How can I teach my dog to stop pulling me when we go for a walk?

Answer 1

You need to get your dog used to the idea that there should not be tension on (I'll say her) collar when you're walking her. The most reliable way to do this is (assuming this is not a tiny little 10 lb. dog!) to get a choke chain. Used properly, they don't hurt the dog. Does the dog sit on command? Good. I think the dog has to be somewhat used to following commands before they'll behave outdoors. "Sit" and "stay" are good things to start with.

Take your dog for a walk. Start with an "indoor walk," on leash, so that there won't be any distractions. Once you've got the indoors down, try the yard or front walk. Praise her for staying at your side/ keeping the leash slack. When the dog begins to pull on the leash--here's the hard part but I promise it works and your dog will be happier in the long run!--move your leash hand forward to slacken the collar, then pull back HARD and say "heel." No need to be mean or raise your voice; just be firm and let her know what you want. (NB, get someone at the pet store to show you how to put on the choke chain; there's a right way and a wrong way.) Your dog will probably stay by your feet for the next while, so praise her effusively for that. And of course avoid getting to close to any obviously irresistable attractions, viz., squirrels, ponds, stinky dead animal carcasses, etc. Good luck!

Answer 2

Front-hook harness are the greatest thing ever for walking a pulling dog. EZ Walk Harness made by Premier is the best one on the market right now and is readily available at PetSmart stores and possibly also PetCo.

The harness won't teach your dog to stop pulling, but will help reduce the pulling while you train not to pull.

Answer 3

Try a training collar (choke collar), and give short, sharp tugs then release when your dog pulls. If unsure of how to use the collar, have a trainer help you. You may want to enroll your dog in obedience class for a few weeks - this give you and your dog proper training, as well as socializes your pet. A good idea all around! Ask other dog owners who they would recommend !

Answer 4

Use a Gentle Leader. It's a halter that fits on the dog's head and uses pressure rather than choking to keep them from pulling. Works great on large dogs.

Answer 5

Maybe you can take a dog training class. I know Petco has them sometimes where I live. We took our dogs (both labs) to training which helped with one but the other had a harder time. We had to get him a pronged choke collar. Not wild about it but he was just way too big and strong. He would pull me off my feet! He gets that thing on and I rarely have to correct him now. :)

Answer 6

PLEASE< PLEASE>PLEASE !!!! Do NOT put a choke collar on your dog! They are known to cause breathing problems due to collapsed trachea (windpipe). A dog will pull until it can't breathe! Instead try a pinch collar. They look pretty wicked, but are a safe and very effective way to break your dog of pulling. It's a "self correcting device". That means you don't have to constantly correct the dog, the collar does it. Take a look, like I said, it looks nasty, but I have had great success with all my Rotties...

http://www.stopdogfrombarking.com/pinchcollars.html

http://www.fordogtrainers.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=34 shows you what they look like

Answer 7

i was having this problem with my lab puppy.
we started taking puppy classes at petsmart ($100 for 8 classes) and it's AWESOME!!!!
our trainer is so nice and she really knows her stuff.
she introduced me to a collar that fits loosely around his neck and has a section of metal chain on it. his leash hooks to the chain and when he starts to pull you give a short yank and it doesn't choke him, but the chain makes a sound he responds to. also, when you do the short pull say "ahh" like you're tsking him. instead of "tsk, tsk, tsk", it's like "ahh, ahh, ahh" don't do that.
you need to say it pretty loud and very firm. yank and "ahh" work wonders.
he will start to learn that you are boss and not only are you a friend but he needs to listen to you.
my dog had responded soooo well to "ahh" i use it for everything he shouldn't do.
if he jumps on the couch, push him down and"ahh" him.

you get the point.
the collar is great b/c it's not a choker (they aren't good for dogs) and so is the negative command you give.
your neighbors might think you have something stuck in your throat for a few days, but once you get the hang of it your dog will respond and you will be "ahh"ing less and less.

i was yanking and "ahh"ing about every 2 steps at first, but it gets better!!

take care!!

Answer 8

When he pulls, stop and turn around to walk the other way. I'm not sure of the reasoning behind it but it does work.

Answer 9

Chocker collar. When the dog pulls, you pull back and it tightens the collar. Do it enough times and the dog will get the idea.

Answer 10

Put a chain choke collar on and whenever he pulls you give the lease a quick tug, and at the same time say "Heel".