how to train my dog to stop pulling?

Answer 1

Loose Leash Walking:

Firstly you need to take charge, remember you are walking your puppy not them walking you. Start off by practicing getting them to stick to one side (AKC says left side I say what ever side they prefer). If they criss cross you stop dead and bring them back to the correct side telling them this side. Then get them to sit and stay for a few seconds. Start walking and say to your dog let's go. Now if your dog starts pulling try one of these three methods;

1.) The Tree

Be a tree if they start pulling stop dead and tell them easy. Get them to come back to your side ask them to sit and wait a few seconds. say let's go and take a few steps, if they pull stop dead.... etc. Start by only taking one or two steps then asking them to sit, slowly build on they distance you can walk before they start pulling.

2.) Quick Snap

This method works really well on smaller dogs but gve it a try. What you want to do is quick snap your dog. DO NOT do it so hard that your dogs spins around, that is way to much force. The quick snap should be forceful enough so that your dogs slows down/speeds up/follows you. Always acompany the snap with a command; for pulling say easy, for lagging behind say hurry. again practice standing still and get your dog to stay in his area (the side he is allowed) with out pulling you. Once he will stand/stay in his area go ahead and take a few steps, build on the distance you can walk..

3.) The Turn Around

Your dog wants to walk forward and pull you. This is a simple method to teach them to walk and pay attention to you. If your dog runs ahead and starts pulling turn around and go the other way. If he pulls do it again and again until he get frustrated and watches what you are doin.. thi method is funny to watch but very good with larger dogs.


Tips & Tricks
1.) Remember your words!!
Pulling ahead say easy
Lagging behind say hurry
To start walink say Let's go
If they criss cross you say This side
If you change directions say this way

2.) Try some tools such as a gentle leader or easy walker, a halti

3.) Don't use a retractable leash, this allows you dog to go where they want, it also encourages pulling by always having tension between you and your dog from the spring inside the leash.

Answer 2

this is a tough one. Alot of dogs do not stop pulling. Take it to a training class if you can afford it, if not, when you walk the dog, if it starts to pull stop. Don't move. Let the dog come back to you praise the dog and walk on. Its tough, and your walks can take forever, but it works!

another trick(learnt this from adpt trainer) is to keep a food treat or toy held against your side so the dog can see it. This encourages your dog to walk beside you. You must reward the dog regularly or it won't work.

some dogs are just so excited going for a walk, they don't stop pulling, but if it is a good long walk, then it ill stop pulling at the end!

Answer 3

OK, firstly start your walk within your house at the furthest point from your exit point.

Put the lead on your dogs collar and begin to walk on a reasonably short lead toward the exit of your house... if your dog pulls, let out a sharp "yap" noise and turn around and walk back a few steps...then stop... when your dog is calm again, walk on and repeat the above whenever your dog starts to pull. Pick a one word command to say to your dog whenever he's walking at heel.... either "heel" "close" or another word of your choice. Lots of praise for your dog when he's doing as he's told.

You will look silly on your walks, but after a few days your dog will take the hint.

I'm NOT a fan of choke chains or harness as this simply inhibits the dog and doesn't train him to your command.

I'm a vet and went through a similar experience with my German Shepherd and a Cocker Spaniel... the Shepherd took about a week to train, the Spaniel longer at 3 weeks, but both walk beautifully now on and off the lead.

Answer 4

Depends. If its a border collie or other high octane high maintenence breed its caused by one problem; if its a rottie its caused by another.
Try a Halti headcollar or an anti pull harness from a pet shop for starters, and go to dog training classes. The trainer will look at you and your dog together and figure out why your dogs pulling. Then its easier to work out the correct course of action.

Don't use a choke chain unless someone has shown you how to fit it and use it correctly. Or if you have arthritis, bad back, carpal tunnel etc.

Answer 5

if you don't pull your dog can't pull against you....

I've recently taken on an 18 month old badly trained dalmatian who pulls like a train. If he starts to pull I correct him with a sharp 'no' & at the same time give a firm tug on the lead to bring him back to heel. As he gets back to heel, I say the word 'heel' so he begins to assosiate it with walking to heel. I then loosen the lead slightly until he begins to pull again as a reward for being back to heel. The second he starts to pull again I repeat the procedure. I've had horses for many years & dogs are no different to horses to train - they respond to a release of pressure as a reward & if you train through punishment & not reward you end up with a very miserable animal. My dalmatian is respnding well to this method.

Answer 6

Everytime he pulls try and stop. When he does, tell him no. Repeat.
If it doesn't work, loose leash walking for a bit. He needs to learn to walk beside you, not in front of you. Carry treats and hold the leash so he has to stand beside you, if he stays that way when you walk, give him a treat and praise him. After a while he'll learn that's good and keep doing that

Answer 7

every time your dog pulls on the lead, and shout no and walk in the opposit direction. then go back to where you were walking before and repeat this until your dog is trained to stop pulling.

Answer 8

To train a dog to stop pulling you must pull it lightly (or hard but not too hard if you can)when it puller you and reward it for walking at your speed egg give it dog choclate

Answer 9

I agree with CrazyDeadMoth on his suggestions. I would also try getting the dog to walk beside you without the leash. Walk around the house and encourage your dog to walk with you. It is a challenge to find ways to keep them near you. Try food, toys, silly sounds, changing speed and/or direction. Once you know how to keep your dog next to you, move outside in a safe place and try it. You probably will have to work harder at it. Once you can to that, put the leash on and go for a walk and do the same things. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Try a 'Halti'. It's like a muzzle like fitting that the leash is attached to so that when the dog pulls his/her head is pulled round to the side. When dogs pull they put their head and shoulders into it, pulling forward. With their head to one side it sort of puts them off balance for pulling so they stop.