Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:22 am Post subject: Pulling on lead with kids
Please can someone help me on this. Harry is a dream to walk and just trots next to me, goes for a sniff might give a little pulll to get to a bush but nothing major. When he sees someone or another dog he will pull to get to them but im working on this and again its not to strong.
The problem is when i have the children with me, they go ahead on their bikes, scooters, or just walk ahead and Harry pulls so much he nearly had me over. As soon as we catch up to the children he tries to jump up at them (i dont let him) and will walk lovely if they stay next to me. Now i cant expect Cody and Megan to stay next to me when we are going for a walk just to make Harry walk. Once the children were at school/nursery he pulled a little so I did the stop and wait untill he came back next to me on a "close"
At puppy class yesterday I was advised to get a harness for him, the fleece type. I just use a normal collar at the moment with him and untill recently hes been great, but at 17 weeks hes getting stronger. I dont want to have a battle walking him when i know he can and will walk lovely, as long as i dont have the children.
What would you all do??? Whats your views on harness, collar, ect
I have the exact same problem ! jessie walks perfectly to heel with either just me or if im pushing the buggy but if the kids run or cycle off ahead she naturally wants to be with them as they are her pack and are running off so pulls.
with the other dog issue I make jessie look at me using the 'watch' command until we get past them - works every time.
I dont want to resort to using a harness just yet.
I do sympathise as it sounds like you have got Harry where you want to be when you walk alone, so the problem is he is'nt listening with distractions of the children who he loves and wants to be with so not surprising. [I have same problem with Mischa, not with children but with hubby, if he walks ahead ].
I hope someone comes along with better advise than mine, but my suggestion is until he is a bit older, is not lead walk him with the kids if they are on bikes and rushing ahead, save that for the off lead walking, explain to them when you are walking together if they could stay close also, it may take awhile but I think it will save you having sore arms in the long run. [ wish I had persevered at the beginning as Mischa still a pain at 2 an 1/2 when OH is with us].
We do use the soft harness when out together, it is not a fix, but does help.
Lola has the odd moment of being the same. One thing she does which I allow is when I have the pushchair her heel position is next to the pushchair rather than next to me.
I'm not an expert but this is what I would do:
I would try and make yourself a bit more interesting so treat for good heel but it is also ok to be firm when he's not doing what he's asked, not really cross but a definite change of voice and STOP until he is in position. Do not let him get a reward (i.e. getting level with the children) by pulling, once he learns that pulling gets what he wants then its tougher all round. I know its really boring and hard work but I think only by repetitively stopping when he's pulling and rewarding when he walks correctly will you get him to realise that pulling is a pointless waste of time. DEFINITELy easier said than done when you need to get somewhere though
When i have the buggy he walks to heal great, but with school being so far away and Megan getting older she either cant (or wont) walk all the way to nursery, or is in the buggy trying to climb out but once out wont walk (kids harder than dog lol)| so the only way to get her there without tantrums, upset child and one very stressed mum in a bad mood is the bike.
Im not sure a harness is the answer i dont know. Im hopeing others can offer some advise
Edited, He is clicker trained and gets his click and treat when hes where i want him to be. i had liver this morning for him but he wasnt interested at all, even when i clicked he took that as a message to pull again usualy liver is the best if you ask Harry
I do have one other idea [which may be shot down in flames] is if he walks ok with the buggy why don't you continue taking the buggy, it maybe phsycological with him, he thinks he must stay in line with buggy, [you may have already tried it] but my thinking is if he starts to pull you and gets away with it he will continue in the future. I know when you are on the school/nursery walk you have not got time for the stop/start etc, or, just leave him at home then give him a nice walk when you get back, and enjoy your time walking him only focused on you, it does'nt last forever.
Perhaps a harness just for the walk with the children? I used the walkezee harness on Dylan when I just couldn't sort out his pulling and found it very good. Personally I liked it cos there was nothing around his head. You just clip your own lead on the side and if they pull it makes them go off balance.
I can sympathise, as I remember just what it was like. My youngest was just two when Charlie was that age, and often still in a pushchair.
I used to use a headcollar to control the pulling. I haven't tried the walkezee harness, but I do see good write-ups of them. I know that plenty of people do say just training, training and more training without the "quick fixes", but I did find that when pushing a buggy you just needed something that worked, for the safety of both me, my child and my dog. No reason why you cannot also incorporate it into the training, giving the dog a treat when it is walking in the right position, regardless of what "aid" you are using.
Good luck. It is a phase, and it will pass, but it is trying at the time, as both your dog and your child test your patience.
Right...You probably won't like this piece of advise, but I'll give it anyway . Forget taking him out on lead with the children for now.
I've seen it so many times. Mum is trying to keep control of children, pushchair and pup all at the same time and it just isn't possible. The pup needs your undivided attention at this young age or else this will all go horribly wrong and by the time he is 9-10 months old, he'll be yanking you all over the place, regardless of which gadgets you use.
The pup is far too young to be able to concentrate on his position next to you for more than a few short mins at a time right now, so to expect him to be able to hold his position next to you all the way to school, is expecting too much and that doesn't factor in having exciting young playmates running around to distract him even further. That will be too much for him for a good few months yet.
So for now, I'd leave him at home while you do the School Run and take him out on his own on lead, so you can concentrate on getting his on lead walking spot on. If you want to take him out with the children, then take them all somewhere he can run off lead with them instead.
Hi, I would seriously take the advice given above. I can give you an example of how things can go wrong if you dont work on lead training.
I got so many things wrong when I was lead training Woody that I ended up with alot of problems with him pulling when he got excited. He would walk to heal when we were on our own but as soon as he saw another dog he would pull hard. A few months ago as I was going to the shop, Woody was walking slightly in front of me , he saw a dog sitting off lead outside the shop before I did. I went to get a treat out my pocket to distract him but as I did he pulled so hard I slipped and smacked my head off a wall. I felt like I was going to pass out but I saw Woody run out in front of a car, adrenaline must have kicked in and I managed to get up. Luckily it was in a car park and the car stopped straight away. I tried to get hold of him but he ran off heading for the main road where thankfully his lead got tangled up in the railings. I managed to get him home and my daughter took me to hospital where the nurse took stones out of my head and stapled my cuts .She said the Indians would have been proud of him as Id been partially scalped! I was relieved it was just me that was hurt as it could have been ALOT worse if Woodys lead hadnt got caught.
I was scared to walk him after this. I bought a harness and a very short lead which does give me more control over him. I dont take him to school in the morning anymore, I wait till I get back then let him off lead first so he can do his business the put him back on the lead for walking down the main path. He is getting better and can pass dogs that dont show him any interest but still trys to pull when he sees dogs that want to play with him.
When I first took him to training the trainer asked why I used a harness. I explained I found it easier to control him and she said harnesses will only make things worse because they are meant to encourage dogs like Huskys to pull!
I was advised to use a halti but Im happy with the progress Im making so I might buy one to use just when we go to class.
Woody doesnt pull at all when Ive got my Grandson in the buggy either and he could sit by me at the school when I used to take himwhile 400 children with lunch boxes and sweets go by and not move!
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. Forget taking him out on lead with the children for now.
