Pulling horribly on leash - UPDATED

ORIGINAL: ldyharley

Unless you know how to use these tools and see the effectiveness, you can continue walking a powerful and energetic Golden Retreiver on a Flexi. You can continue taking Tylenol for the pain in your shoulder, arm and hand.

I never said anything about the tools not being effective. I said that I would actually consider using one, but only when I had absolutely no other option left. And only then if I had a professional with me who knew EXACTLY how to use one of these tools. I got rid of the Flexi because I saw that it was only causing Max to regress on what I have trained thus far. Now, secondly, I don't like the tone of your post. Parts of it (such as the clip above) are attacking in nature and are directed at me. I do not want this thread to go that way, so please refrain from using those types of comments. Thank you.

Yep, he looks huge.....

How's the leash training going, nGoldenm?

We're having similar issues. Juneau's 15 weeks now and we started leash training her with a clicker and treats, c/t every time she would come back to us and walk alongside us (even for a few steps).

One thing we found is that at the beginning of the walk she pulls HORRIBLY - I guess because she's so excited to be outside where there's all kinds of fun things to sniff. Usually after she's gotten it out of her system she does a much better job of paying attention to us on the walk.

We also found that it depends a lot on the distractions. If we practice the loose-leash walking at home, or at the doggy park (with no other dogs around), she's a lot better since there's less going on.

We had a big snow/ice storm here last week and since then she has regressed terribly - she was doing ok before the storm but now there's a lot of ice and slush piled up along the sidewalks and she seems to be so distracted by it. (That and we didn't practice the loose-leash walking for a couple of days after the storm - it was too slippery to take her for a walk!) Took her for a walk after work today and she basically pulled me down the street the whole time.

Sigh. I *know* I should "make like a tree" when she does this but sometimes I feel that I need to get her enough exercise and stopping every 3 feet gets us nowhere. (Mudpuppy, I read what you wrote earlier about using other forms of exercise while loose leash training and plan to take that to heart - I also let her run around off leash in the backyard when I think she still has a lot of pent-up energy.)

I'm thinking our next steps are: (1) go back to basics and train her a lot inside; (2) maybe get a harness or gentle leader to help manage the pulling. Any other advice is appreciated. ngoldenm and I will form a "leash pulling support group".

Oh yeah, and I also wanted to say that much of what we have read (in books) suggests using a choke collar to help train this, and I guess that is the more traditional approach. Being the +R wannabees that we are we have not gone that route - yet - but would love to hear what people think about it.

I don't like the tone of your post. Parts of it (such as the clip above) are attacking in nature and are directed at me. I do not want this thread to go that way, so please refrain from using those types of comments. Thank you.

 I apologize if you took my comment the wrong way. I wasn't trying to insult you in any way at all. I'm sure you are doing everything you can for Max.

ORIGINAL: ldyharley

I apologize if you took my comment the wrong way. I wasn't trying to insult you in any way at all. I'm sure you are doing everything you can for Max.

Thank you. I wasn't trying to rude either, it's just that a lot of times threads here turn into attacks and I didn't want this thread to go that way. There's a lot of very useful information that has helped me and I'm sure will help others as well. I would hate to see it turn into something bad.

suggests using a choke collar to help train this, and I guess that is the more traditional approach. Being the +R wannabees that we are we have not gone that route - yet - but would love to hear what people think about it.

 
In my experience, that method doesn't work very well. For one thing, chokes require tremendous skill on the part of the trainer to use effectively, and even then, the choker method of teaching loose leash walking isn't anywhere as effective as other methods. And chokers should never ever be used on a puppy for any reason.

ORIGINAL: ldyharley

would not recommend an E collar at ALL! At the most try a citronella collar for more "hands-on" training. If you don't know how to use one you can severely damage your relationship

 I believe I mentioned learning how to use an E collar in my post. Please explain to me just how a citronella collar is used to train a dog in obedience? I invite you to research the E collar on the Internet verses using a citronella collar for training. I advised using the E collar for Max because from what I read, nothing else is working. Many people have a misconception of the E collar and the prong collar. These aren't midevil torture devices used on dogs to make them submit. I find it very amusing to read comments about these training tools from people who don't know much about them and have never used them PROPERLY. Unless you know how to use these tools and see the effectiveness, you can continue walking a powerful and energetic Golden Retreiver on a Flexi. You can continue taking Tylenol for the pain in your shoulder, arm and hand. My very large and powerful GSD and I have a great relationship and I have trained him with an E collar. This dog fully respects me, has never tried to dominate me and certainly isn't afraid of me. I would  never do anything to jeopordize our relationship. He sees me as a stable pack leader who is there for him to protect him and care for him. I am not a compulsive trainer and would never harm my dogs in any way to get them to obey me. Please do your home work before you say you would NEVER use an E collar.

I don't think that e-collars are medieval torture devices, and I do know how to use one, but I agree that this poster has the right to opt for positive training for her dog, and to get advice on that method if she wants it.  And, failure to use an e-collar will not necessarily make her need tylenol for her arms...

The problem with pulling on lead is that it is an entrenched behavior now, and one that is very difficult to stop unless you find a way for the dog to never be rewarded for pulling.  In other words, if he ever gets where he wants to go by pulling, he will continue to pull.  That's why I hate Flexi's and prefer a 30' cotton training lead.
Go check out Shirley Chong's website - she has a video of how to teach a dog to walk nicely using clicker training. 

I don't either think they are midevel torture devices. I just would rather try using +R as far as I can take it without using coercive devices. I use prongs on Joy, and that is only because I know how to use one. I know how an E collar works, and the general idea on how to use one (but I would have my mom help me since I'm not 100% sure how to use one) but that doesn't mean that I am ready to suggest them for every problem. 

ORIGINAL: Mastiff

How about a deranged, psychotic Dandie Dinmont??? [sm=rotfl.gif]

With a breed name like Dandie Dinmont I imagine the percentage of deranged psychotics goes up
Sort of like humans named Wayne (I've worked in MH for 13 years and there is a disproportionate number of Waynes in care [sm=crazy.gif]

That would be my guess[]