Leash training

Helloo,

I am in desperate need of finding a good way to train my 9 month old puppy to walk on a leash. She is fine when it is just us however if she seems an animal or another dog or a scent she likes she can literally drag me wherever she wants to go. I tried the easy walk harness which she's a circus dog and has figured out a way to contort her body and can slip her arms out! (no idea how she figured it out) I have tried making it tighter but then its too tight. I have a choke collar that she does semi ok on but sometimes when she gets really excited and starts pulling really hard she will go to bark and no sound comes out!!! I feel terrible! I am convinced if she pulls hard enough one day her head will pop off. Any suggestions??

Also i have done training with her to have her look at me when other dogs come by. She no longer pulls at the dogs she actually sits down until they walk by but then once they go past us is when she starts to pull towards them. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sounds like the harness or the check is not working and the food reward is

You might want to consider lure / reward and / or clicker which will be much more effective in the long term

http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/541

Well done on the training, that sounds really good and as if you've got part of it cracked! That is really good!

Does she do this when you give a cue/command word, and does she do it willingly?

I'd try to build on this by perhaps pre-empting her behaviour after the dogs go by, and train something else for her to do after she has done her sit - perhaps train her to "come with me" so you and her walk off briskly in the other direction, or something like that. Use high value food or toys as a reward for her doing this

Does she get to interact with other dogs at all, as if not that could be a reason as to why she behaves in this way.

Good luck!

Wys
x

This is what I was wondering. Youngsters NEED to play and interact with their own species. As they get older, this changes. But while they are growing and exploring the world being led along a path with no chance to play or explore must be like taking a child to a toyshop and telling them they can`t have anything.
Maybe walking with others with friendly dogs would be the answer? Dogs really do need to interact with other dogs.

This is what I was wondering. Youngsters NEED to play and interact with their own species. As they get older, this changes. But while they are growing and exploring the owrld being led along a path with no chance to play or explore must be like taking a child to a toyshop and telling them they can`t have anything.
Maybe walking with others with friendly dogs would be the answer? Dogs really do need to interact with other dogs offlead.

Kikopup's videos are usually pretty clear/straightforward - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgtqgiAKoQ

Also seen this one recently which looks good - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvSxr...layer_embedded

Here are another couple of videos. The first one is mine and the second one is another example of the method

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyG0oF5-d0w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyG0oF5-d0w

John

thanks for all of the advise guys! wysiwyg thanks for the compliment. I have had her since she was 5 weeks old and we practiced from day one haha. I think she has a little bit of border collie so she LOVES doing tricks or anything to show me how smart she is haha.

A mekuti harness is difficult to get out of and is designed to be used with two hands to begin with.

http://www.mekuti.co.uk/harness_shop.htm

Look here for loose lead walking tips


http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/lo..._diagramed.doc
http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/le...lktogether.pdf
http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/strolling_on_lead.doc
http://www.learningaboutdogs.com/aca...alktogdvd.html
http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/wa...headhalter.pdf

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/541

Look under loose leash walking here:


http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...ndex.htm#basic

Books:

My dog pulls what do I do? By Turid Rugaas
Help, my dog pulls on the lead by Erica Peachey