Pulling on lead ....

[LennyBalls]

I know all dogs are different and pick things up at different speeds but how long did it take your dog to not pull on lead after training ?

My nine month old doesn't seem to be picking it up at all.

Have taken her loose lead training and have been very consistent but she's still pulling.

What I do is when the lead tenses I stop and wait for her to walk back to me but when I start walking she pulls again and doesn't seem to be making progress.

Also, am training her to go to bed. If I have a treat in my hand she will go but if I tell her to go to bed when the door goes or without a treat she just ignores me.

With our dog, we were told to tell her once to go to her bed and if she didn't, physically do it using her collar. Apparently they need to know that you mean it first time or they ignore you......mixed success!
Ours also a puller.... limited success with training and not convinced about the treats type training....

Another bit of advice we were chicken is the three D’s - distance, diversion and durability, so you can spread out frequency of treats, add diversions in, and go for longer periods.

Ha!
My 3 yo Lab still pulls on the lead, especially when he's trying to get somewhere - the beach or the park.

I used to despair over it but he's utterly excellent in every other way so I can live with it!

Same

"He's gone now, but if dogs could laugh, he would have laughed at the suggestion that his head collar was cruel! He literally jumped all over the place in excitement when he see it" @Wavescrashingonthebeach that's what dogs do, regardless of what's used to walk them. My dog did it with a prong collar before he was trained enough not to use it. I don't think they're cruel with the right dog which my dog was. MILs GSD was not the right dog and it caused him pain.

I would never use a lead that goes over the nose. They can cause intense pain and should be "worn in". Anything that has to be worn in isn't right.

@LennyBalls - I put the lead right under his chin and behind his ears. Stops the ability to pull. He's happy.

I don’t treat when he pulls away but I guess I do treat for when he looks back at me and comes back to my side as I read you should reward them for checking in with you. I’ll stop that and see if it helps. I’ve tried holding the treat in my hand as we walk along to get him to stay by my side but then he just keeps jumping up trying to get the treat 🙄

It’s a minefield! I think checking in with you is good as then they’re engaging with you, rather then the tabby cat sitting on the wall.

His head collar didn't cause any pain whatsoever I am 100% certain of that

Still have this with our dog, and he's 4. We've tried the stopping when he pulls, and I literally don't get out of my street. He wants to sniff everything immediately. Treats outside the house he is not interested in. Practising in the house he is perfect, stays by your side. Has good recall off lead in the woods/beach. He is a well-behaved dog in general until he is on lead walking.
He also doesn't like crossing the road and will always try and get off the road as quickly as possible.

If you are within an hour of Winchester, I can show you how to do this @LennyBalls

No charge. I am a dog trainer.

2.5 years and counting 😂

It’s our biggest challenge by far, in every other way he’s an amazing dog and loves training.

We are making progress, but it’s slow and can be frustrating. In low distraction areas I can get decent walking with regular cues. If it’s somewhere new/super exciting I use a harness so he doesn’t hurt himself. I know I should practice more though and I have a tendency to do walks where he can be off lead the whole time as frankly that’s far more enjoyable for us both!

Not to brag but all my dogs have been very good with that so I must have been doing things right.

My current one I don't count, he's a natural, I never had to train him (but don't worry, he has other issues!)

With the other ones, I trained them by just giving an insane amount of treats - tiny ones, but initially every meter or so and so overtime I increased the distance between treats. It helps that all my dogs have been food obsessed, but I think more than the food, it's the eye contact and engagement with me that made it work.
To other people in the street I must look like a mad woman who has full-blown conversations with her dog. But I think it works.

@FastFood You and me both!

I do that too....ChenDog missed the memo I think.

@HappiestSleeping unfortunately I'm not but thank you

By quirk of fate, we have been away, and my dog has been with dog sitters. He needed some refreshing about loose lead, so I made a video for you. PM me and we can work out how best to get it to you.

It took a long time with lots of repetition to get my dog to stop pulling, we started in low level distraction and built up to busier areas. She didn’t really crack it until she was almost 2 though but I wasn’t consistent enough. This YouTube video explains the process quite well m.youtube.com/watch?v=SezAzP20Kq4&t=6s

Consistency is absolute the key.

The Dogs Trust run a variety of excellent classes. We did one for our reactive/pulling pup and it helped massively.

My foster wasnt a puller walking but wouldnt listen one bit when she saw another dog or person, I got a Halti and it worked wonders

Have just rehomed a lovely 14 month good boy who was always run on fields by his owner due to pulling.
We've been doing the 'stop when pulling' and giving a treat at our trouser seam at knee height (hope that makes sense!) when the lead goes slack or he returns. Thought it was going well as he started walking in little bursts without pulling until I noticed he's pulling, then when I stop he's circling back to me before walking and pulling again. Surprised he wasn't dizzy by the end of the walk 😂
Think it's going to take a while, but I ache all over from the constant tugging.
The videos look hopeful.

You can try a pool noodle to stop him getting in front of you too, that will make it easier.

If you are within an hour of Winchester, I'll come and show you, or if you PM me, I can send you a video.

@HappiestSleeping i read that as ‘pot noodle’! (What’s a pool noodle?).

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/foam-swimming-pool-noodle-160-cm-blue/_/R-p-330006

One of these. You can block him from passing you, but in a way that doesn't hurt him if he runs into it.