Need help with walking dogs on a leash

Lola does the same thing.  She is so strong & pulls me so hard when we go for walks.  We had just a regular collar at first but she was choking herself because she was pulling so hard.  You'd think she would get the point & not want to do that, but whatever  []  We ended up buying her a harness instead and we use that now when we go for walks.  She is no longer gagging or coughing - no more choking!! 

There are a few other options that I am sure people on this board will tell you about, but I suggest just going to your local pet store & asking a knowledgable employee about what your different options are.  They will be able to describe the differences & advantages/ disadvantages of each type.
 
You may also want to try obedience classes to help teach him manners for walking on a leash  []

I don't have a lot of experience using different type ofcollars because with a greyhound you have to use a martingale collar (this is a "humane" type choker that is soft( often lined- sometimes even with velvet) but will cinch because a greyhounds head is so small they can back out of their collar with no effort.)
 
While I haven't tried a lot of different collars, I do walk a ton of different dogs at the greyhound rescue. Some you have to drag on walks and others are pulling you to be the first to catch the rabbit! With the latter dogs I have personally found that stopping very frequently to calm them, redirect them and then start again VERY slowly does work.
 
For most of them after 2 walks with me, they "get" that I don't want them pulling and if they do then  we have to stop. The stopping just seems to calm them and redirect them to what I want. There are aslo TONS of rabbits by the rescue and they are sighthounds just off the racetrack so their prey drive can be very strong and they can be hard to control in that environment. I also don't let myself get stressed or aggrivated, I just try and remain calm with them and use soothing words when we stop.
 
The other thing you may want to look at is how you are holding the leash.  My favorite leash are the ones with the built in "traffic handle". My rescue sells them but I have seen them at Petco. When I need to control them better I hold onto the lowest handle (just above their collar)and when they are doing well I give them more leash. With some dogs I prefer the 4 feet leashes versus the 6 feet. . .depends on the dog.
 
I have tried the same techniques I use with the greys on my stepson's out of control 1 year old chow pit mix and it worked wonders for her too.
 
May be worth a try??  Good luck!
 
    

Thank you both for replying. So, I will got to the pet store and talk to them about harness collars. I have been using the leashes that retract, I wonder if this is part of the problem, too. Should I be using just the standard (not sure if I can find that special one) leash?

You will hear mixed things about those leashes. . . I personally don't like them I feel that most people have a much harder time controlling their pets on them and most of the times the people I see using them have NO control over their dog anyway! The leash just makes it worse!
 
Also, if you pup gtes away from you the lastic part is going to hit against the ground and can terrify your dog, they can then start running and the noise will be worse and this can lead to a very dangerous situation. I would stay away from those. The name of the leashes I mentioned is "grrrip leashes" and I have seen at Petco. see link for the picture. Gives you much better control with a pup that pulls!
 [linkhttp://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=3587&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=leashes&sku=232734&familyID=6316]http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=3587&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=leashes&sku=232734&familyID=6316[/link]&
 
If you can't find it (or order it) then use a standard leash and probably the shorter the better (4 or 6 feet). Then just work on stopping her, calming her and try it again. Do it over  and over and over and over again until the pup learns!
 
Good luck!
 

thank you jjsmom. I will check the link. I see your point about the retractable leash. Thanks again for the help!

I don't like retractable leashes at all.  I don't have the coordination to work with them.

Have you taken your pup to puppy class?  Usually, polite walking on a leash is one of the things they teach.

I would try working with the dog in the back yard before you venture out into the real world.  There are less distractions there.  Once the dog has walking on lead in the back yard down, you can progress to outside of the yard.

With the loop handle of the leash in your right hand and the majority of the free part of the leash looped around the thumb and palm of the same hand, say to your pup, "let's go," then start walking.  Keep talking to your pup in a happy voice.  "Let's go.  Good boy.  Such a good boy.  Let's go.  Let's go."  Like that.

If your pup starts pulling, do a 180 degree about turn.  Drop one loop out of your hand and give him a collar pop.  Keep talking to him in a happy voice.  "Let's go.  Good boy.  Let's go."  When he catches back up to you, take up the loop that you dropped into your hand.

Keep changing directions, whether your pup is pulling or not, and telling him, "let's go."  Always be prepared to drop a loop and give him a collar pop if he doesn't notice your direction change.  In short order, you will find that your pup is paying attention to you and you will rarely have to give him a collar pop. 

Remember, always a happy voice.  Don't let him experience a tight lead.  When he starts to pull, BEFORE his leash gets tight, change directions, happy voice, drop a loop, collar pop, happy voice, pick up dropped loop.

Probe - Thank you for posting that. No, no obedience class. I understand everything you are telling me to do, except the collar pop. What is the appropriate way to do that? Again, thanks for taking the time to "train" me!

ORIGINAL: rileygirl

 
I understand everything you are telling me to do, except the collar pop. What is the appropriate way to do that?
 

 
I sure wish you had a trainer to show you this rather than me trying to explain it over the computer.  It is far easier to show than it is to type.  []
 
Your left hand basically does nothing except drop loops and take up dropped loops from your right hand.  I wanted to be clear about that.
 
A collar pop is just what it sounds like it is.  Sometimes it is called a collar correction.  Not everyone supports that as a training method but, I assure you, it works. 
 
In the case we are talking about here, if your dog doesn't respond to your change of direction, what you would do is drop a loop from your right hand.  Just as the lead starts to tighten on your dog, who remember, is facing the other direction, lest you wouldn't be doing a collar correction, you punch out with your right hand.  Just like you were punching someone in the face.  Immediately, release the pressure by pulling your arm back to your side.  If the dog doesn't respond, pop him again.  All the time remember, you are talking to him in a happy voice.
 
Never issue a collar pop if the dog is in the process of obeying your command.  You have to watch your dog to see if he is responding when you change directions.  If he is, no pop.  If he isn't, pop.

I agree with Billy's suggestions EXCEPT the collar pop.  I see no reason for those.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I agree with Billy's suggestions EXCEPT the collar pop.  I see no reason for those.

 
See, I told ya not everyone would agree.  []

Ok. I get it. I am not sure I agree with it (!) but I sure do appreciate you taking the time to teach me this. I will be going to the pet store to get the harnesses and new leashes and give all this info a go! Thanks again for everyone's help![]