[6Miranda]

Please help me, with getting my 1 3/4 yr not to pull. I have tried everything, is that she she will just always pull?
And when should I even attempt to train 9 week old not to pull?

[mightymite]

Teaching a dog not to pull is like teaching a dog to sit, come, and play bow. Rather than thinking of it as teaching your dog what not to do, you should think of it as teaching your dog what to do. It's like teaching any other behavior. You put into your mind the image of what the perfect leash performance would be and then you teach your dog to do exactly that. The problem in most instances is most people don't know what proper leash behavior should look like and therefore they don't teach it to their dogs. Instead, they put a leash on and go out for a walk and immediatly, the dog lunges against the leash and voila- tug of war has begun!

Actually, you do NOT need a leash and collar at all! Perfect leash behavior is a dog who walks at your side whether he is wearing a leash or not. You are simply going to add a command and teach your dog that when he hears it, he is to walk at your side, when you say your "release" command - like "Free" or "OK" or "break" - he is free to run around and pull on his leash. As soon as you say the command "walk with me" - he is to assume the specific position at your side and walk with you in a polite fashion.

I would recommend starting your training in a place with close to zero distractions - not outdoors. Your living room or kitchen (with all food other than your training treats safely put away to reduce distraction and self reward). Start walking around in a circle, every time your dog walks up to your left side and is in line with your pant's seem immediarly say "good job" or "yes!" and hand him a tiny treat. Then walk away. As soon as your dog is up at your side again, again immediatly say "yes!" and give him a treat. When you feel you dog is choosing to stay at your side (because that's where the yummy treats are) you can name the behavior "walk with me" or "with me" or "side" or whatever makes sense to you. Just be consistent about what you are calling it. Now continue the exercise and every time your dog comes up to your left pant seam say "Yes! good walk with me!" and reward. Once your dog is doing this 99% of the time - do not give him a treat every time but mix it up. Give him a treat, first every three times, then every two times, then every four times, then two times in a row. This is to keep him guessing so he doesn't know when a treat is coming but he continues to work for the treats.

Once your dog immediatly falls in at your side when you say "walk with me" - then go to another place with increased distractions, say your backyard and repeat the process FROM THE BEGNING (do not assume that just becase your dog is a star at this in your living room, he is going to perform the same behavior perfectly in your backyard, he's not). Once you have a dog who will walk correctly at your side every time you say "walk with me" in your backyard, go get your lead and do the whole exercise with him wearinga leash. Now, if he forges ahead, or lags behind you, you stop still. Lean a little pressure on the leash and wait. Do not PULL! When he decides to come over to you, give him treats and praise him. IF you start walking again and he pulls, again immediatly stop, lean into the lead and wait him out until he corrects his mistake.

Once you have a dg who is consitently walking politely on a lead in your backyard every time you say the command, you no upgrade to your "regular" walks and again, go back to the begining (but this time, for safety sake, keep the lead on). IN about a month' time, give or take, you'll have a dog who walks politely with you (assuming you do this work almost every day). However, do not rush your dog. Every dog learns at a different rate. Judge his progress and see if he understands what you are asking before taking the exercise to the next level.

[6Miranda]

:? Like I have said, 99% of the time, when she pulls I either stop or I turn around. I see people with their dogs walking nicely, this is all I want. This morning, I was walking her close to a wall, then turning and I would be close to the wall, giving her the chance to show what she can do. She is so distracted. She looks at me to walk on, or whatever I chose to do with her, but first she takes her time checking out what is going on around her. I practice with her many different circumstances, where there is nothing going on or at other places, it's not all black and white.

[mightymite]

Stopping and turning around is like putting a band-aid on the problem. Your dog clearly doesn't understand the necessary behavior you want from her - so that stopping and turning around is like punishing her for something she hasn't learned yet. You need to start from the begining and teach her what you DO want per my email above.

I own 2 85 pounds Rottweilers and I must say I can feel your concern! I ended up flying into a bush one day and another injuring my hand. I was desperate! They were pretty much good dogs on the leash most of the time, but problems started when they saw other dogs yapping at them from fences.

I can say many people have benefited from using head collars while others can swear by Ceasar's Milan Illusion collar. Personally, because of my dog's size I had to resort to prong collars. I had it properly fitted by trainer and used it one week. Some people may think it is cruel, but when used PROPERLY it can really be very effective. I have weaned them off it now, they do not pull like before, even though they whine a lot and my male will walk slightly in fornt of me (without pulling though) when he gets too excited.
Much more manageable though. Prong collars only slightly pinch the skin on the neck in the matter a mom would do to correct a pup. However, it takes some expertise and a dog trainer, so it is much easier to use a head collar.

There are also many other great ways to stop dogs from pulling. If you allow your dog to pull it is very rewarding so you must create a no pull policy by not allowing the dog to ever pull. Teach your dog that pulling will take her no where! Stop when she pulls or better turn the other way, cut her path but turning against her.

Below is a great reference link for you, do not give up, just never allow to pull, I have gone thorugh this and made it after a month of intense training. Now I can walk both of them togerher without being dragged across the street!

Dog Pulling Leash
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I have a Husky so it's in her nature to pull, but with a harness on she is really good. Like all training it takes time but once you crack it its brilliant. I also found that it was all about me and not the dog, i go out with a good attitude and my dog feels this, im in charge! She see's me as pack leader. good luck with it, when you get there its amazing to go for a "nice" walk x

I've tried everything and I walk my dog a lot. At 11 months she still pulls. If we don't start the walk correctly, the whole walk is a battle. I need to be in charge with her walking behind me as we exit the house and start down the street. She knows how to heal, but she just doesn't want to. She is a curious, playful, high-energy puppy with a whole world to explore; every sight, sound and smell needs her attention.

When we meet another dog, she will pop straight up into the air, all four feet at the same time, to the height of my shoulder. Sometimes she gets so excited when we meet a dog that she loses all self control and acts like a crazed, frantic animal. The best thing that I've found to do is to get her to sit when a dog approaches. Then I stand, straddled over her back and firmly holding her in place, so she won't jump and generally make a fool of herself (and me).

We have done obedience courses. Food rewards only work so long as I've got food in my hand. I've tried stopping, turning, running and stopping, running and turning into her. I've tried on leash and off leash (which she will do without distractions). I've tried normal collar, chain link choke collar, and Gentle Leader.

Just to set the record straight, although she is high energy, nervous and excitable, she is gentle and quiet in the house. Even when she's wound-up, she is never mean or cross. I think she'll settle down by 2 years or so, but I need control and she needs self control NOW!

What am I to do with my Labradoodle?