Friday, July 31, 2009

How to make a dog stop pulling on a leash?

My mom's pulls on the leash really bad when you take her outside. This morning she pulled so hard the leash came out of my hands. She thought I was going to play with her and she took off running and wouldn't stop. She was almost in the road until I yelled at her. Finally she layed on the ground and then I got her. Just thank god a car wasent coming or she would of got ran over.
Answers:
You need to be in control when you take your dog for a walk. Keep her on a short leash, and whenever she starts to lurch away STOP WALKING and tell her firmly but calmly to "heel". Guide her to your side and start walking again. If she tries to run again, repeat: STOP WALKING and tell her firmly but calmly to "heel". Guide her to your side and start walking again. You may have to do this several times before she gets the idea. Don't let the walk last more than 15 minutes if she's not responding to your commands. And don't yell at her if she doesn't "get it" right away.

If you're consistent, she'll learn that you are in control; she doesn't get to go anywhere unless she stays beside you; and her walk will be cut short if she misbehaves.
Whenever she pulls, stop walking. She'll learn that if she behaves correctly, you move forward and that's the way to get what she wants.

I highly recommend a Halti or Gentle Leader in the meantime so that she won't be able to pull so hard.
Seriously look into pack training your dog. You are the alpha "male". Your dog needs to know that.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/packdyn.ht.

http://www.perfectpaws.com/whytr.html.

http://www.theallineed.com/home/06090508.

It will work.
A good start is to walk the dog on a short leash. When she trys to pull just yank it and tell her no. It will take a while and should be done diligently. Just remember, let the dog know that you are the boss.
As the answer above said, every time she pulls, stop, or turn the opposite direction. Aslo, keep the leash very short, so that she is right beside you and can't get enough ahead to pull.
If you can afford a new collar for her (About $15) the Gentle Leader is a very good investment.. It doesn't allow a dog to pull..This is what they look like> http://images.google.com/images?sourceid.
You will find them at most pet supply shops.Don't let the sslesperson convince you that the Halti is the same..it isn't, and doesn't fit as well.
The only surefire way to stop her from pullin on the leash is unfortunately an obedience class. But besides that when she starts to pull, give a big jerk to keep her from running. It works with my dog. And keep a short leash.
Hold the leash in both hands across your body. You should have the end in the hand farthest away from the dog, and then hold the middle of the leash with the hand closest to the dog.

When you walk, don't let the dog get ahead or behind you, keep him as close to your side as you can.

If he suddenly pulls, pull back on the leash and make him either stop or sit. You need to re-direct the bad behavior (pulling) into a behavior that you control (sitting).

Good luck!
When she starts pulling stop and keep doing it. It might be a good idea to get a choke collar, so you can train her how to walk with you.
Well how often does she go for walks? Sounds like she may have some pent up energy. She probably needs to be walked for a hour everyday. Lotta work I know. Also when you are walking her and she begins to pull just tug back and make a deep throaty sound which lets the dog know that you do not approve, you may even want to stop walking and have the dog sit down. Stay calm and in control. Do not get angry because the dog will pick up on that. I watch a lot of "The Dog Whisperer" and that is what Cesar Mill an does on the show. Also do not let your dog walk in front of you. Only at your side or behind you. Your dog must know that you are the leader and that your dog is following you. Check out Cesar Millan's website for more tips.

www.dogpsychologycenter.com
Enroll in a dog training course. Every dog who is walked on a leash should be trained to obey.
get a head harness such as a halti or a gentle leader. I can 99.9% garantee your dog will not pull on this
Try a Gentle Leader. There are two kinds: one that fits on the face and one where the hook is on the chest. I use the 2nd and it works great. I used to hate taking my dog for walks due to the pulling, but now I love it!
Step One Learn to use your voice. Mot people either let their voice slide up in register or they sound futile and weak. You want to deepen your voice and sound like a drill sergeant. The word NO is basic to doggy manners (and people too.).

Step Two Learn to handle the leash and her.

Okay, I have been training, showing and handling all breeds for obedience for 43 years.

I'm not going to walk around having to carry some stupid spray bottle as the means of disciplining my dog. Even the best trained dog - and I'm talking AKC obedience champions - will sooner or later do something while out of the house and yard that requires getting after them and making them do their job. All the dog learns is to not do something when a person has a bottle in their hand with that spray the little darling approach.

Stuffing your pockets with treats to distract that little darling is just as stupid. Who wants to walk around smelling like a doggy deli? Sooner or later you will start forgetting the treats and the dog will figure why bother, he broke the deal so I'm not doing it. Also in dogdom, the Alpha of the pack doesn't bribe the others to behave with food. The weaker member of the pack gives the food to the Alpha to placate them.

