who's walking who?

yellerlab · 03-28-2007, 07:30 AM

I have a yellow lab and I can't get her to walk on a leash! I have tried everything. I love taking her for walks but I'm tired of getting dragged down the sidewalk! Any recommendatons would be helpful. Thanks

Maril · 03-28-2007, 07:53 AM

Watch Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, on Nation Geographic Channel, Fridays at 8 p.m. He has a website. Amazing stuff.

RonE · 03-28-2007, 07:55 AM

There are several different collar systems, Gentle Leader among them, that will discourage the dog from pulling without injuring her. The idea is that, eventually, the dog can be weaned off the training collar and will be the perfect lady with a regular collar and leash.

It's not an instant fix but, with some effort, it'll work.

Maril · 03-28-2007, 07:59 AM

Yes, the dog halters are great. I have 10 year olds leading 1000-1500 pound horses with them, they certainly are effective on dogs!

LoveMyYuffie · 03-28-2007, 09:39 AM

Ditto to RonE.. I have heard that Gentle leaders work well. I haven't tried them myself.. Yet.

briteday · 03-28-2007, 02:37 PM

OK, I'm probably one of the more "risky" people on this forum, as far as a dog is an animal and I don't throw them many pity parties. So, take this with a grain of salt. If there's something you can use, fine, if not, ignore.

I've raised lots of dogs of all kinds all of my life. I currently volunteer at an animal shelter socializing dogs (behavior, walking, aggression, shyness, etc.)

I have had some dogs that are just awful on leashes. I call it "sled dogging." My own aussie shepherd... I let it go for two years. I tried a buckle collar, gentle leader, choke chain...all to no avail. A friend of mine with similar dogs suggested that I borrow his pinch collar and just "try" it even though he knew the use of something that looks like a torture device might be distasteful to me. So, I agreed to "try" it. From the end of my driveway to the stop sign, two doors down, was all it took for that dog to gain respect for the person at the other end of the leash. I wasn't harsh about using the pinch collar, but I was firm. From that day forward my aussie would heel at my side, without a leash even being attached at all to her collar. She just walked properly from then on.

I've also had many dogs at the shelter, especially large ones, who have never been out of their own yards, some tied to posts all their lives, no experience on leashes. We are not allowed to use even choke chains at the shelter, a choice of our current director for the purpose of the image it gives to patrons, that our dogs are uncontrollable, LOL!!! The first thing I do with the dog is take them out to an enclosed yard and PLAY hard until they have totally expended their energy and can focus now that they are not all excited and wound up. Then, I take the same braided nylon leash that Cesar Milan uses and do the same thing he does. I get the dog in a quiet hallway, walk a few steps, correct as necessary so that the dog knows he is not leading this parade, and proceed slowly as the dog gains respect. You don't have to be harsh. When the dog starts pulling, just stop walking. Keep some treats with you to reward when things are good and so that the dog learns to pay attention to you. Most dogs are motivated by food! As the dog gets better on the leash, instead of stopping I prefer to give the leash a gentle "pop" and release to remind the dog as they make a mistake. Just a reminder, not a punishment. And never drag the dog by the leash, choking them into submission. You will only make the situation worse.
I'm not a huge fan of everything in the Dog Whisperer series, but walking a dog seems to be taught well in the series. Just remember to be calm. This is not a fight. We are teaching respect and obedience.

CaseLogic · 03-28-2007, 04:55 PM

You have to realize that the more you walk them while they drag, the more you teach them that they have to "tug" on the leash to be able to keep going. Basically you're teaching them to mush. No matter what technique you use to fix the situation, starting that day, NEVER keep walking if the dog tugs the leash, otherwise he'll think tugging is what he's supposed to do.

RonE · 03-28-2007, 08:00 PM

Briteday, your story reminded of a visit I made a few years ago to a new shelter facility. They were having a dog walk to raise funds and awareness and volunteers were walking all the dogs from the shelter . . .

. . . except one. He was a big, powerful brindle hound with absolutely no manners and no sense of what a leash was about. Nobody could walk him and just going in the pen to give him fresh water was a challenge. He wasn't mean, just ill-mannered.

In retrospect, I'm pretty sure he was a Plott hound. I often wonder whatever became of him. (It's a no-kill shelter.)

WaterFowler · 03-29-2007, 05:09 PM

You just need to be consistant with her. As one of the other posters commented, the longer you permit her to pull, the more the (bad) habit is being reinforced. Use the same patience as you've used teaching her other tasks or commands. Eventually she'll "want" to walk well for you just as she attempts to please you with other commands.