Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: walking without pulling
bailey is so excitable when we go out that he really pulls on a lead. if we have him on the extendable lead heis very good and never gets to the full length of it, but as soon as we have him on short lead he really pulls. what can we do to help this? is he too young for a harness or canny collar? he is 4 months old today
Interested to hear results - i want to try and get Bailey walking nicely on normal lead rather then using a harness (nothing wrong with them would just like a nice walking dog)
You can get harness's for small dogs which you can use on your Bailey so if you decide this it'll be fine - you should find them online or your local pet store, some cheaper than others - somebody else can recommend as I dont use them.
Do treats work on walks? I know outside bailey couldnt give a fluff if i have a treat in my hand - inside or in class he walks quite nice with a treat in my left hand. Or maybe a toy?
I think walking to heel is one of the hardest things to train a dog to do - its important they get alot of walking close and pratice outside.
I personally pull bailey back to my side say 'close' and then say good boy - i give him some slack on the lead but right before it pulls tight i will pull him back again, say close and good boy, if he can walk a few steps without the lead pulling i will praise him again - i find if i use a really excited omg well done how great are you - he will happily walk next to me looking up at me - so he knows when he is doing what he should. having said that - n the nw class we are in we all have a road walk, bailey when walking over the field with the other dogs to the road is PANTS so getting them walking nice with other dogs will be the next step
Alot of people use the stopping method when they pull - or turning and walking away in the other direction - this will eventually get old for most dogs and they tend to walk better
ty for ur thoughts. the prob we have with bailey is that whether out walking or at training class he is sooo excitable. we cannot get his attention no how, not with treats or toys. yet at home he is the model dog
When they are this young... everything is more exciting and it does get frustrating.. Boston is 6 months old and once he loses concentration trying to get it back is virtually impossible - this always seems to happen in our training classes.....
Do you use the same treats all the time ? we have to keep varying the treats ; sausage, ham, bacon, liver to see what works best in getting his attention.
But maybe this is something that they just grow out of as well ????
Badger is the same age as Bailey and we have just gotten him a gentle leader (similar to the canny collar). I still do heelwork with him and do the stop and turn in a different direction if he is really pulling, but the gentle leader takes the strength out of his pull so that as he is getting bigger he can't pull me all over the place if something distracts him!!!
Badger is always noisy and disruptive in puppy classes but the trainer still gushes over how wonderful and clever he is. Maybe Bailey is similar, just clever and curious!!
I feel for you on this subject Meg 6mths has been a nightmare with her pulling. I bought a (walk right harness) which tightens slightly as she pulls and she has been great. Trouble with Meg she walks with her nose to the floor constantly, hardly ever looks up, but that's the Springer in her I think She has been on lead wlk only this week after her spaying, so I have had plenty of practice (with treats)
She is ok when on her normal walks but when we go somewhere different she goes right back, but I'm sure she will get it eventually
The best thing we ever got for Jack was a halti.It makes walking a lot more pleasant.Without it he pulls like mad and chokes himself.He's 7 months now and is used to having it put on when he goes out
The halti has control of the dogs head.Ive never used a harness so I couldnt say.I wouldnt be without the halti though,it's like walking a different dog with it
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
She has been on lead wlk only this week after her spaying, so I have had plenty of practice (with treats)
