collar and lead (not a harness) and EVERY TIME it so much as pulls (it will likely do this immediately) STOP dead. Turn your body a little away if you like. Don't say a word to the dog. Silent. As SOON as the dog looks at you (even a glance, coz it will for sure) say a command word like OK! really cheerfully and move on.

Dog pulls. STOP. No talking. Wait for eye contact. OK! and move.

It can take a loooong time but the dog will get it eventually that pulling = stopping. The advantage of this training is that it is really mentally exhausting for doggo so this is really good exercise - especially for a lab who can be trained to obey really complex commands.

You might find the dog doesn't get it, then really gets it, then loses concentration again at the end of the session coz it's really tiring. So keep it short.

And when it works - even if it only works sometimes - it is so rewarding, you feel like your dog really gets what you are asking of it. And then it kind of has a connection with you so you might find the dog wants to come back to you of its own accord.

You say you are looking for an interim situation and this is such a straightforward exercise to tell your parents to try. If they want a good relationship with the dog they should be willing to give it a go.

Anyway, it might be useful for them to have a strategy in their head that they think they might try, even if they do go down the harness route.

InkySquid · 15/03/2022 11:55

Poor dog, it sounds like they really can't meet it's needs.

When they're learning loose lead walking it's hard work for the dog so you can't expect more than 5 minutes in the beginning so it's in no way feasible to expect a working lab to get it's exercise requirements from on lead walks at a year old.

It sounds like it's totally under stimulated and exercised not stubborn

Original poster
Smellyporcupine · 15/03/2022 12:04

@InkySquid they do a lot of games and training in the garden. It could probably do with being taken to more places, but that's hard with its pulling. It does need off the lead exercise. It's very clever. It's certainly not neglected, they are trying.

If you do the stopping it pull as soon as you start again, one or two steps. I did it constantly for 30 minutes when they last visited.

OP posts:
Original poster
Smellyporcupine · 15/03/2022 14:35

@kindlyensure if you suggest 5 minutes of not pulling training walk? Should they only walk the dog for 5 minutes a few times a day, because then allowing it to pull for the rest of the walk is undoing the good work right? Because the dog won't poo in the garden so needs to be taken out.

OP posts:
InkySquid · 15/03/2022 15:10

You're correct in that you don't want to let them rehearse the pulling. Do they have a space nearby where they could do 5 mins loose lead walk training to and then have her on a long line before walking back?

What are their long-term expectations regarding letting the dog off lead?

kindlyensure · 15/03/2022 15:21

No I think they can do both. The dog is going to pull on some walks anyway. It won't undo anything. The key is waiting for the eye contact then immediately cracking on (with yr 'OK' or yr 'Let's go' command or whatevs you choose). Coz that reminds doggo, oh yeah, this is what I'm meant to do.
That's when you get into a standoff sometimes because you can be standing there for aaages and doggo will do anything but look at you. That's when you know something is going on in that brain though because they are working things out!

I mean, your parents could do both - train and no pull harness. (But I don't know how no-pully a no pull is as I've never used one).

When I went to the Kennel Club good citizen training with one of my first pups they said absolutely no harness because the dog will never learn to loose lead walk.

Dunno, I mean loads of dogs don't pull so not sure about the no harness rule from the kennel club BUT I just suggest this particular training as it is easy to remember and sometimes when you try and play lots of heel games it can get confusing (for the owner at least!) Perhaps it might serve as a helpful suggestion for someone else who is reading who might have a pully dog.

All I can say is it worked for mine. She is also a year and has a lovely loose lead walk after being a crazy puller, but it took a few goes to get there!

InkySquid · 15/03/2022 15:35

When I went to the Kennel Club good citizen training with one of my first pups they said absolutely no harness because the dog will never learn to loose lead walk.

Which is absolute rubbish. We taught loose lead walking on a harness (normal harness not no pull), she now walks nicely with lead attached to a harness or a collar. Some dogs will absolutely do themselves damage pulling on a collar. It's far harder to stand still and wait for no tension if pup isn't choking itself on the end of the lead.

kindlyensure · 15/03/2022 15:42

Yeah, I thought the no harness rule was a bit of a random idea! I mean harnesses just look more comfortable for a dog rather than something around their neck?

However I can only say I have never used a harness but most every other dog seems to wear them.

I think it was just the idea of a harness being used to stop the pulling (like a quick fix solution?) when it would be good to see if you could stop the pulling from first principles (e.g. the dog actually not pulling rather than an aid).

But yes, tricky one.

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