Help with loose leash walking please!!!!

[smudges mama]

I am having a terrible time trying to walk my 5 month old boxer Smudge. She needs exercise and I would love to take her on good long walks but she is so excited and distracted by being outside that she pulls to the point of choking herself and I cannot get her attention.
I took her to puppy classes and learned to do clicker training which is awesome and works so well - but for my pup, as soon as we are out of the house, she CANNOT / WILL not focus on anything. She doesn't even seem to hear the clicker outside, she doesn't care about treats, NOTHING, so I just don't know how to train her. I can't and won't let her drag me down the street as it is unsafe, unpleasant, and I don't want to ingrain this undesirable behaviour. I feel like I am in a Catch 22, she needs the exposure to outside and exercise, but I can't give it to her because I can't figure out how to teach her to walk with a loose leash.

I am so discouraged. I am really trying to do the right thing by her but I feel like a failure as a dog trainer. Puppy class was great for learning how to train but awful in person because she was so excited in class - choking herself to get at the other dogs and ignoring the treats.
I know she is a boxer (i.e. excitable, enthusiastic) and still young but I don't know how to move forward. Any advice would be MUCH appreciated.

p.s. we got her in the dead of winter (very cold here in Ottawa) so she has mostly been outdoors in the backyard although on the milder days I did take her around the block to get her used to the neighbourhood. Now the weather is turning and she is big enough to tolerate the cold but I can't walk her because of her pulling.

I apologize if this is too long.

 

[Velveteen]

my trainer really disagrees with the use of choke collars. he recommends gentle leaders or a harness to stop pulling. he feels that the choke collar causes a painful sensation that can create negative associations with walking, seeing other dogs, etc. and possible become aggressive. i feel these are all valid points and i could see how that would be true.

that being said, as a 110 lb female, i trained my boxer with a choke chain collar. i grew up with boxers, and that was the way my family trained them to walk. they are easy to slip on and off and don't really hurt the dog when used correctly. when i walk her without it, she will occasionally run in the direction of small animals and can really hurt my shoulder. with the choke, she would never do that. in her obedience classes at level 2, we will now begin working on leave it and heeling, so i plan to try the pull harness soon with her.

you put the collar very high up on the dogs neck by the ears and keep them on a very short leash. when they walk appropriately, you give them slack. when they do not walk as you want (ie looking around, pulling etc.), you tighten it. the chain makes a clicking noise which they will come to associate with unwanted behaviors. i like to walk at a very brisk pace.. you basically are forcing them to walk with you in a heel position and because the collar is up so high on their neck they can't look around. i would praise A LOT. only go on a short walk around the block, and then have a really fun play session in the backyard as a reward, and then treat when we go back in the house (after she sits at the door). also, she love when i would jog. i know you're not supposed to jog with puppies, but at the pace i would run, it was really more of a brisk walk for her and would help to heat me up in the cold .

regardless of your type of collar, she should be on a VERY short leash and walked at a brisk pace right beside you. praise her in a fun, high pitched voice, petting, etc. and do something fun at the end (play catch in the backyard). try to walk her 2x a day for a week or two and i'm SURE you will see a marked improvement. it is better to work through this now at 30-40lbs, than when she is 60+ pounds!

also, i make her do commands now while on walks. it took a while, but we started with making her sit at street corners, and then running across the street with happy praise and her jumping alongside me. yes i prob looked like a nut, but chloe really loves "active" rewards.

 

[Cami]

If you try nothing else try a Gentle Leader No-Pull HARNESS.
It is a great training device with no potential to cause injury.
A lot of pet stores are starting to carry them but you can easily find them online with many retailers for less money.
It won't stop pulling but it goes a long way in discouraging it since the leash attaches to a d-ring at the front of the chest. They pull and it turns their body towards the side you are on. It is a training device, not a magic pill but it certainly comes close! It also allows for you to have far more control over them while on walks.
All the things you utilize for training with a traditional collar and leash can also still be used but you will see greater results quicker. Eventually you won't need the harness if you don't want to use it. I used one for about 4 months on my girl and then transitioned her over to a regular collar and her pulling was greatly minimized. She had learned not to pull. Occasionally you might need to put it back on as a refresher or when you will be in certain situations where a lot of excitement and distractions are expected.

 

[Caney Creek]

I completely understand your frustration, and I understand hers as well. If her walks are the only times that she gets to venture beyond the backyard (super exciting for her :D) AND they're being counted as her main daily exercise (no other exercise means LOTS of energy for walks) then it's really no wonder she cannot contain herself. SO until she has learned to walk well on a leash, daily walks are not for exercise at all, they are for leash training purposes.

Is there an off-leash park near you where you can let her run? Another dog that you can set up play-dates with? These would be great ways to let her expel some energy. She really needs at least an hour of off-leash hard exercise daily, which ideally should come BEFORE you try and walk her so that she's less "hyped up" and able to focus on training during her walks.

In addition to hard off-leash exercise, I'd suggest giving her recreational bones during the day and maybe getting her some interactive toys (like a treat dispenser for example) to keep her occupied when she's at home. Here is an article with more suggestions of mental stimulation for dogs:
Mental Entertainment for Dogs

Tips on leash training:
Leash Manners : Dog Service Network, LLC

Good luck!

