How do you stop a 5 month old puppy dragging you along??

Question

Hi i have a almost 5 month old cavalier king charles he drags me along alot would it be ok to pull him back each time he does this ,will i hurt his throat?his collar is not really tight on him and do you let your dogs sniff every single thing they come across?he does this i know hes only little i dont expect miracles do they grow out of sniffing everything?xx

i will not use a choker chain and hes only 5 months old

Answer 1

I would suggest a harness, you then have more "control" of their whole body and you are not yanking their necks which with smaller dogs like CKCharles can be dangerous, you can cause much trouble with their esophaguses.
Halti (lead that almost looks like a muzzle but definitely isn't are also very handy and useful as then you direct them from their snouts (very good for little sniffers).
Yes, most puppies sniff lots and then sniff some more, its a big world and is VERY interesting, especially when other dogs walk or have walked the same way. They also have the instinct to "mark" their territory. But your little one probably
will mostly grow out of it, because of his breed, now take 2 of my dogs Coonhounds, at 7 and 10 years they still and always will be big time sniffers---its just their way.
As far as walks go sometimes if you have a set trail or path you walk on they get used to the scents along the way and may only stop for the occasionally new smell and pee on it and leave. But contrary to above response even at 5 months your puppy should be able to walk a fair distance, actually probably further then an older dog. My 6m old terrier is so full of beans all morning, running and playing and jumping, chasing, going for hikes and walks, as his afternoon nap and then is a nice calm baby in the evenings.(We wear him out!LOL), your baby should be able to go "the distance".
So basically what I'm saying is LOTS of exercise, routine walks (as boring as they may get), and try out a halti or harness, I'd highly recommend either,(I can even walk those 2 Coonhounds of mine on harnesses---never on regular lead forget it, its like who's walking who?)
And Good Luck, remember he is a puppy BUT bad habits are MUCH easier to break when they are young, I also fully agree with puppy school--makes them into good citizens.

***P.S. Just on the record---I LOVE Cavaliers what little dolls!!

Answer 2

Yeppers, had the same problem with my Mastiff when he was young...he was never small. I got him a harness, dug my feet in and said NO!!! Some times I would stop and sit down and not continue our walk, I think that bothered him the most, but that and saying a definite NO over and over is only half the trick once he started walking right and not pulling me in front of cars, trains, or chasing cats with me in tow, that's when he understood, then I made a big deal about what a good boy he was and gave him treats. Positive reenforcement works every time. I had only a couple of months to teach him, as he is taller and outweighs me now...don't tell him, he still thinks I'm the boss. He's now 237 pounds of pure muscle and I have to go to a horse outfitter and have new harnesses special made, he has a 41 inch chest. Now the German Shepard was easier, she likes those laser lights and will follow them everywhere even into the Vets office. Oh, yeah I've housebroken over 8 dogs in one night the same way, but you have to sleep on the couch so you can feel them running for the potty. Making a big deal about how good they are really does the trick, for me at least.

Answer 3

You are right, he shouldn't have a choker, as he is a toy breed, and it may cause trachea injuries using a choke chain..You can use a step-in harness, a gentle leader, ( at WalMart and pet supply shops) or a canny collar.( online) .Keep the leash as short as you can, and EVERY time the pup pulls, make a full turn about and go the opposite direction..I like to train in an empty parking lot, as there are fewer distractions..But, if you are consistent, and NEVER go forward when he is pulling, but only when the leash slacks, he will soon catch on..Don't allow him to sniff everything..nope, he won't outgrow that, so you need to stop it now..It is a bad habit. It means he is not paying attention to you, and it is putting him in danger to pick up disease, if sniffing where other dogs have been..

Answer 4

I will deal with these two things seperately.

First the leash pulling. Don't give him so much lead, that's a common mistake. Hold it with both hands so he has no choice but to walk beside you with his muzzle level with your knee. Get a shorter one if needed. When he tries to get ahead of you, stop, have him sit if he will then start off again, keep doing it until he gets the message. Once he gets it, tell him what a good boy he is immediately. Treat him occasionally if you wish.

For the sniffing, the answer is, you need him to walk properly on leash, in case you're in a hurry. If he tries to sniff, you can reel him back in and say AHHH, Ignore. In a gruff sharp tone. Once he is doing that then you walk him normally. You can then give him a command that lets him know he's free to sniff around. I have also had success with some dogs who are sniffers if I run when they try to sniff, they have no choice but to go with me.

I usually will let my dogs off leash (if it's an off leash area) and they know they're free to go and sniff and bounce around. You have to make sure he can come when he's called if you do this though.

Answer 5

I am a vet nurse with 2 big rottweilers and I can honestly reccommend whats called a Canny Collar. At work we have alot of positve feedback about them they are great for small dogs as well as big dogs. Gentle Leaders or Halti's are ok but they take alot longer for the dog to adjust to than with the Canny Collar. Canny Collars are also excellent for the dogs with the short muzzled dogs like Cavaliers and Pugs. Here is a website about them because they will be able to explain how they work better than I can. All I can say I have never been so happy about a pet product as I have with this invention...Just wish I had thought of making it first! http://www.cannyco.com/

Answer 6

I would recommend a no pull harness. If I remember from my puppy group on yahoo, they mentioned the "easy harness" if I'm not mistaken. Check your local pet store or even Ebay and see what they have. I don't let my two dogs sniff everything cause they'd end up tangling each other up or tripping me lol. You might want to try pulling to the side instead of pulling back. Pulling back only encourages pulling.

Answer 7

Try a Gentle Leader leash. It doesn't choke the dog, but instead forces the dog to turn his own head to the side when he moves forward faster than you do. Your puppy will not continue to run and pull if he can't see where he's going. I've recommend them to LOTS of people with unruly dogs and they have all been very pleased.

Answer 8

Your dog needs some obedience training. I got my CKCS at six months and it was one of the first things we did together--also to provide him with some socializing skills with other dogs as he was on the shy side. The trainer will show you how to walk with your dog so that he's not leading you.

Best wishes!

Answer 9

You should of started training the pup at 8 weeks old with firm discipline. Perhaps a choke chain would of helped. If you were consistent in training your pup from an early age, your 5 month old pup should be walking well beside you by now.

Answer 10

A few lessons with an obedience trainer will work wonders--Good Luck!