Originally posted by Cincy'sMom
I am getting really frustrated trying to teach Cincy to walk right on a leash. I know it takes time and patience, but I am not sure what to try next...
I have practiced with her. (we have taken puupy kindergarten, and puppy 2). I don't let her go forward til the leash is loose. I use treats to keep her in position. She does great in the yard but then, we go to the sidewalk...
It sounds to me like you are doing great but maybe getting a little impatient in an environment with distractions. Keep practicing what I call the "stand like a tree" method. What most people don't realize is why dogs pull.

They pull to get somewhere they want to go! Plain and simple! If they don't go somewhere they will get frustrated and not you (well okay maybe you will too but you are in control).

Go to the sidewalk. Use whatever kind of collar you want (except something that chokes). I personally never used anything but a plain old buckle collar. When the leash gets tight, I stop and stand like a tree. Straight and tall with my head up. As soon as the dog even glances at me, I give them a YES command and a great treat! Sometimes in the beginning of training you may only go 50 feet in 20 minutes!

Once the dog realizes the behavior of looking at you will get him a treat and a few steps forward, increase the incentive. When the leash gets tight, don't just reward for looking at you but wait until the dog looks at you and takes a step towards you, then give a YES and a great treat!

The verbal YES is very important. You must make sure the very second the behavior is given, the verbal YES is given. No lagging in the reinforcement! If the verbal lags then the dog will become confused on exactly what behavior it was rewarded for. The reason for the Verbal reinforcement is to acknowledge when the behavior was performed. The treat reinforcement may come seconds later as long as the Verbal is timely. This releases the dog from wondering what you are looking for.

As progress is made then increase the incentive again. Make the incentive looking at you and taking a couple steps to you and then walking a few steps again. Keep progressing in this manner until you are walking about 5 to ten steps with no pulled leash! Get excited and tell the dog YES and reward with several great treats. More than before. Your goal is to make this reward the one he really wants!

As you get 10 steps done successfully, increase it to 15 or 20. Eventually you will be walking with no pulling. This has been successful for me with several dogs. My most difficult one took almost a month before the dog "caught on"! But he did! Remember though to "Stand like a tree", straight and tall and motionless when unwanted behavior is offered!

Good Luck!

Oh and by the way, if it does take some time to catch on, you may need to find another temporary way of exercising the dog if the walk is the only exercise the dog gets. My dogs are larger and high energy so in addition to walks, we play lots of FRISBEE!