pulling border collie dog help?

Question

how came i stop my collie he a puppy ive tryed telling him off pulling the ted and trying to make him walk by my side but nothing can anyone help me

Answer 1

If you are simply wanting your dog to learn not to pull on the leash, you might try the clicker training method to shape your dogs behavior. I do agree with the above poster that getting your dog slightly tired out is a good idea before beginning. It's hard to focus when they have a ball of energy waiting to burst (I have a BC, I understand how that goes!)

Get a clicker--got mine at PetSmart for $1.50.

Get a good treat--That everyday doggie treat won't do. It has to be something special you don't give your dog often and reserve it for training only. I find cooked hotdogs, cut into small pieces work well, but cooked chicken, stew bits or even cheese could work. I've even used Goldfish crackers. Basically, the more your dog loves the treat you use, the more receptive your dog will be for it.

Teach that the click means a treat--Click, then give treat right away (never delay and always give a treat for a click). Repeat this 5-10 times. You'll know your dog is "getting it" when your dog begins to watch your clicker hand.

Utilize the clicker--Walk at a fairly brisk pace with your dog on lead. When your dog is not pulling, click and reward for that. Also, use the method of 180 degree turning as mentioned above to help your dog learn he must know where you are at all times. Continue this process of clicking and immediate rewarding for proper position and not pulling.

This way, you are not forcing your dog into position, your dog is making the choice to do it. By helping your dog understand what you want, and giving him the option to choose to fall into proper place, you set your dog up for success.

This does take time and patience and it won't happen overnight, but if you are persistant, you will find it helping you in the long run. Be sure to do this at first in a place without a lot of distractions and then, as your dog improves, gradually increase the distractions. Eventually, you will be able to wean off the treats and the click, but in the beginning, they will help your dog understand what you want.

When using treat rewards, it's a good idea not to train right after a meal. When we go to our obedience class, my puppy gets half a meal, then the rest when we get home. If your dog isn't a little hungry, the treats don't work as well.

Answer 2

Get yourself a 15 ' lead and find and area where you won't be disturbed. Make sure you have plenty of room. Now put your dog in a sit position and wait till he is calm. When he is calm begin walking, walk about 50 paces and turn around (all the while ignoring your dog) let him do whatever it is he does. Continue walking back and forth. What will eventually happen is he will notice you are no longer paying attention to him. He won't like that, he may jump, pull, bark, yelp, even get mad at you but don't give in. After awhile he will come to your side when he does this shorten the lead and continue shorting the lead till he is walking along side you. When you walk back and forth w/o him pulling and tugging reward him. Your dog only wants to please you and once he realizes to please you he has to walk along side you he will do so. Now you can start your commands, heal, sit, stay, etc... This training method may take up to and hour or so, so be prepared to be out there awhile, water, treats, etc.. After he starts understanding what you want you can change to his walking lead. You may have to re-visit this training exercise a few times just as a re-fresher. Good luck

Answer 3

I have two dogs, both hunting dogs. One is a Golden Retriever and the other is an English Setter. I wanted to walk them together, be able to jog with both of them, and eventually walk without a leash and not worry about them running off.

I hired a trainer to come to my house to help me with this and some other special requests.

What he suggested was:
Purchase a prong collar (even for a puppy). Yes they look like horrible torture devices BUT they do not hurt the puppy or dog AT ALL. They are for correction only and mimick what the dog would feel in nature - from the mother or Alpha dog.

Choke chains are more harmful because they apply even pressure around the neck and can cause the esophagus and treachea to collapse. The flat collar isn't used for correction because there are no reprocussions and a harness provides a large space against their chest for pulling.

With the prong collar - put the dog on your left in "heel" position. You want to use a loose leash. NO tension, give the dog room to pull.

Put the dog in sit and tell him to heel then start walking. When he tries to pull turn abruptly and walk the other way. As you do give a quick snap (called a correction). Don't real him in, don't drag him, just one quick correction and continue to walk.

When he comes back to you tell him to heel again. As he starts pulling repeat. It'll take MAYBE a week - IF that.

I can now jogg with Summer- my golden on my left and Willow-my setter on my right in heel. When I get tired and have to change pace, walk or even stop they both look up to me for guidance and they adjust their pace accordingly without any pulling, speaking or "corrections".

I went trick or treating w/ them for 5 hours. I practically forgot they were there because there was so much slack on the leash. They just walked right next to me w/ LOTS of other dogs, people, and distractions around me. They were focused on me and my pace and I wasn't getting my arm ripped out of the socket!

As I was training I tested them. I'd walk realy really fast then slllooooowwwww just to see if this was really working. And surprise surprise it does.

I can go hiking for miles w/o them being on a leash and w/o worry that they will run off.

When he learns heel you have the option of keeping him on the prong collar or switching back to the flat collar. Either way you've trained him onto the word so he knows to follow you.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Get a British slip lead and put it on the highest part of the neck like in dog shows.

Start the walk with him behind or beside you not letting him out first. pull UP on the lead to correct him not to the side. Each time he starts to go ahead of you pull up right away.

Also come up with more activity for him herding class aglity runing with a bike swimimg any of those work well.

Answer 5

Pulling dogs need consistent training to walk alongside you. First off, you need to expend some of the dog's energy before you'll get them to pay attention, so take them some place where they can run (play fetch or run in a field/beach/park) to burn off the excess energy.

Once the dog is tired out, put him on a short leash and walk with him, keeping him along side your leg. It is your job to guide the dog and keep him focused alongside you. If he pulls, hold the leash down closer to the collar (giving him less to wander off with), and keep him close. If need be, stop, make him stop, and make him stay right alongside you until YOU are ready to go again. He needs to understand you are the boss.

Also, one word (preferrably one syllable) commands are important to corrolate a command with a task. In the case of leash-training, I usually use "SLOW" as my word, since "stay, heal, down" and so forth can be confused with other commands. When he behaves, give him lots of pets around his head and face and praise him. If you intend on regular daily walks, even a treat at the end for good behavior is recommended.

Answer 6

My vet told me that my puppy was too young to leash--hes 4 months old.But that I could put the leash on his collar and let him drag it around.He will get use to it that way and not be afraid of it.I tried it and it worked,now I just pick it up and tell him to come and no more pulling.I never leave it on him,just like a game to him...Be patient and he'll do it.....(I also got him a harness,so he will not get choked if he pulls)

Answer 7

sounds like my kelpie! both busy working dogs with so much energy they are not really interested in walking calmly!

you can get special harnesses which apply pressure under their arms (arms?!!) front legs.
i bought one from the vets.
it helped a little, but i prefer to see her run anyway.

other than that. do some serious training with him, using treats as rewards, practicing just taking a few steps forward, holding the lead tight to keep him at your left leg and saying 'heal' everytime he pulls forward and quickly giving the lead a tug back (not to hurt thought). and lots and lots of praise when they manage a little heal!!

i don't believe in choker chains, they cause some damage.

Answer 8

Get a Gentle Leader for your dog
http://www.petguys.com/-759023-medium.html
Be sure to get the correct size, and watch the DVD that comes with it so that you can properly fit it and introduce it to your dog. A high energy dog such as a BC needs to be taught with rewards - give him treats as you walk in boring places, to start, so that he's more likely to pay attention to you.