Will He Ever Get Better on the Lead?

[GreendaleFive]

I'm really at my wit's end with our dog. He is lovely in terms of never having shown any aggression towards people or other dogs and he just loves cuddles and fuss. But his behaviour is really getting to me and the worst part is walks.

He's a year old and a GSD/husky cross (I know - but we've had both breeds in the past so I thought it would be okay!!).

He seems to have excellent senses - amazing sense of sight, smell and hearing - so he is excited by EVERYTHING when we're out. And I mean everything: the wind turbines miles away, planes flying overhead, the rodents tunnelling underground, the sheep in the fields nearby, the cows, the insects, trails/scents from dogs who walked past hours ago, bits of grass being blown along, a random glove by the side of the road...EVERYTHING.

And he won't walk without pulling really hard. I have built up such muscles in my shoulder/arm and still comes home aching after every walk.

He yanks the lead suddenly when he sees something exciting (which, as mentioned, is every-damn-thing), including into traffic/in front of tractors etc. I've had several minor injuries from him suddenly pulling when I'm on loose ground etc.

I tried training him with treats for ages but a) he's really not that fussed by treats (I tried loads of different ones to get him interested) compared to all the other things around him and b) on the occasions he did seem interested he would immediately pull again the second he had a treat every time.

I've tried the 'changing direction when he pulls' thing but he doesn't give a crap because there are exciting things everywhere so it doesn't really matter where we go.

I'm currently on just not moving whenever the lead is taught. I thought we were making progress after a week as we had a couple of walks where he was pulling a lot less...and then over the last week and half it's worse and worse every time we go out. It's like he realised it wasn't a one-off thing and he's just refusing.

Also, even when he occasionally does walk with the lead slack, it's normally because he's snuffling around in the verge after rodents and every few metres he'll find one and suddenly yank me over as he tries to catch it arctic fox style (leaping into the air and pouncing down with his nose and front paws) or he suddenly digs for it if it's underground.

Do I stick with it?? Or is this just not working for him? He's getting so little exercise right now since we only make it about 300m from the house sometimes (in an hour long walk) because he is just constantly pulling so I can't move. The lack of exercise is just making him worse but if I give up, I don't know what's left to try!! I do try exercising him in other ways (we have a good sized garden and I throw a ball etc.) but it's really not enough and I work/have two autistic kids to look after around school so I can only dedicate so long to this each day.

I'm so ashamed to admit it but I've totally lost it with him at times. He's hurt me, he's put us both in danger, it's so frustrating. So, I have yelled, I have tugged him back on the lead (not that he really cares/seems to particularly notice), and even grabbed him by the scruff.

I looked into dog behaviourists in the area but then our oven broke and the car broke down at the same time so I now don't have spare hundreds of pounds (the cost of the behaviourists). Plus, we're in the countryside (in case you couldn't tell!) and these places are all a good drive away, which is hard time-wise and anxiety inducing for me as an autistic person.

I love animals. I've had dogs since I was a kid. I just want to cry and cry.

Will anything work?

Wow, that was a lot longer than I meant it to be. Sorry!!

I know I've put too much already but I forgot about the other problem: seeing people he knows. He's incredibly excited to see people in general but when he sees anyone he knows on a walk he just screams (I really mean SCREAMS - I'm surprised we haven't been reported as it sounds like he's suffering) and jumps around in excitement.

I presume you don’t let him off?

OP you may not have much money to spare for training, but the cost of an out of control dog can be vast. He’s pulling you to the extent of unacceptable control of a big strong dog. You could end up lurched into the path of a car, knock over a small child causing injury, etc etc

Have you tried a figure of eight lead as a short term solution? You need to get a trainer in ASAP. I think the situation is quite dangerous

As in, off the lead? No, I can't as his recall is great at times...until he spots a deer or a hare or a pheasant etc. and then he's off.

I haven't come across those before, no. I will look into a figure of eight lead, thank you. We have a harness for him with a double ended lead that attaches at both front and back at the moment to allow me a bit more control over him but not sure how much it really helps.

You don't need to worry about small children - we are not in a town or anywhere where I'd need to pass young kids. However, I agree I'm worried he might pull me in front of a car or something awful and that could cost lives (and not 'just' ours).

I did manage to drive a little way yesterday and then walk him further away from traffic. The problem with that is he hates the car as he gets intensely car sick after even a few minutes. So, I have to lift him into the car while he struggles and then only drive less than a mile away!

I'll save up money again but I can't magic it out of thin air right now (it's also my eldest's birthday in a couple of weeks).

Been there, done that (but with a different breed of dog), I agree that training is the answer.
In the interim maybe some brain exercises in the garden rather than ball throwing as he is already very stimulated, lots of info on these on the internet.
A flirt pole in the garden may be useful but you would need to know how to use it correctly so as not to cause joint damage, it should really be used to teach self control rather than as a tool to wear the dog out.
Something like a Dogmatic could help with walking but I'm not really very keen on those and my dog wouldn't wear it anyway.
Loose lead walking is virtually impossible with a dog that is over stimulated, they can't listen to anything and I know can be an absolute pain.

What equipment are you using for walks? Lead and collar? Harness?

