Leash training a dog that pulls ?

Question

Anyone have some tips on how to leash train a dog that pulls a lot? I'll give u his story. I have a chocolate lab. Hes 6 years old. When he was a puppy a few days after we got him, he was in the hospital for 2 weeks with pneumonia, he was a pretty sick puppy. Anyway. once he came home he was ok for a little while.

Then we noticed him having problems with his back legs. Shortly there after he had major surgery on his back legs to fix what was wrong with him. I had 3 other dogs at the time so he couldnt be around them after that. He had to be locked up in a cage in a room by himself so he didnt mess up his surgery. Recovery time was about 6 months, of bein locked up. He had a few more problems after that. The vet said it was probably bad breeding. Anyway his puppy life wasnt great.

We've always had a backyard for our dogs, but with a recent move there is no backyard for him. He was really never leashed trained because we had the backyard, and because of his back legs he cant really walk to much, but now he has to be walked.

He weighs about 180lbs more then me lol its so hard to walk him he pulls so much. I know puppy life is when your suppose to train but he didnt have that option. Ive tried using treats when walking with him, hes got a choker collar which does nothing. I know its not his fault, but walking him is a nightmare i cant control him. Anyone have any techniques that i can try? I dread walking him everday, hes a strong dog. Any tips ill try!

Thank you :)

Answer 1

poor puppy!! well here is an idea and hope it works. it won't right away but be patient! you can conquer him!

use the choker cain for this technique. every time he pulls, pull back harder and say NO very strongly. soon he will get the idea that every time he pulls you will pull back and it will hurt. don't worry about hurting him it is for his own good!! or he will never learn.

Answer 2

The Halti collar may be the easiest way for you, a dog has to go where his head goes, so this attaches to his head and helps guide him. They're available all over.

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

You can also use the training trick with a normal collar and leash that anytime he pulls ahead of your knee, you stop dead and don't move.  Or you do an about face and walk in a different direction, throwing him off balance. But considering his weight, that may not be good for you.  

Praise him when he does something good, don't yell when he does something bad. You train with the positive reinforcement and they learn faster.

Answer 3

when he pulls you should pull back. evventually the dog will get tired of you doing that and will walk by ur side.  

Answer 4

YOu have a dog that weighs 180lbs MORE than you!?! Your dog should be dead if he is that over weight. If he does way 180lbs he need to be on a diet.  

First of all YOU should never have assumed that having a back yard means your dog was exercised properly!

Second you could have trained your dog when he was YOUNG not just a puppy! No excuses! Most of my dogs I got when they were just a year old and it was EASY to train them!

I'm glad you are walking him now.

I heard of something called a gentle lead which forces your dog to walk how you want. I use choke collars myself.

Dont let him walk in front of you...if you do its easier for him to pull. Dont let him have any leash for now, hold on to the leash as close to him as you can without choking him. every time he starts to pull or get a head of you pull up and to the side so it kinda knocks him off balance and gets him back on track. And use some sort of noise that tells him what he is doing is displeasing you. Make him sit next to you when you stop. Only let him wander when you say "go potty". If you dont think you are strong enough try prong collars and if thats a no go than do push ups or get a big man to help you.

Good Luck

EDIT: Really try pulling UP on the leash, he is stronger than you and you cant beat him pulling back yourself. Also when you correct him pull the leash quickly and then release, do this multiple times if needed.

Answer 5

First, get a No Pull Easy Walk Harness (it attaches in front) this will help prevent him from pulling and stop his practicing a bad habit.  Use this when you must walk somewhere quickly.  

Next, when teaching your dog not to pull, reattach the leash to the collar and use the crazy walk method.  This means every time the leash gets tight and he pulls, make an attention getting noise and back up until the leash is loose again.  Praise when you walk for a few steps and the leash remains loose.  The dog will learn when the collar (regular collar no chains) is loose, he goes forward, when the collar is tight he goes backwards.  Most dogs do not like going backwards.

You have to be consistent, if you forget and let the dog pull you - because you have the leash on a collar and no time to just crazy walk, you will confuse him, and he will not learn:  Collar tight - pulling- walks backwards, collar loose, go forward.

Crazy walk means you don't usually go very far for the first weeks of practice.

Remember to use your voice, praise a lot, all the time the lease is loose, and use a wrong noise to correct just before you move backwards.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

when he pulls to go forward, turn around and make him go the other way. it takes time but he'll eventually get the idea that when he goes ahead of you, he's has to go the other way.  

Answer 7

first off if the dog is 180lbs its not a lab there about a hundred at the max. but try getting a pinch collar there the ones with the prongs they don't hurt the dog and they work quite wonderfully when the dog pulls give a pop and release, or just let it stay tight and the dog will self correct. don't do a bunch of little quick corrections cause that actually builds drive and makes them want to pull more. when the dog is walking nicely without pulling give him a lot of praise but as soon as he starts pulling again quit the praise and correct.

Answer 8

I suggest to not train him by yourself if he's hard to control. Find an enclosed area outside, like a fenced area, or if you don't have one just have someone else to help you.

Start on a short leash, everytime your dog pulls say firmly, " No pull." And pull on the leash, when the dog stops pulling make a big fuss pet him and say, " Good boy!" In a high, happy voice. Keep your leash short still, and repeat the above till your dog doesn't pull as much. Then lengthen it a little bit, and if the dog pulls say, " No pull" and shorten the leash. Then when your dog is walking nicely lengthen it. If he continues to pull tell him "No pull" and shorten it. Keep doing this till he learns. It takes patience. Keep lengthing it if he is being good, then with someone to help you practice on the sidewalk. Start on a short leash, if he pulls say "No pull" firmly, keep it short but praise him each time he stops pulling when you say "No pull." Repeat this if he pulls. Eventually he'll be good, from training him in an enclosed area or your backyard it'll be easier to train on the sidewalk. Patience is the key.

Well hope this helps, this is how I trained a 3 year old German Shepard. Good luck!