I have had him from a home for about 3 weeks and have tried tugging on his lead and saying no every time he pulls but he wont answer. He doesnt want treats when he is out, he takes them in his mouth and puts them on the floor (he loves them in the house). I have tried keeping him close to my leg, even when he stops to sniff he will then sprint ahead as if to make up ground. I dont know what will get through to him. Once he has had a run off his lead he walks home and is great, no pulling, but I dont want to have to tire him out every time we want a nice walk, as with the dark nights there are only limited times I can let him off his lead in fields.
2006-12-18 19:07:48 · 18 answers · asked by Steve B 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Try an "Easy Walk" Harness by Gentle Leader. It is not a regular harness, and when they pull it causes them to self restrain. It will not eliminate all pulling but it will make a huge difference. They are available at PetSmart and I am sure other stores, but someone there helped me adjust the ones I have for my dog. They feel a little weird at first, getting used to them but they make a HUGE difference. I also have heavy duty extendable leashes that can lock at the length I want to let my dogs out and I can give them leeway when I want to AND I can reign them in when I want to.
One of mine is mostly Staffie so I know how they can pull. Obedience classes helped some. It's good yours gets out to run off leash. I go to a dog park for that since she is so socialized to other animals.
2006-12-18 19:30:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Birds fly, fish swim and dogs must walk. I agree with the Halty Lead suggestion that goes on the nose and training collars are ok IF used appropriatly. Think also about your statement.."once he has had a run he walks home great" Staffs are high energy and need "jobs" and "purpose." When you first go out he is checking his "mail" from other dogs etc. He doesn't HAVE to be off lead but the tire him out bit well...that's about right. Also get a trainer to show you the appropriate way to use your leash and collar. Your dog should NOT be walking you and it is pointless to use a "choker" if he is. Choke collars are not really designed to choke and if you let him pull to the end of one they build up a tolerance and neck muscles against them. Do you have a treadmill? If you do that can be a life saver to! Have a coworker that breeds and shows hunting dogs and he puts them on a tread every night for about 30 mins to keep them in condition and release energy. Finally, if you get certain breeds, even a mix, be prepared to do the work or get something low maintenance
2006-12-18 19:44:34 · answer #2 · answered by beanie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A headcollar or harness is best because it doesn't hurt the neck plus it restrains the whole body. There are harnesses that go under the chest, but the best I think for a dog who pulls a lot is the "Gentle Leader" headcollar. It looks like a muzzle but it's not. You can get it at most petstores but prices vary so shop around. Trainers recommend it and I've seen the "Dog Whisperer" suggest it on his show, because it redirects the head when you tug on it, which keeps the dog from pulling or continuing its current behavior. Another good thing about harnesses or headcollars is that the dog can't slip out of them even if they're a little loose.
Another good source for info on getting your dog to walk obediently is the "Dog Whisperer" show with Cesar Milan. It's really educational, as is his book.
Good luck!
2006-12-18 19:25:06 · answer #3 · answered by philasophos01 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, you need to stop taking your dog out on walks until he can handle the distractions. When a dog does not accept treats on walks this means they are too distracted and dogs can not learn in this frame of mind.
Head to your backyard and start training. Get yourself a collar called a Martingale, search for them on the internet. This collar should be adjustable and be positioned so it sits directly behind the dogs ears not low around the neck.
Forget Halti's, they can be dangerous if a dog suddenly swings its' head or lunges. Halti's are useless in the sense that when you remove them the dog returns to the old behaviours as it hasn't learned anything.
Forget no-pull harnesses - a dogs natural reaction on a harness is to pull. Again, when you take off the harness, the dog will revert back to the old behaviour.
Start with your dog sitting on your left side and then say "Heel" and step off on your left foot. As soon as your dogs shoulder gets infront of your knee, say "Heel" and turn in the other direction - when you do this do not slow down and wait for the dog to catch up, the dog will give itself a correction by not turning with you. Keep doing this until your dog is abiding, this may take a week to get it going good. Then head out into the big wide world and apply this same method. 100% commitment & consistency is needed here!
Use the word "Heel" not "No" as you say "No" in so many circumstances, it's not teaching the dog anything. You want to have a dog that gets back into position when you say Heel and the dog will learn to do this with the above menthod I have stated.
Further to all of the above, I suggest you start doing research on how to be the Leader (Alpha) of you dog. A dog that thinks it is the leader will walk infront of the owner on walks, a dog who sees its' owner as the Leader will want the Owner to take the lead.
IGNORE THE PERSON WHO SAID:
"you might try dipping the lead in something that tastes bad.
that ought to help".
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE THINKING WHEN THEY MAKE THAT COMMENT, IT HAS NO WORTHWHILE USE WHAT-SO-EVER.
IGNORE THE PERSON WHO SAID:
"All staffs pull on their leads get a harness"
THE ONLY STAFFIES WHO PULL ARE UNTRAINED STAFFIES.
IGNORE THE PERSON WHO RECCOMENDED:
A Choke Collar.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHOKE CHAIN, I GUESS THE PERSON IS REFERRING TO A CHECK CHAIN, IF A CHECK CHAIN IS PUT ON THE WRONG WAY IT WILL CHOKE A DOG - THIS IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF A CHECK CHAIN.
2006-12-18 21:16:46 · answer #4 · answered by Sas 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have the exactly the same problem with my staffy.Ive had her for 3 years and still she just cannot stop pulling...and also has soon as shes been for a run on the way home shes fine.I think its just built up energy,shes always been excited when she goes out,so i just bare with it.After trying all these things people have suggested i just now let her walk with a good strong harness,she still pulls but its less strain on her neck and i have more control over her whole body! I do hope your stops but staffys are strong dogs and most ive seen pull...its just there way!!
2006-12-18 21:53:57 · answer #5 · answered by donna h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As soon as he pulls, you STOP. (Turn into a tree) Wait until he relaxes the lead, then say "Let's go" and start walking. When he pulls again, stop again. He will soon learn that if he wants you to stop, all he has to do is pull on the lead. This is kind of a bother to train, but after a few days it will work really well.
2006-12-18 19:44:28 · answer #6 · answered by kldt7 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
I have a staffie and all I can say is that she took a lot of patience!
I use a harness now and this works wonders. It took a lot of time to keep her walking next to me- it took a lot of correcting(weeks+weeks!) but now we can walk and she doesn't even strain the lead. I can definately empathise regarding the staffs energy though. My success may have something to do with the fact that she has the run of our garden during the day and also we have had her since she was a tiny pup
2006-12-18 23:50:50 · answer #7 · answered by mark_jmc 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
have you tried a Halti its a collar that goes over the mouth and round the neck as the dog pulls it brings the head down so the dog cant see where its going so stops pulling its kind and gentle and works i had one for my gordon setter and you know how mad they are after awhile she walked beautifully that she could go back to an ordinary collar and lead
2006-12-18 22:12:50 · answer #8 · answered by madison 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Halti!!! best things since sliced bread! its NOT cruel but will stop him as every time he pulls forward he will get a negative response (will pull around the mouth) he will be walking to heel in days.
2006-12-18 23:16:40 · answer #9 · answered by Crackers 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i've been training my pup from day one to heel and he still dont now at 11months.We now have a halti for him that go's over his nose and round the back of his head like a horse halti.It stops the pulling completly as you have totol control over there head,you can still keep training him by saying heel and that.There are other things such as harnesses but i found my old dog still pulled with one of these.Good luck
2006-12-18 20:30:31 · answer #10 · answered by Heavenly20 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