Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:01 am Post subject: New
Hi everyone! I am new to this website and welcome any advice! I have a 3 year old male lab named Juju who pulls really bad. My husband and I just moved to an area that has a great walking trail, but it has turned into a nightmare with Juju's pulling. We used to live in the country so there was't much of a need to train him on a leash before (I know big mistake). At our new home there are lots of dogs and people and he wants to meet and play with them all. In order to save my arms I have taken to walking him late at night, but I would really like to fix this. I have tried the stop and turn, and stopping till he sits but it has only resulted in like you all said a very long walk to nowhere. He doesn't pull as much when we take our other new puppy, Orsa but I think this is only a pacifier and it's not really training him. Should I just keep doing the same training and just expect it to last a while longer? He gets very easily distracted does anyone have advice about that? I keep reading that you just need to keep getting them in those distracting situations, but he doesn't listen at all so no training occurs.
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:41 pm Post subject: Our little boys pull a little
We are the proud owners of two stunning 9 month old of chocolate lab boys. They both pull but not as much as they did but particularly when we walk them separately, (my wife with one and me with the other). I tend to walk them together on a splitter and they are not half as bad. We took them to puppy training initially and they did really well but felt that there was too much play and not enough training so found it difficult for them to understand that when they see other dogs they are not all to play with. i have been quite tough with them when walking and it does seem to work - they are fantastic dogs very loving but both very different, jake is soft always wanting to play and harvey is the top dog of the two, very smart and definately a thinker. he is also huge 6 stone where jakes is just over 5 and a half stone. both parents were very big dogs as well
any advice/help much appreciated....................cheers stocksey
My 2 1/2 yr old black lab doesn't pull per-se but he does insist in being half his length in front of me causing the lead to be taut all the time. I have tried changing direction, pulling him back and recently Di and Waylanbriar showed me how to do the 'good heel' voice which worked for about 2 walks but no more!!
I would love him to be at heel with a loose lead but it just doesn't happen, although when my dad (who has had working dogs for years) walks him he is fine!
Any ideas?
____________ Grandpa: She doesn't get eaten by the eels at this time
The Grandson: What?
Grandpa: The eel doesn't get her. I'm explaining to you because you look nervous.
The Grandson: I wasn't nervous. Maybe I was a little bit "concerned"
So our little terror is having his second jab today so hopefully out for his first lead walk at the weekend.
Currently he seems more interested in chewing the lead than anything, we got a small cheap one for him to get used to something attached to his collar.
We have been practicing walking him around the garden with him and managed to get a no1 toilet whilst on the lead and kind of walks to heal with a treat in my hand.
Worth continuing with this ready for the weekend even if he does just eat the lead half the time?
Then once out walking not let him into a habit of pulling right from the off?
heh heh, takes me back to last year with walks round the garden with a recalcitrant retriever , lots n lots of praise whenever they get it right, and lots n lots of patience.
this is well worth sticking with tho, good luck and enjoy yourselves
There is really no substitute for never letting pulling *start*. Reschooling is long, tedious and usually too boring for most who give up after a few days and revert to just putting up with having one arm longer than the other.
Once ingrained as a habit (which can be within a couple of months of regularly pulling, sometimes even less) its the devil itself to cure hence so many people going for the easy option and putting gizmos and gadgets on the dog in the way of halters, headcollars, harnesses etc. Then they can pretend their isn't a problem because it is temporarily masked. And for some thats all they need to get them through a couple of years maybe, and the dog pulling slightly less through being older and not so wildly enthusiastic about every little thing. But they are a couple of LONG years....
Hand on heart, there are two approaches other than the 'masking it' one (however sadly many dogs get used to a gdget quite quickly then start pulling on that OR cause themselves problems in other areas of their body through pulling against devices which put the tension in unnatural places of the body).
1) Being extremely tough on the dog and making so that it is cautious of pulling because of the extreme reaction you will have to it. Not recommended because most are not cut out to express this level of distaste for something without feeling guilty or using poor timing.
2) Playing the dog into the better habit. However this is going to take time and patience. I am not exaggerating whe i say a 'convicted' puller might take 4 or 5 months of work to be truely reliable.... and as I said earlier most owners lose their enthusiasm. But like a diet, if you stick at it past the inital 'can't see any improvement' stage, and then see a bit of a result, your enthusiasm increases to carry it on and see MORE results etc etc... just like pounds coming off....
So don't underestimate consistancy, training WALKS rather than just TRAINING in a boring closed environment (get out and TRAIN where the dog PULLS not where he doesn't) using very high value treats and understanding its not a battle of strength, the dog, like a horse, will win.... its a battle of minds and if you can be MORE insistant, the habit will be created slowly of a different kind, just far slower than the BAD habit appeared.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
This is very similar to Cookie who is now 15 weeks. We take him to a local park for his walks so that he gets to meet other people and dogs. He starts off pulling as he gets out of the car as he's obviously excited but will come to heel when I ask. Once we get in the park he will go and sniff - I let him do this as I see it as only natural, again when I call him to heel he does. The main problem we have is when he sees another dog or person ahead, he starts pulling to get to them and his ears close to me calls of heel! Eventually I have to stop and wait with him as he HAS to see the dog/person! He is very good with all dogs and people and is very friendly which is good. Once he's seen them he will be fine and pay me attention again. The walk back to the car he is great, really attentive as he's worn off a bit of energy!
" Is any pulling now, pulling that should be corrected or puppy enthusiasm? "
If there is pressure on the lead then it is pulling whether the pup is 8 weeks or 8 years unfortunately. Its something they are being told 'thats ok... thats the norm....thats what I WANT....' if not corrected, so therefore they stay doing it....
Pulling is just the dog wanting to get somewhere faster than you do. This is the age that you are needing to now rein it right in and change the habit.
Ideally in the garden trot him around with a excited voice and REALLY tasty smelly treats as a bribe OFFLEAD. get him learning WHERE you want him to get a treat. Make him work for them a little don't tow him along holding a treat with it in his mouth.... make it clear what you have then walk about with freqnet changes of direction for twenty seconds, then ask for a sit, then treat... lots of voice and excitement.
ON the lead, when you feel pressure, stop and either change direction (not always practical) Or bring him BACK where you want him with the treat, then move off slowly again.
We tend to walk too fast with pups. Teach him you stroll mostly. And don't always go the same way to offlead places.... If you need to get a little rubber squeaky toy too if the treats don't hold his interest then do. Don't let him HAVE it, but keep him with you with his keeness for it.
Short bursts.... On the way to a walk, sit on a wall now and then and fuss and play and treat puppy. Teach him its not 'out gate....full steam to park.....' type thing. Teach him the walk THERE is part of the fun time.....
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
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, lots n lots of praise whenever they get it right, and lots n lots of patience.
