How do i stop my dog taking me for a walk!!!!!?

Question

I have a beautiful rotty, she is so clever and when we are out she is great, and walking home, she is great - but on the way out, she pulls and pulls. It is embarrasing and i get cross with her, which makes me feel guilty also. i have tried treats and the stop method, and she has a choker!! Nothing seams to work! I dread taking her out now!

Answer 1

First off, I would get enrolled in some obediance training to teach her the basic commands. These will enforce you as master and her as your submissive. If you can't afford it, focus on training sit and down. Always, always, always make her sit before leaving the house and always walk out the door/into a room first. Secondly, I would invest in both a check chain (similar to, but more safe than a choke chain) as well as a harness and a lead with a handle close to the body. The check chain is for training purposes and the lead is for keeping her in control while you're learning. You may also want to invest in a clicker (a small plastic device with a metal strip in it that makes a distinct click). I highly recommend clicker training to people who have smart dogs who sometimes are just a bit stubborn because it encourages them to do things because they -want- to, not because they have to.

Once she understands "sit" (I also recommend an attention command to make her look at your eyes, I use "eyes on me") you can work on the "heel" comand. Take it slow, only few steps at a time either in the house or in the yard (if you have one). This way there are less distractions (people, smells, dogs) and she can focus on you. Start with her on your left side, sitting. Say "heel" and take 5 or so steps forward. If she stays by your side at your pace, reward her with a treat or praise, have her sit and then release her with an "okay!". If she begins to pull, tug the check chain and tell her no, then make her sit. Once she gets the 5 steps consistantly, increase it to 10, then 15, etc. Then you can begin trying the same thing in public from the 5 steps. Work 10-15 minutes 2-3 times a day (or more if you can). She needs to realize the only way you guys are going ANYWHERE is when you say you are, and the only place you are going is where you say you are.

Don't be embarassed, it takes time to teach these things to dogs, and I always see people teaching "heel" in public.

Answer 2

Find a good local training class or private trainer. Don't use a choke chain or a prong collar as they cause pain and can damage the dog's neck permanently. There a plenty of kind training aids out there to help with dogs that pull on the lead but they all need to be used in conjunction with training otherwise she will just learn to pull against them. Try Halti Headcollars, Halti Harnesses or Gentle Leaders.

To find a good trainer go to www.apdt.co.uk

Answer 3

The problem lies in the fact that you are looking at your dog in the perspective of a person, and not a dog. Let me explain...

A dog is a pack animal, by nature. They look to their pack leaders to be just that, leaders. When a dog has respect for a leader, he does what a dog is hard wired to do, follow the leader. That is the norm in every canine pack. No exceptions.

You are attempting to get your dog to do your will by means of treats, affection, etc. You are expecting results that a human would normally do. But your dog is not a human, he's a dog, so you cannot expect this from him.

Stand next to your dog. Put the collar up high on the neck, not allowing it to drop down towards his shoulders. You must pull the leash firmly next to your body, holding your hand higher above the dogs head with a forward motion. When the dog attempts to move either to the left or the right in resistance to you, you pull sharply on the leash in the direction the dog needs to go. Do not choke the heck out of the dog, but give sharp pulls.

You must also show confidence. Leadership and confidence is something a dog can sense. Stand upright, shoulders up and confident. Your voice must be confident. Do not look at the dog. A dog who is a pack leader does not constantly look behind him to see if the pack is there. He knows it's there. Why? Because he is the leader, and they follow him. You must do the same. Look forward. Begin walking the dog. Do not acknowledge the dog, but lead by walking forward. Keep the leash tucked towards your body. Walk as if you are leading troops on review in a parade. The dog will see that you are the "alpha dog" and acknowledge your leadership. Once you are established as leader, he will follow and you will not have to keep as much tension on the leash.

One reminder, do not keep a death grip on the leash or play a tug 'o war with the dog. Keep a firm and confident grip on the leash, but not too firm. Lead the dog.......the dog will follow. As for now, your dog is the "alpha dog" and you have been following him. You must assume leadership, and those roles will be reversed.

Read up on pack animals, and you will pleasantly enlightened.

Best wishes!!

Answer 4

I also have a rottie. We joke about getting her a wagon to pull, & that it must have brakes! A choker did Nothing. A Halti collar (similar to a horse halter) + making her turn around & go the other direction helped some. Then a prong collar was recommended to me. At first I balked at the idea, as they look cruel. But, used properly, they can really make a difference. You can do a search online for a comparison between the prong & the choker. The choker is actually much more dangerous to a dog's health than the prong. She doesn't care to get her skin pinched, & so minds much better on a prong! Much more of a joy to deal with!
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2004/2/22a/article_01.htm

Answer 5

DO NOT use a choke chain thats cruel and anyway a rottie has a very strong neck muscle configuration and will still pull
GET A HALTI it is a very gentle head collar and in a short period of time the dog will be lead by you no probs they dont like it at first but they soon get used to it
be patient and strong in your convictions when using halti as your dog WILL make you feel bad for it till it calms down we use them on great danes and all our dogs walk calmly on it my wife walks 2 12 stone great danes controlling the lead with it just looped on her fingers
Good Luck

Answer 6

Try stopping but do not talk to her at all. Look around but do not look at her. When you think it's right to continue and she pulls again do not speak to her at all just stop and look around but do not look at her. I'm afraid it may take several attempts to master this method but I can assure you it will work, you just need patience. If this doesn't work try the 'going back' method. When she pulls, stop and go back the way you came. When she's behaving then go back. If she pulls again then turn around and go back. Keep doing this until she gets the message. Do not speak to her at all. She will learn that you are the master and you call the odds. She will realise that she won't get far unless she walks properly. Dogs need to sniff everything that's their goal in life and there's nothing more frustrating for them to be deprived of their sniffs. Please be patient . Good luck!

Answer 7

train it , by a holti from any good pet shop it will never pull again , when it pulls turn and walk the other way until it learns because you are pulling the dog instead of pulling you , , you should not have a dog of this size if you can not walk it safely if you can't have a safe dog to take out , you should not Owen it

Answer 8

Please don't use a choker. There is a right and a wrong way of putting them on plus they can be scary to a dog with the noise.

My cocker spaniel used to pull on his lead when I used a normal collar but he was better when I changed him to a Harness.

Get your dog a harness plus a head halter. Walk your dog with the harness and halter. Harness lead in one hand and the halter lead in the other. When she starts to pull, gentley pull the halter lead and this will bring her head round and she'll stop or slowdown. Then immediately praise her and give her a treat. Just remember to praise good behaviour and ignore bad. She'll soon learn that no pulling means good things. You'll soon both be enjoying your walks.

Answer 9

First of all stop using the choker chain you are doing more harm than good she willproberbly be pulling to try and avoid the choke chain. Iuse a halti on my dog and have never looked back. I have done dog obdience with her but had no availa t the heel thing so the halti was fab even my three year old daughter can walk her now ! good luck

Answer 10

I had the same problem with my German Shepherd. I used every kind of choke collar out there, then decided to try a "No Pull" harness (not a regular harness or head harness, but a body harness that says "No Pull") and it was spectacular. Walking my 100 pound Shepherd is like walking a Chihuahua now. Best $10 I've spent.