 

[Velveteen]

I completely understand your frustration, and I understand hers as well. If her walks are the only times that she gets to venture beyond the backyard (super exciting for her :D) AND they're being counted as her main daily exercise (no other exercise means LOTS of energy for walks) then it's really no wonder she cannot contain herself. SO until she has learned to walk well on a leash, daily walks are not for exercise at all, they are for leash training purposes.

Phew, I don't miss that age! Very good point about an hour of off-leash activity. They are so energetic at this stage that they literally go crazy without it!

I like to play hide and seek with her in the house when she needs to burn off some energy (and I don't feel like going outside to play ). I tell her to sit and stay in the kitchen, then run upstairs and hide her toy, and let her find it. She loves this game and lets her run around a little bit! Also, you can even feed them out of Kongs, which is very challenging/stimulating for them.

Also, I noticed that she was getting cracked feet and also lifting her feet because they were cold in the winter. So in the winter she wears Muttluks booties and a coat... sometimes even a thermal underneath.

 

[Razor]

I had the same problem. I tried a harness and it just seemed to make him pull more. I then tried the gentle leader head halter and it was almost an instant change. I only had to use it for about 2 weeks. After the 2nd week I would bring the halter but keep it in my pocket just in case. It really helped a lot for my kids to be able to walk him with no worries at all.

 

[Sansal]

I agree with CaneyCreek, exercise her before you even start with the leash training. You can even start the training in the house and once you have her attention there and she is working with you slowly start working in the yard, around the house...
Like others said the easy walk and gentle leader are great training tools.
Please, do not use a choking collar. They are painful and can hurt your puppy.

 

[LILYLARUE]

Just a side note, with brachiaphalic breeds, putting the collar up on their neck is not ideal. Since they have the snub nose, the structure of the trachea is a little different. They don't have the thick muscles to protect the trachea like other long nosed dogs. When the collar is behind the ears, high on the neck, you can actually choke off the dog or hinder breathing ~ which is why they "seem" to walk better. They have no choice or they can't breathe. Pulling up on the leash also will cut off their breathing. Some dogs submit, some will aggress or fight to breathe.

Halti's or head collars are a great tool if they are fitted properly. These work well because the put slight pressure on the bridge of the nose where there are pressure points and this actually relaxes the dog a bit. With these type collars it is pertinant that they are used properly. No pulling as this can injure the neck muscles or spine. You must use a small clip leash, not a heavy leash with a large clip. The ideal lead is a show lead where the clip is super small and light weight. Heavy leashes and clips can be very uncomfortable for the dog.

A good technique to get started on your walk is not to walk unless the dog is in a calm state. Start with a sit at the door, then slowly walk outside. If the dog gets excited, then turn and go back in remove the leash and wait a minute or so until the dog relaxes and sits. Then start again. It may take several tries til you are out the door and they remain relaxed.

I have used the PB spoon technique to train my dogs to heel. I get a spoon with PB and keep it at my side as we walk. Just low enough the dog can smell it but I keep pace fast enough so the dog can't jump up to get it. Once the dog is walking at a heel, and gives me eye contact, the I lower the spoon so they can have a quick lick then lift the spoon back up out of reach. Yeah, boxers have huge tongues, so you have to figure out the right height to be just out of reach. I used this for several days. Then I used a dry treat like those slim jim types that are really stinky. I cup it in my hand and keep it down in front of the dogs nose. They cant get it, but certainly keeps their attention. whenever the dog give me eye contact while remaining in a heel, I use my fingernail to pick a tiny piece and give it to them and praise saying "good heel". Eventually you will phase out the treat and voila', you have a well heeling dog!

 

[nalabear]

something that we tried even though Nala wasn't a big puller it was enough that i was a little sore by the end of our walks. so I learned a new trick we don't move unless she is at my side not pulling. (heres a visual for you. out for our runs, as were running she starts pulling i stop wait for her to stop we start running again. over and over again until we could do the whole run without me stopping )

so an example to start with would be, your pup may not walk out of the house before you and must be calm before ever leaving the house. second no leaving the porch until pup is calm. I know this can be long and tireing to wait for them to calm down but it can be done with patients and will benifit you in the end. then pick a spot like 15-20 steps away from you. Have the leash short and know exactly were you want your pups head to be when you walk. have the leash at that point. then walking ever so slowly, like one step stop type deal, walk. as soon as the pulling starts you stop (don't pull her back just stop). as soon as the pulling stops you move. this could take some time also but she will get it pretty quick that if she wants to move forward she must not pull. do this once or twice daily and you should see results. as she gets better you can pick up the pace a little and or go farther.

but on a side note if you go anywere and you let her pull you at all you will lose your momentum and will have to start over.

I also agree with the others that you need to expand some energy somehow before you do this or it could take a whole lot longer then what you are willing to give it.

Good luck

 

[smudges mama]

Thanks!

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions!
Today I discovered a fullly fenced off-leash dog park. I have to drive to get to it but I think I will be going every day for the next while so that smudge can get a good playtime and exercise. I can't take her to an unfenced park because her recall is not very good yet - but I'm hoping that as she gets older I will be able to do this and won't have to make the daily drive!
Thanks Zoe/Caney Creek for your suggestions and the links. I read the one about mental stimulation and it was helpful. My pup doesn't seem that interested in her kong or other treat releasing toys but maybe if I use them to feed her dinner she will be!
Jennifer