How To Get Your Dog To Walk Right

[CathyBogart]

I have found harnesses to be ineffective (just my experience). I prefer Limited-slip (martingale) collars or just regular collars. Also, look at your leash, as catnapper said. I am most comfortable with a six foot leather leash, but I know a lot ofpeople who are more comfortable with a four foot leash, or with nylon.

To teach my dogs to walk on a loose lead, I would take them out one at a time, and the moment one started to pull, I would stop. The dog got no eye contact, no attention at all, until the leash was slack. That I would start to walk again. At first, this meant I was moving literally one step at a time, about every thirty seconds.

Within four walks, they both started to "get it". Now both of my dogs walk very nicely, although, as with any training, it is something that has to be reinforced forever. You can't slack off once he has learned leash manners, he will forget them!

Odds are, there are more than one dog trainer in your area. If you were looking at private lessons from one trainer, that price sounds high but not outrageous. Check out group classes. Most vets can probably recommend some quality group classes that are reasonably priced.

[dab_20]

my toy poodle mix pulled too. she obviously didn't pull ME (lol) but just like carrieB's dog, she chokes herself. we got her a harness and the first day it worked great! she still pulls a little but not nearly as much. it was a cheaper harness, but it still works. i would go out and get a puller harness. he may still pull a little so then you can teach him like orangutango does. i think that will work well. Good Luck!!

[LuckiLab03]

I think harnesses encourage dogs to pull because that's what they use to work. I haven't met a lab yet who can walk without pulling that doesn't wear a pinch collar. It worked wonders for Riley and a bunch of other lab owners we've talked to.

[dab_20]

maybe they do in working dogs, but not smaller ones. i had an australian cattle dog and he pulled like crazy. a harness worked on him. and he was a big dog.

[labrador__Love]

@.@ I don't know it my image thingy works, I'm testing it. if it doesn't can one of you guys tell me how?

[labrador__Love]

Noooo! It Doesn't! :'(

[labrador__Love]

can one of you help me?

[finn's mom]

I haven't met a lab yet who can walk without pulling that doesn't wear a pinch collar.

Finn is a labrador retriever and all he has around his neck is a nylon collar. I use a six foot nylon leash, and, he walks nicely now. It took almost a month of consistent, at least twice daily training walks to get him to the point he is at. He's still not perfect, but, he doesn't pull unless he sees another dog or a squirrel or something. But, even then, he settles down quickly when he realizes that we go absolutely nowhere if he pulls. I did try a prong collar for a couple days, but, it wasn't effective. It didn't bother him, but, it just wasn't working for training him not to pull. And, I wouldn't even think of putting a choke collar on him, I put one on my leg once and jerked it. I had bruises for over a week. I did the same thing with the prong collar and it didn't hurt. Anyway, just wanted you to know that there is at least one lab that doesn't wear a pinch (do you mean choke or prong, i wasn't sure) collar and, who nearly 75% of the time, doesn't pull. I'm sure there are lots more, too, they're just a little more hard headed when it comes to teaching leash walking.

[jesse_3]

Well, with my aunts dog Alex, I have started a new method of making her sit for 10 seconds whenever she pulls too hard. I just started that last week, it worked well for the first time..Maybe you could try that with a harness. Oh yes, practice and LOTS of praise is great. When they do a good job cheer and pet them..They love to stop for that

Steph, Jesse, Splinter

[cute_pup]

I have a yellow lab (x) and he has the same problem especially when he sees Dogs. I take some dog cookies and when he tries to pull i tell him to sit and give him praise. Maybe you could try that.

[jackie]

Like other people have posted its just practise, practise, and more practise. Once you pick a method, like stopping when he pulls, stick with that method! If you let them get away with pulling one time, they will try it whenever they can!

It's a Halti harness it's not the one the goes over the nose it's a regualar harness but it works great it hits a pressure point and they don''t pull you can get it any pet store it's alittle expensive like $28.00 but it's worth it

I have heard that these haltis can damage your dogs sense of smell after awhile, and don't really solve the pulling issue. Its just a bandaid, covering the problem, but not fixing it.

[Love4BCs]

Mickey doesn't really pull anyway. But we don't have a chance to go run around off leash at a dog park, so his walks are for him. He doesn't have to heel, I just make sure he doesn't pull my arm out of it's socket.