Pulling on the leash

[luvnkitty]

Hi Everyone ,
Mia is doing pretty good with alot of her training issues . She is 5 months old and signals when she needs to go potty. appicon
The one thing she is having a hard time with is leash training.
She likes to pull. Mostly if something gets her attention. It gets so bad I have to pick her up. She also gets a little stubborn and will not move when I want her to.
I don't not like to jerk/pull the leash because I don't want to hurt her.
I currently have a standard harness which is fine as far as keeping her from choking herself but I have no control. ( The medal ring that you attach the leash to sits on her back.)
Does anyone have any suggestions on what type of harness I can use ?
I welcome any suggestions you have. I would also love to hear about the training methods you use.
Thanks
Carol

[WhitneysMom]

If you stay home alot tie her lease to you maybe on your belt, and go about your normal duties like she isn't there. This is the only 2 cents I have to give =). It should make her stay next to you and she will eventually learn that even if there is something better to go see she isn't going to be able to go over there. She will get in the habit of sticking buy you no matter what. I am sure more people will give good advice or know more about this technique. Good luck.

[gmacleod]

For pulling, IMO the best way to stop it is just to stop walking ;) Seriously - it works.

When your dog is pulling you along, trying to get wherever she's trying to get in some great hurry - and you follow, then she thinks she got what she wanted. So, she'll keep on doing it.

If, conversely, you stop dead in your tracks every single time she starts to pull - and don't start moving again until she gets bored and stands or sits beside you - then she did not get what she wanted. She got the precise opposite. And that is what can persuade a dog that it's method (ie. pulling) doesn't work - literally when it doesn't ever work.

That's a frustrating method - for you as well as the dog (for you, because in the initial stages, your walks will consist of taking about three steps then stopping/waiting - then another three steps, and so on). But it works. No coercive methods, no yanking, jerking, scolding. Just stopping dead when she tries to pull you around. And if pulling never works, she will give up doing it.

As for your opposite problem... well, when she's refusing to move is when I'd be more inclined to pick her up and carry her. Is there a particular cause for it, like wanting to stop and watch something that's going on?

[Neel]

You can also train it outside on a short lease on a field or so. Just go walk in different direction, don't give him any attention just walk around with quick turns and he will learn soon enough as to follow you. For when not walking, just continue walking slowly, I would not pick him up, because first he gets attention and might worsen this 'condition' so to speak. Never ever give in!

[EmD, MD]

Penny used to be a pretty decent leash walker. She pulls hard on the way to the dog park but I don't really mind. Then I left town for 5 weeks and left her with her dad. I'm not sure what went on, but she became totally obsessed with tennis balls at the d.p. She never wanted to leave the d.p. to the point where she would make Mr. EmD pull her. She would sit down in the middle of the sidewalk. Soon she started LYING down, in the same spot each time, about 1 block from the dog park. Mr. EmD resorted to carrying her home, but 17 lbs of dog for 10 blocks is a little less than ideal for me.
We discovered a way that makes her heel every time. I feel like it's cheating, but whatever works. We bring a tennis ball with us, and keep it in my pocket. When we leave the park, when she starts to resist we just get the ball out and show it to her. She perks right up and snaps into place. At a certain point in the walk we bounce the ball and let her catch it. She walks proudly the rest of the way home with the ball in her mouth.
We call it The Magic Ball.

[luvnkitty]

Mia just seems to stop walking for the heck of it. I'm sure she has her own reasons but I can't think of any other except she does not want to go where I want to go.
I actually use that method of stopping when she pulls. I feel bad because she will still pull for a bit. I am just worried she will hurt herself.
Everyone seems to be in agreement on this method. I am going to stick with it. I'll let you knowe how it works out.
Thank you so much for you suggestions.

[franp]

Don't worry about your dog hurting herself.These dogs are incredibly strong.And as for stopping; Dari is 5 and still does this.
There are steps to get out of my building; as soon as she gets up them;STOP!Whoever is walking her, be it me or the dogwalker just keeps on walking...

There is not,IMO , a Frenchie or Bullie that does not do this. It is written into thier genetic memory. :lol:

[EmD, MD]

When I turn the corner and Penny wants to go a different way, she stops at the corner and leeeeaaaaannns waaaaay over. The look on her face while she's doing it is very comical. Sort of a "can't make me" face.

[Neel]

hahhahhah Tirsa does exactly the same hahahahahahah and sometimes sometimes I let her walk, but not always and what I do then is not look at her just turn the corner in the direction I want and don't stop, I slowly walk and when the leash is tight she will follow me nd then I will reward her.

But on such corners and I know exactly which ones it are, she stands still and leans and looks...... hahahhahaa