[Princesskdm12]

Recently my mother adopted a husky we named Caesar. I noticed he pulled like crazy on the leash when we were meeting him, and the previous owners admitted they didn't take him for walks. They just let him outside in the fenced yard. They taught him to do tricks, and he knows commands, but won't do them unless you have a treat in your hand. Otherwise, he looks at you and goes back to what he's doing. On walks, this creates a HUGE problem. Hes learning slowly that if he pulls on the leash, we stop walking, and when the leash is loose again, we go again. But the very second he sees a squirrel all coherent thought goes out the window. Hes only a year old but he's 50 lbs, and will pull you down if he sees something he wants to chase. Deer, cats, dogs, squirrels, cars, people, you name it. If it moves, he will start running and yank you down to chase it. The only thing able to stop him is to physically drag him away from what it is he wants, which isn't easy to do when you're 5 feet tall and 110 lbs like me. I've tried walking him in less interesting areas, bringing treats, scolding him, giving commands like "leave it" and "heel", and but all he wants is to chase whatever he just saw. Even high value treats that he'll do anything for won't get his attention. We've had him for a little over a month, and we're no closer to curbing this behavior. If we could just get him to stop taking off after anything that moves, walks would be so much better. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this?

 

[LeoRose]

I know of some paid resources that are very good. The first is a series of three webinars that has been bundled together into one self study class. Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - EW100: Reducing Overarousal and Reactivity via the Circle Method of Leash Walking The second is a video lecture on various ways of teaching loose leash walking Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - LS140: Stop Leash Pulling: Multiple Methods to Loose Leash Walking. The third is a video lecture on not chasing things Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - LS190: Don't Chase That! Stop Your Dog from Chasing Cars, Cats and Other Critters

For a free resource, Kikopup on YouTube has some good videos.

 

[BKaymuttleycrew]

What sort of management gear are you walking him on? I'd suggest (if you're not already using one) is a front-clip harness so you have some leverage to turn him around if he gets ramped up & starts to chase after something. Obviously, scolding him with "commands" that he doesn't know (leave it, heel, etc...) is pointless. Once a dog is over threshold, the only recourse you have is to get more distance between him & the object of distraction - and, yes, sadly sometimes this means you have to 'drag' him away.
Train a 'Let's GO' cue & practice it when there is no other distraction (squirrel, etc...) around. What this means (to me & my crew) is that there is an immediate & abrupt change of direction and their 'job' is to catch up to me for the most yummy of yummiest treats being given while hustling in the opposite direction.
Once you have that down pat, you can use it to help redirect them when they notice something of super high value distraction.