Pulling

MarleyGirl · 11-27-2006, 09:53 PM

My dog pulls sooooo much when walking. I have tried the easywalk harness and it is not working. We walk and stop if she pulls and we even do the "tug" when she pulls but nothing seems to be helping. I bumped into someone who trains service dogs and she suggested a prong collar. She uses it to train all of her service dogs. I in No way shape or form want to harm my dog at all. Does anyone know anything about this subject? Any comments would be appreciated.

opokki · 11-27-2006, 10:40 PM

I don't have any personal experience with the prong but I think there are a few members here who do that might be able to comment.

Regardless of which tool you use you'll still need to teach the dog how to walk properly on leash otherwise the tool becomes a crutch.

Something I found very helpful was shortening my leash and changing direction frequently. I would stop moving forward if the leash became tight and change direction. I also tried to change direction as often as I could before the leash became tight. This made my dog pay better attention and "check in" with me more often. Then I began using a clicker, clicking for a loose leash and for check-ins. I clicked frequently at first and then gradually increased the time in between clicking.

You might also find some of the loose leash walking articles here helpful.

And Turid Rugaas has a booklet called "My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do?" that might be of interest to you.

MarleyGirl · 11-27-2006, 11:00 PM

Thanks, I will defenitley go get that book. We do actually hold the leash very close, its only a 4' leash to begin with but we holder it much closer. If we dont put her on a leash she walks very nicely by our sides and she goes running everyday and just stays perfectly by our side. However in we are walking on a sidewalk near streets we dont feel comfortable with her off leash. So this training is a must!

skelaki · 11-27-2006, 11:28 PM

Get a good quality pinch collar, such as the Herm Sprenger or Titan brands (not one of the cheap PetsMart type). They may look like torture instruments, but pinch collars are actually the most humane training collar you can use. Of course, any collar or harness can be abused. Pinch collars must fit very snugly, under the dog's ears and are fit by adding or removing prongs. I'm guessing that your dog would probably need a medium.

The good things about the pinch collar are (1) it doesn't close against and possibly damage the trachea, and (2) it's designed to imitate the way one dog corrects another so your dog understands a correction from one.

Best way to stop pulling is, when the dog rushes past you quicly, without saying a word, turn and run in the opposite direction. If the dog isn't paying attention, he'll hit the end of the lead and self correct. If your dog is particularly obstinate about it you may end up running back and forth several times, entertaining your neighbors

, before he decides you mean it, and starts walking without pulling.

Are you working on daily obedience training and is the dog on an NILIF program?

Curbside Prophet · 11-27-2006, 11:40 PM

Hmmm, I'm not so sure about turning and running in the opposite direction with a prong collar, or any collar for that matter. I guess what you mean by "self correct" you mean he'll be jerked into position? I would not recommend this for the confidence of my dog, but luck follows some better than others I guess. Before using any new tool, prone or otherwise, I would recommend consulting with a professional. The inappropriate use of any tool can cause serious harm, both physical and psychological. Or at the very least, contact the manufacturer for instructions on the proper use. Good luck!

animalcraker · 11-28-2006, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelaki

Get a good quality pinch collar, such as the Herm Sprenger or Titan brands (not one of the cheap PetsMart type). They may look like torture instruments, but pinch collars are actually the most humane training collar you can use. Of course, any collar or harness can be abused. Pinch collars must fit very snugly, under the dog's ears and are fit by adding or removing prongs. I'm guessing that your dog would probably need a medium.

The good things about the pinch collar are (1) it doesn't close against and possibly damage the trachea, and (2) it's designed to imitate the way one dog corrects another so your dog understands a correction from one.

Best way to stop pulling is, when the dog rushes past you quicly, without saying a word, turn and run in the opposite direction. If the dog isn't paying attention, he'll hit the end of the lead and self correct. If your dog is particularly obstinate about it you may end up running back and forth several times, entertaining your neighbors

, before he decides you mean it, and starts walking without pulling.

Are you working on daily obedience training and is the dog on an NILIF program?

I would have to agree that a prong collar is one of the more humane and effective ways to train. I've had to use it on my bull headed sheltie whose coat was too thick for him to even feel the choke collar. At first I didn't want to use it because it looks so vicious, But it's much better to do a few simple snap and releases with him getting the message then it is to yank on his neck all day with no result at all.

I would definetly recomend you to enroll in a training class with a profesional trainer, especialy one that has had experience with prong collars if you do decided to use it. And avoid Petsmart training, it's is not the proper place for a dog to start learning anything and IMHO the trainers are not experienced enough to deal with most training issues.

skelaki · 11-28-2006, 01:14 AM

No, by running in the opposite direction without jerking/poppin the lead, the correction, while motivational, does not do any harm. I've used it on my pullers both hard and soft tempered (GSDxMalamute and Collies).

LoveLilly · 11-28-2006, 02:28 PM

Here is how I taught Lilly. I took a plastic spoon and froze peanut butter to it. Then I hold the spoon by my side and we walk repeating "heel...good girl, etc" and she licks the peanut butter and is by my side. Then we move on to the command "heel" only and when she does it she gets a "good girl" then peanut butter. Eventually the peanut butter is phased out and good girl is her reward. At current she is only 5 1/2 months old so does still want to run but understands that heel means by my side. Sometimes I have to repeat it to get her to stay but she is still young and learning.

Booga · 11-28-2006, 07:06 PM

[quote=skelaki;14712]

Best way to stop pulling is, when the dog rushes past you quicly, without saying a word, turn and run in the opposite direction. If the dog isn't paying attention, he'll hit the end of the lead and self correct. If your dog is particularly obstinate about it you may end up running back and forth several times, entertaining your neighbors

, before he decides you mean it, and starts walking without pulling.

[quote]

I did this today. I've been using the choker chain up til now but after reading some things on this forum, I took it off. I just used his regular collar. Everytime he pulled hard, I would turn around and run the opposite direction. He picked up on it quick and turned and ran with me, but then turned right around and pulled again. Needless to say, our morning walk took twice as long and my left arm is now 2" longer. I'm still not sure he caught on, but we'll try again tomorrow.
I was looking into the PetSmart training but someone said that wasn't good.

animalcraker · 11-28-2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booga

I was looking into the PetSmart training but someone said that wasn't good.

Petsmart is definetly not the right place to start training. You should have space to work with your dog, not be sniffing the butt of the dog in front of you. And Petsmart has far too many distractions for your pet to focus and learn. All those bones and toys on the shelves are far too inticing to want to pay attention to obedience. And IMHO the trainers are not experienced enough to deal with most training issues. Besides shouldn't going to Petsmart be a fun experience for your dog to go shoping, rather than having to go to Petsmart for school. You wouldn't go the the mall for your english class, would you?

Booga · 11-28-2006, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by animalcraker

You wouldn't go the the mall for your english class, would you?

Are you kidding?

Have you heard the way kids talk now

Thanks for the advice.

opokki · 11-29-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarleyGirl

If we dont put her on a leash she walks very nicely by our sides and she goes running everyday and just stays perfectly by our side. However in we are walking on a sidewalk near streets we dont feel comfortable with her off leash. So this training is a must!

In this case, you might have better luck just having her drag the leash during the times you normally don't leash her. She can't pull if you're not holding the end of the leash and it will get her used to walking near you with the leash on. As long as she is walking nice while dragging the leash, you can start holding it. Just an idea....