How do I train my yellow lab not to pull when walking him on a leash (without the metal choker collar)?

Question

The collar I'm referring to has links and compresses when they pull, but his neck is so thick it doesn't fit him. I want him to walk right next to me at my pace.

Answer 1

You should really sign up for a puppy class for a number of reasons, one of them being your issue with the walking. if you can't afford that you can buy something called a Gentle Leader it is quite effective for this issue, although the other collar you mention is not inhumane either this one isn't as scary looking. it basically goes around the neck right behind the ears (not like a regular collar a bit higher) and another loop around the muzzle. It doesn't keep their mouth closed or anything just when you pull it it pulls their muzzle. you can buy it online and at major pet stores. And the same procedure applies not to yank the dog but short swift tug and release will help the dog feel that quick snap and to slow down and wait for you, this will take sometime though. 20 min a day should get you started, keep in mind he is a lab though and they are very exciteable and active. and leaving the gentle leader on him in the house to get used to is okay too even though it's not attached to any leash. good luck

Answer 2

Part of it is the collar placement. Most collars lay at the base of the neck, which is where the hard muscle is. The only problem is that with rambunctious dogs like labs etc, is that they can pull hard and be unphased due to the strength of that muscle.

Try fitting a collar higher on the neck, behind the ears. There is much less muscle there so they get less leverage to pull. It also gives you, the owner, greater control over where they go and how much momentum they can get. Hold the leash so that when your arm is comfortably at your side, the dog has a little bit of slack. This keeps him close to you without choking him. Then, if he decides he wants to go one way or the other, he meets the resistance of the collar and leash before he's more than a few inches away.

When he pulls hard, correct him by pulling back on the leash. You don't have to jerk him off his feet, but pull sharp enough that he gets the hint. At the same time, use a sound that will get his attention, like warning a child. Keep him close to you and do not give an inch. If he pulls harder, stand your ground and make him sit down. This stop his advances further and helps to bring his attention back to you. He will get the point rather quickly and will be wlaking nicely before you know it. :) Good luck!

Answer 3

I have a bit of a lengthy answer. Everyone here seems to be on the right track. I have a165 pound Great Dane / Lab Mix that I walk. I have a leather collar for him. I use two fingers under the collar to make sure it is loose, and not too tight. Then I pull the collar up to just under the back of his ears. This is a control mechanism that does not allow him to bend his head down or to get ahead. Keep your shoulders up, keep his leash a bit loose and have him beside you or just a shade behind you. Remember you are the pack leader. Relax, you are in charge not him. Start by you leading first not him. If he starts pulling, just stop and touch him on the head. That will break his concentration of what he was doing. Remember that dogs live for only the moment and they don't think about anything else. Then resume your walk. After awhile he will realize that you are the pack leader and will follow your lead. I have raised dogs for over twenty years and I learned even more from Cesar Milan's shows on National Geographics, as well as his book. Check the sources below to get even more information. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT, but a guide to follow and use your own common sense. I hope that this will lead you to the right place. Remember your dog is a commitment and a long term one.

Answer 4

My best advice is to buy a slip lead so when he pulls he will feel the strain on his neck but it won't hurt him.Put the lead behind your legs and hold in in your right hand with the dog on the left and that way he can't pull or vice versa but always walk him on the same side every time because it could confuse give him so much praise and the occasional treat but don't give the treat to him it every time because then you are just teaching him to do it so he gets a treat and not because you told her to do so.When he does pull ' pull him straight back in and say heel and rattle the bottle and in a clear voice keep repeating the heel command when you go out on your walks,but if does keep pulling a lot then turn around and start walking home and when he does it properly then turn back around and give him a lot of praise, but remember training doesn't just take a few minutes you have to keep persisting. When he is into heel properly his head should be in contact with your leg and eventually he should look up at you when he is in heel and when he does this you have cracked it. There is no need to get a collar that gives it a shock or sprays water at them that can just make them annoyed and angry, just try my technique first and i think that it should all work out fine for you and your dog. Good luck

Answer 5

My GSD was a "puller" with me but not the guys (hubby & son) here's what the trainer told us
First and formost NO CHOKE CHAINS...a nylon collar with a quick release snap, loose enough to be pulled up behind his ears, (like dog shows do)this keeps his head up and makes him focus on his job
1) make sure you go out the door first
2) short leash ( you can get the handle only leash at petsmart) along with a 5' leash(not a chain leash, the sound of the chain excites a already energized dog) put both on the dogs collar, use the short leash first, when he pulls STOP make him go into the sit -stay.Do NOT contuine your walk until he is calm and paying attation only to you
3) If he tries to pull you because he has seen something he wants STOP sit & stay, a firm "Leave it" and repeat step 2.
it took me about a week if this type of training in my front yard before I could sucessfully walk him in public, if anyone wants to pet him while you are doing this just explain that he is in training and most people will understand and wish you good luck with him.
I can now take my 110 lb. GSD everywhere I go with no problems. good luck and keep working with him.
P.S. sometimes adding weight to him will calm him down ie a back pack, mine wheres a vest with pockets a water bottle on each side..

