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I've just reread this post SG.
It does sound like you are getting close to cracking it you know.
He's pulling to get to somewhere fun..wouldn't we all.
It's vital that our pups don't do this so if they start we will get them to the field/park (it can take a while of changing direction) and maybe one day walk past it, then come back and go home. Do that for a couple of days and your dog will soon stop seeing it as somewhere he is sure to go if you walk that way. The next thing to do is keep him on a normal lead and walk him through part of the field, turning backwards if he pulls. You may not get too far in, but it really doesn't matter. Keep doing this for a couple of sessions and extend the distance you walk. If your dog is good, put his long line on and let him have a run as a reward, if not, turn round and go home. It does work, but takes time. In the end you will have a dog that can walk through the park without pulling you over and doesn't 'assume' he's going for a good time...

Hope this helps, it's early, I had a late night and not sure i made much sense!!!!!!
It really does sound to me like he's getting the idea though. I have fund that that's the most frustrating time with the training on this sort of thing as you sort of know they can do it...they just have wek areas..a bit more time and patience and I truly believe you'll have it cracked!
Good luck!
Ax

thanks very much everyone (well almost everyone!!) for your replies. sorry only just got round to responding but i dont have a computer at home at the moment so using works one!!

well i have an update on the events of the weekend. i havent been starving sam as such, just cut out his tea on friday night and breakfast on sat, sun and this morning. he's had lots of treats in-between if he's done what i've asked him to so he's certainly not been 'starved'. i've used the dogmatic collar on him just to get from a-b. he hates it with a passion, but at least i can get him to walk on a loosish lead. i've been doing alot more training in the garden off-lead, doing recalls, and heelwork etc. also on the green in front of my house we've been off-lead too. i've been putting his lead on in the house, and just letting it trail behind him, just so its not such a big issue putting it on when we go for walkies!

the training classes i attend have helped us both no end otherwise without them and the help of the trainers i would have given up on sam long ago. unfortunately you cant make a dog recall if he doesn't want to. all i can do is practice and practice til it becomes the norm, and until he fully understands what i expect from him.

thanks to shadowboxer, wysiwig, jess (and anyone ive forgotten), for all your valuable and helpful advice i really do appreciate it

he is getting better (most of the time), and his good points outweigh his bad points. i know there are going to be times when it seems as though we're going backwards, but i'm sure there will be light at the end of the tunnel eventually

Sounds as if things are improving, keep us updated won't you


And don't worry if there is the odd day when it all goes wrong - we all have those, even top trainers do!

My dog is usually good on a lead, but not today ! She's been exactly like yours and, like you, I brought her home early. Then, again like you, I did some training and she was fine. Its very frustrating.
The only explanation I can think of is that its very windy today and that sometimes makes animals nervous and excitable. Something to do with not being able to read the scents, or so I've heard.

I to can sympathise with the pulling its hard work - firstly we had collar for Duke then went to a harness it was work he was like a steam train in full throttle I dont know how my arms stayed in there sockets. I was recommended by a vet nurse friend to try a headcollar and by god it was fantastic no pulling it was like having a different dog he is an absolute angel and a joy to walk. We bought the Canac Gentle Leader and it has been the best thing I have ever bought. There are many different headcollars on the market but as this was recommended we decided to go for it I know that there will other recommendations too and I think its just what suits the dog re fitting some do tend to ride up to the dogs eyes but havent found this with the GL others are halti,dogmatic of which I know of.

Hope thats has been of some help and you are not alone with the dog pulling I assure you.

Hey that's great - sounds like you are getting somewhere. Well done.

thanks allyson for your reply. i have tried the dogmatic and the halti. the halti rides up in his eyes, and the dogmatic he just puts his fronts paws in the loop at the front and pulls it off!!! little buggar! ive also been recommended the gentle leader, which i think i might try .

The Dogmatic was a godsend for us, Maddy pulled it off as you said at first, but after a few walks (ok quite a lot of walks) with it on, she got used to it. I used to just put it on her, but not attach is to anything, and walk her on her regular half check, just untill she got used to it, so it wasn't actually pulling on her. It worked really well, hope this helps.

Bear in mind though this isn't a long term solution, Maddy will walk like an angel on the Dogmatic now, but put her on a 'normal' collar and lead, half check or whatever, and she will pull like a train again.