So I’ll get flamed for this but it sounds like it’s dangerous

a dog a training I go to (and they had lots of lessons to safely introduce and use!!) uses a prong collar, it’s a massive dog and had got out of control. It is now walked calmly and safely in just a slip lead after a lot of retraining. I judged when I saw the collar I admit BUT the dog was verging on dangerous before and now it a a dream,

so yes resolvable but you need a good trainer to help, even if you use a figure of 8 or halti it needs to be introduced properly and still needs training

Also wanted to say don’t be hard on yourself they are buggers at times!

i was recommended on another post I made (have nc recently)
pippa mattisons total recall book and have found that very useful for our high energy pup

Get a Halti for his nose. Only around £10 on Amazon. It’s like a miracle

We have a Husky. Dh used a waist belt and lead...
We also have a scooter. Great for burning energy!
She walks to heal for me but wanders all over with dh. Do you and dh use the same commands /expect the same behaviour? Took a while for ours to recognise we both used different techniques.. Look on fb for husky meet ups. Lots of support there! And as much noise and chaos as your ddog wants!

Sounds like lack of stimulation in his life. This breed of dog needs a job.?

If you can't give a working breed a jobs it's not the dog for you I'm afraid.

He needs to do canicross, bikejor , agility, scent work something

He needs some stimulation in his life. Walking on a lead isn't meeting his needs.

I would be working on impulse control and bringing down stress levels out and about before trying to introduce loose lead walking.

He sounds highly aroused and over threshold before you start the walk so loose lead walking will be extremely difficult for him and also why he is not really able to take treats out and about.

He is really experiencing sensory overload when out and about.

So I would go to quiet places and just be, no walking just sitting and observing and watching, sniffing etc. When he is calm in a certain area I would then look at doing some really basic focus work with you. Build up to more and more areas and then when he is calmer in more areas look at rewarding loose lead position.

I would also be feeding him in the position you want him to be in for loose lead walking at home in your house and then your garden. Teaching the position first stationary and then moving at home will be way easier for him to transfer to being out and about. At home do this without lead but just luring him into the correct position. If he wanders off food and interaction stops. He will soon start hanging around in the position to get attention and reinforcement.

I have massive dogs and always walk them on a headcollar. It gives me so much more control, they don’t care at all that it’s on and walk perfectly. I have a double ended lead with one clip on the collar and the second on the headcollar as a backup.
Ive heard it here before but I am from a horsey background and there’s a reason we lead strong animals from the head if there’s a chance they can get out of control!

Ive spent hours teaching them loose lead walking and they are brilliant at it now but at almost 100kg (2 big dogs!) vs my 50kgs I didn’t want to take the risk of being forced into an unexpected flying lesson.

People have implied it’s cheating or that my dogs are not trained because I use a headcollar (not true, they are 5 years old, show champions and competitive obedience winners if that matters!) but as long as your dog is happy and comfortable in its equipment and your walks are happy why worry, life’s too short!!

As a side note I would really try and pick up something to keep the dogs brain busy which might help get some of the energy out. Can you hire a secure field for a good run around a couple of times a week?
Failing that you have a good combination of breeds for a variety of sports which would really help keep the brain active!

My advice would be to tire him out and then take him for a walk. So spend 20 minutes/half an hour playing ball in the garden - fast pace - and then take him for a walk for the other half an hour/40 minutes.

Husky hardwired to pull.

Try dogs behaving badly on channel 4 and watch how Graeme teaches them to walk nicely on the lead - worked a charm for my 5yr old (over) enthusiastic lab - it's the right balance of praise and correction for me - loads of praise but also can say no!

I use a head collar on my arse of a Spaniel.

£5 from B&M

Halti worked really well for my excitable labradoodle.

You don’t need a behaviourist for loose lead walking, just a decent trainer. A one to one session shouldn’t cost more than £50 (often less) and they’d come to you.

Group classes would be less and might be useful as ones aimed at older dogs should be working towards being calm with stuff going on.

I know it's hard but keep at it. If he's only getting a 300 yard wa
K, if you force him tp concentrate on not pulling, it will wear him out.
Also try a flirt pole before each walk, it will help with his prey drive.
How old is he? I am assuming 6 months or under? If so, he I far too young for a prong collar. I recommend Southend dog Training, for £11.99 a month, you can get good advice from trainers.
My gsd boy was a mad puller just a few weeks ago, almost dragged me into the path of a speeding car, but now almost follows my mind when walking, stops when I stop, turns when I turn, it's an amazing turn around.

You need to buy a halti head collar and lead. The lead clips onto the loop at the side of the cheek and then clips onto the neck collar so you have control of the head which makes them unable to pull. It is not cruel. It was the only way I could walk my previous dog. It took her a while to accept it but once they are used to it (coax along with treats) it will change everything I promise. Also sound like he has a lot of pent up energy from not having enough walks. You need to find somewhere safe you can let him go. Even if he is on a long line he needs that freedom to run Pick quiet times at your nearest place you could do this. Gods luck

Thank you all so much!

I will look into getting (and learning how to safely use) a flirt pole. I'll also look at the Pippa Mattinson book.

I do try setting things up to work his brain but admittedly probably not often enough or with enough variability. They all involve him finding treats in various ways (which he does respond to at home - it's out and about he's not interested in them) like in toys or where I've hidden them round a room or in boxes he's allowed to rip up etc.

I will also look into a head collar (or maybe a halter option - I'll need to properly find out the differences and uses), since a few people have mentioned them.

Someone asked what I currently use? A harness with a double ended lead clipped at the front and back. It gives me a little more control but he gets tangled in it a lot as he does a lot of jumping around when he gets frustrated/see something exciting. I feel like I spend about a quarter of the walk getting the lead out from under his legs/making sure it doesn't go round his neck etc. Plus, as it's attached to his torso, he's still able to really throw his weight into pulling against it.

I didn't like the thought of using something like a head collar but I think perhaps I misunderstood their use. I will investigate.

I need to think more about him being in sensory overload. My job involves coming up with strategies to support autistic adults and children - helping with sensory overload is part of that, so you'd think I'd have thought of that already! I can't put ear defenders or sunglasses on him, but I can give him low arousal spaces at least.