You always have your hands and voice. USE THEM FOR YOU PRIASE AND CORRECTION

I HATE those "gentle leader" things. First, they are good way to give your dog a case of cervical whiplash- dog leaps one way, the head halter holds there head or whips it another when you pull and PRESTO - strained muscles in their neck up near the head. Second, the minute you take it off the dog KNOWS that you have no means of making them obey. Third, a lot of the guarding/herd guarding/working breeds actually panic with those things since they are genetically programmed to be able to move into defensive postures which means being able to open their mouths. Fourth, teaching 'come' or anything where the dog is not at your side is impossible. Forget 'fetch' or 'go' or a 'drop on recall.' They are a shortcut to get temporary - and I do mean temporary control while walking for people too dumb or too lazy to teach their dog proper manners. I spend a lot of time making house to calls to teach puppy to come , sit, stay, down and heel after the owners paid money for 'obedience classes' with someone for 'training' with those head collar things.

There is NO REASON to use a pinch collar on a puppy/young dog/untrained dog as people suggest. That is the last ditch collar only to be used after everything else has failed - typically late adolescence around 1 -2 years old when a big powerful dog is going to try it on and see if he can do what he likes.

Go get a chain slip collar. The nylon are not that effective and with the chain, the dog learns to listen for the rattle of the collar if the leash moves slightly and respond now. Properly fitted, there should be 2 1/2 to 3 fingers of space between the collar and dog. Learn to use it. You SNAP the collar - NEVER pull or drag. It is a fast jerk/release. Put it on your wrist and have someone try pulling and then snapping on you. You do it to someone else. When it feels like a slight whack or bump when the leash is snapped you have the idea. I always put the slip collar on my student's arm to show them the difference in the movement. Gets the point across real fast.

Put the slip collar on the dog so when the junction of the rings is facing you on the side of the dog's neck, the part that slides comes across the back of the dog's neck towards you.

This works. I weigh 98 lbs and can stop a 150 lb dog doing this.

IF THE DOG IS PULLING FORWARD AND TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF YOU

Hook the leash on the dog's slip collar. Get the dog on your left side. Take the leash and run it behind you over your hips to your right side. Hold the end of the leash in your right hand. With your left hand, take up the leash so there is some slack between your hand and the dog's collar - maybe a loop of 6-8 inches on each side.

Walk off. When the dog lunges forward to drag you, halt FAST and step backwards with your left foot taking the dog's lunge with your body. (You are basically snubbing him off.) You can even take a complete step backwards if you are fast enough. Let him hit that slack and snap himself back.

As you do that yell "NO" in a deep stern voice, and then in the same voice order him back to your side with "Heel". Make him get back there and move off again.


IF THE DOG IS LAGGING BEHIND YOU

Bring the leash in front of your body. End of the leash in your right hand. Pick it up with your left hand so thee is a nice loop between your hand and the dog's collar. You want that loop long enough so the leash comes off the collar and over across your leg BELOW your knee and has some slack - like 6-9 inches. Hold it there with your left hand on the leash.

Tell the dog to heel. When he drops back or starts fiddling around, as you step forward with your left foot on a stride, raise your left knee slightly so it takes up the slack and the dog gets a snap. Does this in the rhythm of walking. When the dog gets popped by the leash for hanging by, encourage them, with "Up Position Heel."

When the dog is correct, keep praising - I'm fond of using "Good, good, that's it, good puppy, okay, ."
whenever you take your dog out for a walk always take treats but dont let him see , whenever he pulls make him walk right next to you for a certain time but if he doesnt pull for a certain amount of time give him a treat ! keep doing that and it will eventually work xx
My dog was really bad with this problem too, she would almost yank me to the ground. She would pull so hard she'd choke herself! I bought her this halter I believe the brand is Sporn Halter. It works great, she doesn't pull anymore at all. And she can't choke herself.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pr.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_d.

http://www.jbpet.com/shopping/productb.a.
try using a halter type collar that goes over the dogs head and muzzle.
Get a halti, it goes over the dogs muzzle like a horses headcollar. Attach it to her lead and choke chain but DONT pull it you will damage her neck.

And it does fit as well as a gentle leader, but only if you know how to use it properly (which some people obviously dont) If it is adjusted right then it will fit. And you obviously get the right size for your breed.
Shorten the leash, get that collar high up on the dog's neck (without gagging or dragging the dog), walk erectly and confidently. Do not let the dog focus on distractions and correct the dog if it tries to throw a tantrum, pull or run off.
The dog needs obedience training. Also a prong collar will help.
I would try taking her to obedience class or a gental leader. My dog WAS a really bog puller until we got a gental leader. They work great!
This happened to me once. Actually twice. Many times.{she's not anymore.} My dog ran all the way out my cul-de-sac and almost in to the street I got her when she stopped to smell a pine cone:-). Once a car was coming, but she was OK. I watched a video and this is what it said: Take the leash and hold it gently, but not with any bends. When your dog tries to pull away, tug at it kinda hard.
OK that's what it said. I tried it and it worked.{my dog is a Scottish Terrier.} Sometimes you can hold a treat and call her name or shake a box of treats.

Hope this helps,
Chica{my dog's name}
OK just go to petco or something and there is a pinch collar that pinches them when you pull at the leash it will pinch them like a choke chain it works! but they wont you know suffocate them or anything!

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