paula carter
Boxer Booster
Our Boxer dog Bruce is always pulling on the lead and no matter what we do he just wont stop He's now 10 months and he's becoming very strohng any suggestion
my dog never stops pulling
- Thread starter paula carter
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Jade010103
Boxer Booster
What kind of collar do you use for him? Have you tried a gentle leader? I've never used one but I've heard that they work wonders.
BeckyNC
Boxer Insane
My first suggestion is do not tug back when your boy pulls. That will teach him that pulling is OK.
I have read that one way to handle this is when your boy starts pulling, stop walking. When he stops and realizes you have stopped, start walking again. Repeat this enough and he will begin to understand he is rewarded for not pulling. I know this will make for a long walk, but it is supposed to work!
I have a major puller and she's actually quite petite for a full-grown Boxer (40 lbs). I had to buy a SENSE-ation harness for her (http://www.softouchconcepts.com/). You might also be able to find a no pull harness in Petsmart. SENSE-ation harnesses must be mail ordered.
Have you asked your obedience trainer for suggestions? That's your best bet. I think it's better to conquer the problem, rather than buy a special harness, as I have!
I have read that one way to handle this is when your boy starts pulling, stop walking. When he stops and realizes you have stopped, start walking again. Repeat this enough and he will begin to understand he is rewarded for not pulling. I know this will make for a long walk, but it is supposed to work!
I have a major puller and she's actually quite petite for a full-grown Boxer (40 lbs). I had to buy a SENSE-ation harness for her (http://www.softouchconcepts.com/). You might also be able to find a no pull harness in Petsmart. SENSE-ation harnesses must be mail ordered.
Have you asked your obedience trainer for suggestions? That's your best bet. I think it's better to conquer the problem, rather than buy a special harness, as I have!
You need to teach your dog the correct way to walk on a leash 
And to do that, you need to be the leader, not the dog.
What do you do currently when he starts to pull?
The most effective way to stop a dog pulling is to get it through to him that he does not (ever) get what he wants by pulling. Generally, what he wants is to go somewhere that you weren't heading or to get there faster than you were going. So as soon as he starts to put weight into his collar to pull - you *stop* walking. Make him come back to you (preferably behind you), and don't start walking again until he is calm. You may only get a few steps, but as soon as he starts pulling again, just stop. Yes, it's tedious and takes an age to get anywhere, but it *does work*. He needs to learn that the walk takes place at your pace, and in the directions you choose. If he doesn't comply, the walk stops (ie. there are undesirable consequences for that behaviour, and *never* a reward).
As he starts to get the idea, you can introduce a bit of a warning "ah-ah" and/or a gentle 'tug' on his lead when he starts to lean into his collar. Note that that is a *gentle* tug, not a yank or a jerk - we're just aiming to recapture his attention here, not punish or hurt the dog (which wouldn't help at all). He'll probably ignore it at first - so you come to a stop as above. After a while, that 'warning' should be enough to remind him of what you expect and the consequence of pulling - no walk. If it is, give him a quick word of praise or a pat, and keep on with the walk. Anytime it isn't, you just stop dead.
If the dog starts pulling as soon as you leave the house - well, you can just turn right round and go home. That's the worst consequence of all for the dog - the walk just doesn't happen
Do remember never to get into a pulling war with your dog. You will lose.
Give the above method a try - be absolutely consistent, and never let him be rewarded for pulling (either by getting somewhere, or by you pulling back). When there's no reward, only adverse consequences, the pulling behaviour will eventually extinguish itself. Doesn't mean he'll never try it again, but as long as you *always* come to a dead halt when he does that, he will quickly comply and walk nicely.
There are plenty of previous threads on pulling, and a lot of good advice previously given. All available just by doing a forum search
And to do that, you need to be the leader, not the dog.What do you do currently when he starts to pull?
The most effective way to stop a dog pulling is to get it through to him that he does not (ever) get what he wants by pulling. Generally, what he wants is to go somewhere that you weren't heading or to get there faster than you were going. So as soon as he starts to put weight into his collar to pull - you *stop* walking. Make him come back to you (preferably behind you), and don't start walking again until he is calm. You may only get a few steps, but as soon as he starts pulling again, just stop. Yes, it's tedious and takes an age to get anywhere, but it *does work*. He needs to learn that the walk takes place at your pace, and in the directions you choose. If he doesn't comply, the walk stops (ie. there are undesirable consequences for that behaviour, and *never* a reward).
As he starts to get the idea, you can introduce a bit of a warning "ah-ah" and/or a gentle 'tug' on his lead when he starts to lean into his collar. Note that that is a *gentle* tug, not a yank or a jerk - we're just aiming to recapture his attention here, not punish or hurt the dog (which wouldn't help at all). He'll probably ignore it at first - so you come to a stop as above. After a while, that 'warning' should be enough to remind him of what you expect and the consequence of pulling - no walk. If it is, give him a quick word of praise or a pat, and keep on with the walk. Anytime it isn't, you just stop dead.
If the dog starts pulling as soon as you leave the house - well, you can just turn right round and go home. That's the worst consequence of all for the dog - the walk just doesn't happen
Do remember never to get into a pulling war with your dog. You will lose.
Give the above method a try - be absolutely consistent, and never let him be rewarded for pulling (either by getting somewhere, or by you pulling back). When there's no reward, only adverse consequences, the pulling behaviour will eventually extinguish itself. Doesn't mean he'll never try it again, but as long as you *always* come to a dead halt when he does that, he will quickly comply and walk nicely.
