So my boy Duke is 13wks old, and he is a big boy 27pds, and man is he strong. He doesnt ming the leash, but he pulls the whole time we are walking. I keep the leash very tight make him sit, and then we start to walk, but he almost pulls my darn hand off. He chokes himslef the whole time so we have to stop, and start over again. Even with treats he still wants to pull. So should I get a choke coller or a harness not sure what to try?
Pulling when going for walks
- Thread starter Chantel03
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Good lord, no don't put a choke chain on a baby. I wouldn't recommend you use something of that type on any dog, but most certainly not a baby puppy (you might like to note that post mortem studies (after death by natural causes) have found that 96% of dogs whose owners use choke chains have tracheal and/or spinal injuries. 96%!!!).
If you want him to learn to walk nicely on a leash, then you have to teach him. Don't let him drag you anywhere - if you do, he'll just end up convinced that that's the most effective way of getting anywhere he wants to go. Do the opposite - if he pulls, you stop walking. Sure, it's frustrating, but it's a method that works very well. If the puppy finds that he gets what he wants (ie. to get somewhere) when he walks nicely, and *never* gets anywhere at all when he pulls - he will stop pulling. But if you let him be rewarded for pulling, then he'll keep on pulling no matter what device you come up with to cause him pain doing it.
If you want him to learn to walk nicely on a leash, then you have to teach him. Don't let him drag you anywhere - if you do, he'll just end up convinced that that's the most effective way of getting anywhere he wants to go. Do the opposite - if he pulls, you stop walking. Sure, it's frustrating, but it's a method that works very well. If the puppy finds that he gets what he wants (ie. to get somewhere) when he walks nicely, and *never* gets anywhere at all when he pulls - he will stop pulling. But if you let him be rewarded for pulling, then he'll keep on pulling no matter what device you come up with to cause him pain doing it.
Louise501
Boxer Insane
This isn't a good idea as he will pull against it if its too tight, you want to aim for a slack lead while you are walking. What I did with Ruby was give her lots of treats as we were walking along, these have to be something special like chicken or liver, and I kept her by my side that way. I know its hard and frustrating, Ruby will still try pulling now when she knows where she's headed for, but keep practicing!!
Sara&Travis
Boxer Booster
Oh we have tried everything with Sammy. The gentle leader worked somewhat, but rubbed the fur off of her face even with moleskin wrapped around the straps. So I just bought the easy walk harness and we are doing much, much better. Basically, if she pulls, she gets turned around backwards... not the direction she wants to go. She just sort of stops and looks up at me confused. Then we sit, and start again. When we practice heel in class, our trainer encourages us to use lots of treats at first, holding them down low. Essentially, you are just leading them along. Also, you have to keep their attention while you walk. Yes, you feel like a silly monkey, but it works! I just make sure I talk to Sammy the WHOLE time - and we take breaks to wallow in the grass every so often. It's working slowly but surely! Good luck!!
Then we sit, and start again. When we practice heel in class, our trainer encourages us to use lots of treats at first, holding them down low. Essentially, you are just leading them along. Also, you have to keep their attention while you walk. Yes, you feel like a silly monkey, but it works! I just make sure I talk to Sammy the WHOLE time - and we take breaks to wallow in the grass every so often. It's working slowly but surely! Good luck!!My DH & I take Mia to obedience class. She is coming along nicely for me, all except the leash. The teacher has shown us what to do, and DH has much more success than I...you suddenly change directions, not dragging your pup, but kinda squatting walking (getting to their level) and in a fun voice saying encouraging things and lots of praise so they change direction all in one fluid motion. Everytime she pulled he would do this, and it really was amazing to watch (I am usually more successful with her training than he) and soon she was walking on a slack leash. I will have to take pointers from him. Good luck with this, a pulling dog is annoying, isn't it!
maggies mom
Boxer Buddy
A pulling pup is annoying for the handler and the not pulling pup too. We have just brought home a poor boy, 2 year old completely untrained fawn giant. Maggie wants to walk along, but Rocky (I can't help what someone else names a dog) doesn't know how yet. Everytime we go out and I have to correct him, Maggie will look back at me like stopping is my fault. Rocky has been with us 5 days now, and is starting to come around.
Keep at it, be consistent, and your patience will be rewarded.
best to you, MM
Keep at it, be consistent, and your patience will be rewarded.
best to you, MM
sweetboxer
Banned
Colby always pulled and we use the Gentle Leader Harness, not the face one. It works wonders! I love it! It has a Martingale loop at their chest, so it tightens across their chest if they pull. I know a few Boxers who use it and it works great for them. I also recommended it to my friend who has a German Shepherd, and she loves it, too. You can order it online at sitstay.com. That's where I got mine. They're cheaper than most other places and offer more colors.
Good luck!
Good luck!
2 of Them
Super Boxer
I have found that head harnesses work really well, like a gentle leader or halti. Haltis can be hard to fit, so I get a smaller size.
One thing that a trainer told me that was really helpful was a give and take method. It's hard to explain, but it's like when you are playing tug-of-war and someone lets go and you go flying. The same will work with the dog. If you give him slack he will lose his balance. You just have to give a squeeze with your hand on the leash. I hope this makes some sense and good luck!
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Hagrid- fawn, floppy, 2 years
Tonks- brindle, floppy, 1 year
One thing that a trainer told me that was really helpful was a give and take method. It's hard to explain, but it's like when you are playing tug-of-war and someone lets go and you go flying. The same will work with the dog. If you give him slack he will lose his balance. You just have to give a squeeze with your hand on the leash. I hope this makes some sense and good luck!
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Hagrid- fawn, floppy, 2 years
Tonks- brindle, floppy, 1 year
Sara&Travis
Boxer Booster
sweetboxer said:
Yes, this is the exact one that I was trying to describe! Works wonders...
Bella's Mum
Boxer Booster
I tried everything with Bella to stop her pulling and after 4 years of her pulling my arms off I tried the face gentle leader and it worked instantly. Now I enjoy taking her on walks!
I did try a harness on Bell but that didnt work. On reading the other posts on this thread I suppose it just depends on your dog as to whether the face gentle leader or harness works best.
I did try a harness on Bell but that didnt work. On reading the other posts on this thread I suppose it just depends on your dog as to whether the face gentle leader or harness works best.
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