Answer 6

Keep the leash very short as you are walking. (like 6-8 inches) This keeps her from being able to gain the momentum to pull..As you let the leash out just a bit, if she pulls, STOP..wait until she quits pulling to continue..Each time she pulls, either stop immediately or turn and go the opposite direction..I like to train in a parking lot, after businesses are closed, so I can walk in any direction freely..Sometimes, we are just walking in circles, until the dog quits pulling..they soon learn, that if they want to get anywhere, they have to stay by you..

Answer 7

RE: s-t "i would not use metal choker collar -- and would not respect those who use it...unless their dog is vicious.."

SO GLAD SOME PET OWNERS LIKE s-t and jok KNOW SO MUCH MORE THAN THOSE WHO TRAIN AND COMPETE IN AKC OBEDIENCE TRIALS!!

Under the AKC rules only two collars are permitted - flat buckle which is used by less than 3% of the competitors and then only at the very top of the 3 levels of obedience; and a slip collar (or choke chain) used by the other 97 %

Now can her doggy do hand signals at a distance, directional retrieves, 'send out and turn", retrieve by scent, do a drop on recall, retrieve over a jump or hold a stay for 5 minutes in a line of dogs off lead with the handler out of sight? What make me think the answer is no?

Now what does she think Service Dogs wear as a collar in addition to any harness??? Get one hint - it is not any of the weird halters, martingales, harnesses or a flat buckle collar.

All those funky headhalters, martingales, harnesses and other oddities are IILEGAL under the AKC competitions rules. In fact, headhalters and weird martingales and pinch collars can't even be on the show grounds - they are completely PROHIBITED. Add to that, that you can not teach a dog 'come', sit, or down with those gadets. They are just devices for pet owners who don't or won't or haven't learned to train their dog properly to be able to walk doggy and that is all they can do - nothing else in the way of training..

Pinch collars whould never be used by the unskilled handler. They are a last ditch resort and are very severe. Putting them in the hands of an inexperienced person is like giving a mokey a set of razor blades. They have become popular with the unskilled owner because they get immediate results - which they do because they are severe and punishing

The only thing about slip collars is the owner has to actually make an effort to learn how to use it. NEVER set against it and keep a constant pull - it is a "pop" and release. Have someone put it on your wrist and give a steady pull tightening it all the way and then do a fast snap. You'll get the idea. Most dogs quickly learn to listen for the rattle of the collar chain as the leash sways and promptly adjust before the collar even moves.

Now, first, slip collars are made to fit any breed. Go buy one that does or go on line to a good pet supplier like Foster and Smith to find it. I have a breed that towers over a Lab and collars will fit them.

If he is pulling, you are going to need leverage. You will NOT get it with a flat buckle collar - you will just get dragged more.

There is a very simply technique that stops you from getting dragged and persuades him to heel nicely at your side. Works for me at 98 lbs against dogs that weigh over 50 % more than me.

Hook the leash on the dog's properly fitted slip collar (4-5 inches between neck and collar). Get the dog on your left side. Take the leash and run it behind you over your hips to your right side. Hold the end of the leash in your right hand. With your left hand, take up the leash so there is some slack between your hand and the dog's collar - maybe a loop of 8-10 inches on each side of the loop.

Walk off. When the dog lunges forward to drag you, halt FAST and step backwards with your left foot taking the dog's lunge with your body. (You are basically snubbing him off.) You can even take a complete step backwards if you are fast enough. Let him hit that slack and snap himself back. As he halts and moves back, you release the pressure on the lead of your hip slightly.

As you do that yell "NO" in a deep stern voice, and then in the same voice order him back to your side with "Heel". Make him get back there and move off again.


Now you both need a GOOD obedience class - and that is NOT Petsmart or Petco.

Go here to find contacts in you area that can help you locate and obedience trainer who works with all breeds and who does AKC obedience competitions. If they don't compete at what they claim to teach, find some one else - they are obviously not willing to prove their methods in the ring against an objective standard of performance.

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf...

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf... (set on all breeds)


http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf...

Even it they are an hour or more away, they will know other people all over the state.

Answer 8

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/QQTDF

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 9

So..
If you haven't attended a good dog traning course you shouldn't complain. You have to learn to understand better your dog, the causes of its bad behaviours and some good techniques to use to get rid of any issue you have with your furry friend.

A good site with a good dog training course is http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572. I think it's the best dog training course available on the net.
Hope it helps.

Answer 10

it is a question of right training and walking respecting your pace and his pace. i would not use metal choker collar -- and would not respect those who use it...unless their dog is vicious..then why keep a vicious dog. so much for the leash...now the question -- training means you have to do it many many many times and in good and bad weather..and give him a small cookie when he does it right...
PS. i trained my dog -- to go on my bike with love -- and he runs also next to me on a bike...etc..etc. all with love...no force...good luck....