Heeling on the lead please help!!

[nigelb]

I have found that whilst walking my daughters 11 month old GWP the best way to stop the pulling is to simply stop the moment the lead starts to tighten and not move until it goes slack. It's taking time, but we are getting there although, being a rather vocal dog on the lead, I do tend to get some yickering when I stop and he realises that he has to come back. To be honest, I'm not too bothered with him walking to heel on lead as long as he doesn't pull.

[Andrew]

its pleasurable for the dog in the right position, in the wrong position it isn't. Turns etc can help achieve a good position. At 6months your caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you need to go to a trainer who can teach you how to check the dog on a lead correctly.

[Steve M]

Hi
I had the same problem with my 20 month old cocker, he would try to walk just that bit in front all the time. I tried a halti which made it better but not perfect, so I took him to a trainer who suggested using the slip lead but with a figure of eight loop over his nose insatnd success, what a difference he is even starting to walk to heel off the lead.

[Andrew Douglas]

Thanks for all of your advice i will try some of them and see if they work! If she know where she is going she pulls like mad like someone mentioned so i will have to change my route every morning!! Thanks again.

[Cynic]

Thanks for all of your advice i will try some of them and see if they work!

In all honesty......

I wouldn't try anymore.

its pleasurable for the dog in the right position, in the wrong position it isn't. Turns etc can help achieve a good position. At 6 months your caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you need to go to a trainer who can teach you how to check the dog on a lead correctly.

^^^^
Do this.

Then you will not end up doing this

[coneking]

When walking your dog try to work out your route so you have garden walls on the same side as you have your dog(hope that bit makes sense) basically so he is not on the road side. Then pull him back and take up his walking space with your left leg giving him the command "heel"....keep his space limited by walking close to garden walls or fences and when he tries to squeeze in front take his space away from him again with your leg and give him the command again....this only took two or three walks with most of my dogs before they fully understand....this method has worked for me on many occasions.

[leeky]

Sorry for dredging this thread up again but i'm reading up on this just now in preparation for hopefully not going through the same probs with Sanna as i did with Keely and Kintra. It's interesting to read andyshaw's comment on walking the dog with the pram albeit with a headcollar.

My other half's mother (who is lovely and very much a dog person) when watching us struggling with walking Keely in the past commented on how their dogs in the past learnt quickly to walk well on the lead as she was pushing a pram at the time. The message was that they walk well on the lead because there's absolutely no argument, mum's pushing the pram. I'm sure there is a psychogical element that helped ie determination and prioritising the safety of the child so absolutely consistent in not letting the dog get away with any nonsense. But i'm also of the opinion it has a lot to do with the lack of physical elasticity of holding the lead against the pram handle as compared to the give that might occur with someone just holding the lead and trying to stop or change direction. I cant think of many if any times i've seen someone pushing a pram being pulled by a dog at the same time

[Cynic]

I cant think of many if any times i've seen someone pushing a pram being pulled by a dog at the same time

Thats possibly because those that would pull on the pram don't get to pull on the pram for the safety of the child

[leeky]

I might be misunderstanding you Cynic, but i never meant that the leash would actually be attached to the pram itself in any way. And i appreciate there will be many who dont walk dogs with the pram because the dog is already a puller. Just meant that i'm sure many pups first experiences of walking on a leash may coincide with mum pushing the buggy/pram and that might be responsible for helping many a young dog to learn to walk properly on the lead from an early age. I'll not be using that method anyway unless i put Keely in one of those crazy dog prams and train Sanna to walk with us

[Andrew Douglas]

Just a quick update........I have been to see a gun dog trainer last week and she showed me how to stop Poppy from pulling on the lead. She said if she pulls yank twice on the lead then walk in the opposite direction. I have tried this for 4 days now and she is learning she is getting better and not pulling half as much. I enjoy walking her now. Fingers crossed in another 4 days she will be even better!!