how do i stop my puppy from pulling on the lead ?

Question

he really pulls and hurts my hand he hurts himself to making himself pant badly ... any ideads to make him stop pulling ?

He is a border collie and verry strong !

Answer 1

several different methods:
1) if he is fully grown, consider a walking tool (easy walk, sens-ible harness, gentle leader, etc) for now. goal is to transition back to flat collar.
2) stop and go: he pulls, you stop until he puts slack in the lead, you praise for the correct behavior, then you go again. you can also change direction when he starts to pull, so that he has to follow you instead of you following him
3) choose a goal (several yards away) and toss a few treats out of dog's reach - start walking toward treats; if he pulls, you stop (as in 2 above) - when you reach the treats, his reward is the treats.
4) lure him to your side with treats and praise for walking politely
5) choose a command for polite walking (with me or this way, etc.) and use it when you want him near you - always praise/reward for correct behavior.
see links for teaching loose leash walking and heel.
good luck

Answer 2

There are many tools to choose from on the market at pet stores to use in the pulling problem.
Halti head collars
Prong collars
Slip leads
Choke chain and leash

I highly recommend spending the extra money for a leather leash - it is the most hand friendly.

Buckle collars do not stay in place they tend to keep falling back to the lower part of the neck

I have a 80+ lb lab mix that is very prey driven towards cats and the only thing that I have found that will stop him from killing me (yes I have been to the emergency room trying to stop him with a regular slip lead) is a prong collar. But that is an extreme case.

As for a puppy, young or small dog that has the problem it is a matter of controlling the dog properly. A slip lead will do in this case very easily but must be used in a specific manner to stop the pulling.

Make sure the slip lead is at the very top of the neck just behind the ears and take up a lot of the slack so that the dog' shoulder is right beside your leg. The dog should not be able to get out in front of you. If the dog pulls forward give a slight tug up. This is for two reasons. One it keep the head and nose off the ground where they love to sniff or track scents, you want to the dog to travel with you not track every scent in the neighborhood. Keeping the dog's head up also makes him feel proud - if you have ever watched a dog show this is the very way all dog have their slip leads - it makes them feel proud.

Tugging up on the leash make their body go up instead of forward. It is truely a tug and release to make the dog stop moving forward.

The leash high up on the neck is the most sensitive part of the neck and does not take much effort to get the dog to respond quickly - that is why tug and release works well - just enough to get the point across and then release. I bet in 10 minutes or so the dog will get the message. I have worked with dogs for a year and I have had all dogs get the message within 10 minutes of slight leash corrections.

Good luck

Answer 3

Raise the collar high on his neck so it's just behind the jaw and ears, and keep the leash fairly high so the collar doesn't slip down.

Work on "Heel" to keep him next to you rather than out in front of you pulling.

With the collar in position and the dog at your side, tell him "heel" and take just a few steps and stop. If he is close to being in the same position you started in, give him a treat. Once he's gotten just a few steps down, expand it, double the amount of steps. If he tries to break the pattern, cut it down a few steps.

Answer 4

There is a type of leash that is very humane, but which will keep him from pulling--it fits around his muzzle, instead of his neck, so when he pulls, all he does is turn his head, instead of pulling and possibly hurting himself and you.

Answer 5

Give a correction. Jerk the lead quickly & say "Heel" or "Slower" When he is walking nice on the lead, give him praise & maybe a treat. Just be consistent & keep with it. Dogs are smart, they learn what you teach them, you just have to be consistent. Do the same thing OVER and over and over.

Answer 6

when he pulls stop walking or change direction, making him learn to follow you.
good luck i have two pullers one more than the other..
you could also try a halti collar.. that can sometimes help

Answer 7

you might try a harness, that generally stops dogs from pulling. i have also heard that walking in the opposite direction when they start pulling works.

Answer 8

use a choke chain, but do not pull, let him choke himself. Also spend lots of time with him then he will not want to leave your side.