Becs  Offline
The Clique Chick Queen
Joined: Dec 10, 2005
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Posts: 10127
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114301 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Hartley (black lab) Zorro (Golden retreiver) Flo, (JRT) Ted (mini dachsi) & Mouse (brown Lab)
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Location: gloucester
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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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I'd ditto what Jules has said. I 'helped' all my pups to walk nicely by using my lead across the chest. It gives much better balance and control, but then it's just down to practice, practice, practice.
The other thing I'd advise is that if you don't have time to stop every 2 seconds and make her walk to heel, then don't take her - or put her in the car and take her somewhere in the car where she can just be off lead. Make it your task this week to NOT let her pull you anywhere, at anytime - even if you never get beyond the end of the road in 25 minutes.
The other tip is to teach her to walk to heel, off lead (somewhere safe). Then start clipping the lead on and not even holding it, and build up to her walking to heel with you on the other end, holding it very loosly. She has probably got into such a habit of pulling that she thinks its the done thing. You need to re-teach her what 'heel' means - infact use a brand new word and start from scratch.
You will get there. It's the most boring, frustrating thing to teach a pup, but sooo worth while once they get it right.
Becs and The Gang
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Landygirl  Offline
puppy walker
Joined: May 10, 2008
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Posts: 516
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3657 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Sky
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Location: Essex
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, My Sky is just 6 months and I must say I would not consider putting any gadget on her at this age. I am working really hard on her heel work as I hate seeing a lab (or any dog) taking their owner for a walk! But it is so difficult not to let them jog a head 'just this once' . I try to do heel work alone (no children in tow ) so I can keep her attention on me, change direction, stop and do figures of 8's as and when necessary - on path and in field - I do get some funny looks sometimes but it is gradually paying off. It isn't easy - no training is - but when it gives results it is so worth it!
Jules - I can see your a rider the way you're holding the lead - Do you say 'walk on' to you dogs ? 
I could never abide a horse that pulled either - but nowadays I'd rather train a dog than a horse - much easier or is that my age talking 
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_Jules_ Offline
And the Girls
Joined: Sep 27, 2005
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Posts: 33574
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242523 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Mojo, Pickle, Pood And Twoee
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Location: Essex
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Landygirl wrote: | | Jules - I can see your a rider the way you're holding the lead - Do you say 'walk on' to you dogs ? |
 Oh Gosh....I hadn't even realised I do that....mind you, you can tell I don't ride in double reins very often .... Oh and I did used to say "Walk On" to the Guide Dog pups, as I wanted them to lead off rather than follow me.
I can't stand horses which are heavy in your hands either, or ones that you have to squeeze the living daylights out of just to make them shift or change gear.
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Jules, Mojo, Pickle, Pood and Twoee.
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Kendra Offline
has Duck tape
Joined: Oct 15, 2008
Age: -1978
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Posts: 3683
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24756 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Indy, Anna
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Location: North East
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hmm. I may try the lead technique, cheers Jules. Also, thanks for the offer Claire.
We've been using the 'stop and sit' tecnhnique from the day she started pulling (months ago!). Don't get me wrong, she doesn't pull every walk and we do get a loose lead fairly often for which she gets praised lots. It's just now and again, like today when the only thing she wanted to do was pull and to hell with me and anything I wanted her to do! We stopped and sat probably 50 times and still, every single time I released her, she shot off like a bullet and pinged off the end of her lead...
She won't pay any attention to her special training treat in my hand for walking to heel and if I let her off in an empty area, she just wants to run around and play. She does recall well under these conditions, however, and will stop and sit in front of me. I imagine we probably could do some heelwork once she's had a good run and worn herself down, but unfortunately this is only something we're able to do maybe once or twice per week although it is a good idea.
It doesn't seem to matter what I do, every single time a person passes, she's weaving around and pulling because she wants to say hello, certainly moreso when there are dogs around. The occasional time she's able to control herself (probably because I'm saying 'wait' over and over into her ear!) she's had massive praise for not trying to get to the person passing by. My partner claims that she behaves herself when he walks her, but he's stronger than me and is able to physcially keep her to heel which I know isn't ideal but it's better than being sent dry cleaning bills when she muddies up yet another persons clothes!
If I'm honest, the request for a loan of a training device was to help me as I'm fed up. Although she doesn't pull every walk, the times she does pull really puts strain on my shoulders and arms. And, if she decides she wants to stop and sniff something, she will. Nothing I do can make her continue apart from a sharp jerk of the lead to get her to carry on.
End of tether coming up...
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