Any idea how to stop my dog pulling on its lead?

Question

She has a halti collar but she still pulls on it.

Answer 1

Do NOT reprimand and pull back!!!! This will teach the dog to be fearful of the leash/lead. Use a Halti, or keep small treats with you and reward the dog when he/she is walking next to you. Eventually they will learn to walk beside you without the need of a reinforcer.

Answer 2

Some breeds are pullers, it's instinct. Teach your dog to heel (grab a book on positive reinforcement training at your local bookstore). When your dog is walking next to you with a slack leash, praise her and pet her like crazy and give her a high value treat (my dog will do anything for a slice of hot dog).

If you have a sled dog or a willful individual (and she might be if the halti collar isn't working), it might be worth it to go to a professional trainer who can show you how to use a 'choke chain.' Before I get flamed let me tell you that if it actually chokes the dog you are using it incorrectly (very incorrectly). The proper use of the collar is only for refocusing the dog's attention on you. If you have never used one before (or even if you have) make sure you get a properly fitted one and make sure that you know how to use it (find a reputable trainer who can show you). Used properly, it is just a way of alerting the dog she is doing something improper and that she should pay attention to what you are doing. I have never found a halti collar to work as well as a properly used chain collar (an improperly used chain collar can do some serious damage to a dog though, don't use it if you aren't willing to get some training on how to use it properly).

The key thing is to make it as enjoyable for the dog to walk with a slack leash as possible. Praise and treats are a fantastic combination that can work miracles. Just make sure you reward her while the leash is slack. I would stay away from retractable leashes because they always have tension on them. If she's walking by your side then praise her like she just cured cancer. With consistency (and a some hot dog slices) she'll figure out that not pulling is a lot more pleasant than pulling.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

The halti is a great start, but you have to know how to use it. Where the head goes, the body follows... it can only work that way. So when you are walking and she starts to pull, stop and steer her head around to come towards you, in a slow constant motion, no yanking. It will take a little time, and alot of patience, but it works!! Soon she will get tired of going in a circle whenever she starts to pull and will stop pulling. Just remember, your in charge. Also, don't listen to those who use the inhumane pinch collars, I have seen the damage that they can do to a trachea... it can be like an at-home tracheotomy.

Answer 4

Prong collar. It many look scary but it doesn't really hurt dogs. And it should only be worn when training though just like choke chains as it could harm a dog if it got caught on something. It should be worn towards the top of the neck right under the head just as any collar to be most effective. Not many people realize that by having the collar low on the neck the dog is less likely to feel your attempts at control.

Answer 5

Sorry that this is so long, but TRUST ME.
It works.

Haltis, Gentle Leaders, and other imitation brands that claim to stop dogs from pulling take repetitive positive and negative reiforcement. (i.e. a treat for something good,a spank for something bad, etcetera.) Most dog owners prefer not to use these methods. My terrier has a Gentle Leader, but she strains because she has already learned to tug. How did I get her to obey?

I first ditched the head collar after concluding that they are not effective enough for dogs with an established habit of pulling.

I took a walk with my dog down the city sidewalks, distractions galore. I used a five-foot lead and wrapped it loosely around my hand to keep her close at the beginning.

She pulls. First, it was at a bicycle rider, then at a tree.

I stopped, tightened the lead so that she was forced gently next to me, and led her around in a tight circle; basically walking around in the same place until she stopped tugging.

I walked in a straight line again. She tugs, and I repeat the beforementioned step. So, keeping the pattern going and use the word "heel" when she successfully walks beside me without having the lead death-tight, I gave fairly ample treats every time I used "heel," and soon she learned that heel comes with that positive reinforcement I talked about earlier.

Soon, I start giving less treats, but still provide them sometimes. Why does this work? It's like a slot machine to humans. Dogs win once, and they get hooked. They keep losing and losing, but go again and again unfased, logically hoping that they'll get that jackpot again.

Then, I wanted to go a step further. After she had mastered the walk-by-me part of heel, I would stop periodically, ask her to sit, then immediately rewarded her when she did.

Soon, I would stop, and she sat automatically. I rewarded her every time, until I gradually reduced the amount of treats I gave her. After that, I had to give her a treat only about two times on a walk.

Repeat this method any time you walk somewhere, and your dog will fall into the pattern even quicker each time. It worked for my dog, a jumpy terrier, so I hope it will work without fail for you.

Cheers to a happy walk.

Answer 6

get a new leash make sure it looks different. a short lead is a good choice...dog cant pull .use a slip collar or pinch collar...then like everyone says dont walk until the dog has slack leash...command Heel..praise the loose leash behavior with treat or praise that your dog is accustomed to, Pull up on the lead to activate the pinch/slip and say HEEL when the dog pulls.. again praise the behavior of the loose lead..eventually HEEL is all you will need to say and you really wont even need the lead except for law purposes.

Answer 7

Every time my dog pulled I would put him on a short lead until he stopped pulling and then gradually released the lead - every time he pulled i would shorten the lead again - I kept repeating this until he eventually got the message - it took a couple of days but now he is a pleasure to take for a walk

Answer 8

When you're walking the dog, and the dog starts pulling or tugging at the lead, STOP WALKING, give it a calm but firm "hell" command, and redirect the dog to your side. Don't start walking again until the dog is still. Then start walking. If the dog tugs again repeat the correction process: STOP WALKING, give it a calm but firm "hell" command, and redirect the dog to your side. Don't start walking again until the dog is still.

It may take a while for the dog to "get it", but if you're consistent, the dog will learn that tugging and pulling literally gets it nowhere, and it will be more eager to comply and behave itself.

Do NOT hit or spank the dog for misbehavior. That teaches it nothing except to fear your touch.

Answer 9

the advice of stopping and heeling is correct. also i was told that when the puppy/dog would pull, stop, walk the other way.

there's a thing called gentle leader. it's like the item you are talking about but the clip for the lead is in the chest area. i have yet to test this since my puppy is still young.

good luck to you.

Answer 10

What might help is the illusion lead. It's brand new.

But also, it's really not the lead that's the problem. It's the training. I recommend watching some of Cesar Milan. Check out his newsletter. These questions are very common. And this is one trainer I trust to give you the best advice.

Find a trainer who can help strengthen your technique when you start applying the lessons.