Anti pull lead?

[JammyDodger101]

Can anyone recommend a figure of 8 style lead for my Labrador?

I’ve (unsuccessfully) tried her with a slip lead and halti face harness.

Getting your dog to walk without pulling on the lead is a matter of training, not equipment.

Took us months to crack it (rescue dog with the habit very much ingrained) but we did it, using the stop start method

If you're struggling with any lunging and the shock on your joints, you can get bungee leads, which I find really helpful (reactive dog and my dodgy joints...) but it will have zero effect on the dog's behaviour, just your comfort.

Figure of eight leads are aversive - they only work because they make pulling uncomfortable (at best) and painful (at worst).

If you're struggling, the best equipment is a well-fitted harness with a front and back D-ring, combined with a double-ended lead. You clip each end to the D-rings (or both ends to the chest) which controls the dog without pulling on their neck or head.

100% this.
Our Lab used to scratch and scratch to get his figure of 8 off his face. Really didn’t work for him.
The harness mentioned above is one we use.

I use the double ended lead attached to the harness on the chest & back for my GSD. If he's walking beautifully, I don't use the chest part. If it's a day when the teen hormones are overwhelming him, I switch it up.

Halti

This is exactly what I do with my teen Lab.

If you’ve already tried a halti I can’t see much point in trying a figure of eight lead, it basically does the same thing.

If Halti has failed I’d say it’s down to training/commands so your dog will pull no matter what you use. A few months in Halti had our lab trotting to heel even without a lead.

Maybe booking on a dog training course would be helpful?

I use a gen con figure of eight head collar plus an Ezy-dog lead with my golden retriever. Used to use a Halti but didn't like that it attached to the lead under his chin. The gen con has a length of strap that comes out from behind his ear and attaches to the lead further up. The Ezy dog lead has a section of bungee but before that a 'traffic control' loop which gives me good control when I need him to walk closely to my side and not pull away.

We were advised not to use a harness for our lab. Harnesses were developed for working dogs - think husky pulling a sleigh - so the idea is the6 have their full weight of the body in the harness to be able to pull the sleigh. Therefore, a dog that pulls will have more strength behind it as he pulls.

Haltis and figure of 8s work on pain on the most sensitive part of the dog. Training is the only answer, do this and it doesn't matter whether you use a lead or harness.

Advised by who? Just curious as to why you’d be taking someone’s word on harnesses when they don’t seem to realise that’s specifically one type of harness.

Harness designed for that are very different.

My sister has a front clipping lead for her spaniel. When he pulls he just turns himself around…

He still pulls but not as much!

Yes, I was going to suggest this as well. It is my preference for my GSD. It puts you in charge of their forward movement with ease. I clip one lead end to the back and one end to the front and then you hold in the middle with both hands... like steering a go cart, lol.

Respected local dog trainers.

A dog will only pull in a harness if you don't train it correctly.

Riverlee not that sort of harness and not used like that. A double point harness like perfect fit can be great.
I use dogmatics. My girls will walk nicely on a lead but when we are somewhere busy or by a road etc it gives me extra control.

To add - the reason sled dogs use harnesses is to protect their necks and throats from getting damaged.

A correctly fitting harness will protect the joints, allow the dog to move naturally and prevent damage.

Mekuti balance harness is a great double ended lead that doesn’t put pressure on joints and isn’t aversive.

I have a hugely pully male lab. Had always walked him in a slip lead but this became impossible in the terrible teenage months when all training went out of the window. We used a halti no pull harness (not head harness) it was amazing. It gave me enough additional control to be confident in my ability to control him while reinforcing his training. Now at 15 months he walks reliably in both slip lead and harness.
I have never needed a harness with previous labs but was pleasantly surprised by the ease and effectiveness of this harness.

Also recommend the double ended lead.

Get a Perfect Fit Harness, a double ended lead , clipped to front D ring and back ring, and train!
Harnesses are a far better option for a dog who pulls because a (good..not a crappy Julius K9 type which are bad for the shoulder joints) harness isn't putting pressure on the dog's trachea if it pulls.

Then watch the video posted and google others.. stop start, turn and repeat endlessly and your dog WILL stop pulling. Without using aversives, which most of the head control leads are.

A Perfect Fit or similar with a double lead gives you much better control, but you just have to train and train more.

Thanks for all the replies. I fully understand pulling is a matter of training however I have a 5 month old baby which does not allow much time for heel training my dog... unfortunately not the best situation but it is what it is. I previously used the double ended lead clipped to front and back of harness but it is impossible to control this type of lead whilst pushing a pram 😭.

Don’t fret JammyDodger101 it will get easier.
My 20 mo Lab hardly ever pulls now unless he spies a cat of course!
And it’s very easy to feel judged on here.....do exactly what you feel is best for you, your family and your dog (in that order).
Although I didn’t like or find the aversive ones like dogmatic that Wolfiefan mentioned suited to my dog but I meet lots of good dog owners that do.
Good luck 🙂

What was your exeorrience with the slip lead?