There are plenty of previous threads on pulling, and a lot of good advice previously given. All available just by doing a forum search
kactus
Boxer Booster
pets at home
bailey was so bad with pulling. i dont like the idea of something round his face (dont be cross!!) so last week i finally gave in and bought a regular harness. i see your uk too so you probably have access to the 'pets at home' stores. the harness i bought is the kind that he steps into it goes round his front legs and under his chest and it has been AMAZING. right form the first time he hasnt pulled at all its like magic. we've gone from him trailing me down the street to him walking casually beside me. its like a drug. it seem to me like he knows theres no point in pulling as it isnt going to get anywhere. its totally transformed our walks for us both and id really recommed you try it./im so happy bailey isnt getting all the strain on his neck which i really didnt like, and my arms feel SO better (although i was liking the biceps i was getting!) anyway, if your interested, the harness was pets at homes own brand. its blue (comes in blue black and red) and is size large. i think it was £10.99. best tenner i ever spent in my book!! (and best of all he doesnt sound like a bloodthirsty crazy thing when we are walking in the park-no more dirty looks!!!)
bailey was so bad with pulling. i dont like the idea of something round his face (dont be cross!!) so last week i finally gave in and bought a regular harness. i see your uk too so you probably have access to the 'pets at home' stores. the harness i bought is the kind that he steps into it goes round his front legs and under his chest and it has been AMAZING. right form the first time he hasnt pulled at all its like magic. we've gone from him trailing me down the street to him walking casually beside me. its like a drug. it seem to me like he knows theres no point in pulling as it isnt going to get anywhere. its totally transformed our walks for us both and id really recommed you try it./im so happy bailey isnt getting all the strain on his neck which i really didnt like, and my arms feel SO better (although i was liking the biceps i was getting!) anyway, if your interested, the harness was pets at homes own brand. its blue (comes in blue black and red) and is size large. i think it was £10.99. best tenner i ever spent in my book!! (and best of all he doesnt sound like a bloodthirsty crazy thing when we are walking in the park-no more dirty looks!!!)
Melissa18
Boxer Booster
I also HIGHLY recommend the SENSE-ation harness!! My dog was a puller when I had him anywhere other than in the neighborhood. I tried the stopping thing and starting again when he was calm, but it didn't for him. No matter what as soon as we started walking again, it was pull pull pull. Lucky for me a local store here carries the SENSE-ation harness and it has worked wonders!! Walks and visits to anywhere other than the neighborhood are now a joy. 
DogPile
Boxer Pal
We are also having the same issue with Joe (four months). We have been using the stop method. We stop walking when he pulls, and wait until he looks at us, then back up until he is at our side. We then start walking again. I know it sounds incredibly tedious, but it is beginning to work. He still pulls when we are going to the off-leash park, or if other dogs approach, but he's learning!
Don't give up on the STOPPING Method. I used this on my female 2 1/2yrs old from the time she was little, and still have to use it once in a while. It works as long as you stick with it. She is great when there is nobody around but forget it if someone comes whipping by on a bike or she spies a cat or squirrel. So I have learned that when I know these things are coming we stop. She knows now that she can't go chasing because she turns her focus to me instead. I usually talk to her etc. But if I don't anticipate something she will pull and I will STOP. She will turn around come back and sit right at my side and look up at me with that "PLEASE CAN WE GO?" look. Then when I say okay we go and no more pulling. Stick with it. It works.
The Yoyo Man
Guest
The best thing I've found to stop pulling is the Gentle Leader from Premier.
http://www.premier.com/pages.cfm?id=29
We've tried a "No-Pull" harness, but IMO the Gentle Leader gives you more control and it's easier to put on. It will take a little time for your dog to get use to it. Charlie & Emma would act like I was torturing them the first few times I put the Gentle Leader on them, but they eventually settled down.
http://www.premier.com/pages.cfm?id=29
We've tried a "No-Pull" harness, but IMO the Gentle Leader gives you more control and it's easier to put on. It will take a little time for your dog to get use to it. Charlie & Emma would act like I was torturing them the first few times I put the Gentle Leader on them, but they eventually settled down.
Nora's Mamma
Boxer Pal
sense-ation harness
Nora (now 6 months) was like this also. She would pull until she choked herself, but didn't care one bit. We tried the stopping bit for a while, but she didn't get any better. We tried a regular harness, but that didn't work either. Finally, I found out about the Sense-ation harness and bought one through the training center at our local Humane Society. It was like magic! Pulling was immediately not a problem anymore! I think that was the best $25 I have ever spent. We used it all the time at first, then after about a month we started walking her without it sometimes and she does just fine. Now we mostly use it when we will be in crowded public places where she gets Very Excited.
Nora (now 6 months) was like this also. She would pull until she choked herself, but didn't care one bit. We tried the stopping bit for a while, but she didn't get any better. We tried a regular harness, but that didn't work either. Finally, I found out about the Sense-ation harness and bought one through the training center at our local Humane Society. It was like magic! Pulling was immediately not a problem anymore! I think that was the best $25 I have ever spent. We used it all the time at first, then after about a month we started walking her without it sometimes and she does just fine. Now we mostly use it when we will be in crowded public places where she gets Very Excited.
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