Flexi lead and preventing pulling- solutions?

I think you're right about the flexi ruining your training. How about attaching the flexi to a harness, and use that for the pulling but walk with the other leash on a collar so your dog learn to pull on the harness but not the regular leash?

Sammy has learned the difference between leashes.  I also like the flexi so he can sniff without pulling me in the snow, etc but he also still walks nice on a regular leash.  I'm not sure how he learned the difference, but he's a smartie [] 
 
Going against what most others say, I love the flexi.  I know it isn't smart for walking with a lot of people/dogs, but it's nice for him to get his sniffing in without me having to walk him to the grass and constantly follow.  So I use it, I have an all-belt one that I prefer over the rope-style one, and I went a weight up on his (not that you have to worry about it with Gingerbread, but the all-belt ones are much nicer when you get tangled)
 
Sammy also is good about stopping when there is tension, he just somehow knows that there is a constant level then when it increases he stops.  It doesnt take much to keep him on track. 

ORIGINAL: amyliz

I think you're right about the flexi ruining your training. How about attaching the flexi to a harness, and use that for the pulling but walk with the other leash on a collar so your dog learn to pull on the harness but not the regular leash?

That would be a great idea, except that he only wears a harness. [] I should have mentioned that!

Nicole, that's interesting that Sammy knows the difference between the flexi and a regular leash. I kind of think that might be an exception though and most dogs would probably get desensitized to the constant tension. I agree that flexis can be great when used correctly- in an open area with no other dogs or people around!

I think the flexi lead idea is ok, but why not try a 10 or 15foot training lead first?  They're pretty lightweight and you can snap both leashes onto the collar.  It can be a bit unwieldy, but Gingerbread won't have to deal with constant pressure on the collar- so no mixed messages.

Nicole, that's interesting that Sammy knows the difference between the flexi and a regular leash. I kind of think that might be an exception though and most dogs would probably get desensitized to the constant tension.

 
Probably.  We do use the regular leash every once in while and have had no problems, but I think we just have a weird dog! [] 
 
Maybe use the flexi for walks when he can sniff and use a regular leash for potty walks..... or are they one in the same?  We live in an apartment as well, so ours are usually the same.  Or maybe in the morning he gets a quicker walk with less sniffs so use a regular leash and after dinner longer walks use the flexi?  Just so he's always used to having to obey the regular leash and doesn't get out of habit?

Ed- I thought about using a long line, but it would be kind of cumbersome. I think that's why flexis are so popular. []

Nicole- No walks are potty walks; Gingerbread uses puppy pads. He knows that he can potty on the grass and does maybe 1 out of every 20 walks, but yeah we only walk for exercise and sniffing.

It's starting to look like there's no real solution to this flexi situation. Just as I feared! lol

Maybe its different because I have big dogs, but my dogs know the difference between flexi-pulling and pulling mom pulling. They aren't nearly as good on a leash as gingerbread, but they don't pull me down the road with their bad manners either. Worse comes to worse, you can try if for a few days and return it. I love my flexi. I take my dogs for off-leash runs with some friends, but Sheila cannot be trusted when there are deer around, so I keep her on the flexi so she can run and play with the other dogs without getting tangled like she would with a long-line. Its not a perfect system, but it works ok....

What does Nicole mean by an all-belt one??
 
Luvntzus,  could you put a name to it as you hook on the flex-lead, and then take off the regular leash.  "go sniff".  So, she learns you are changing leads, and you give her permission to "go sniff".  Then change back on the way home, and tell her you are "just walking".  Seems like she would understand with you switching leads and put a name to it.  If she understood it well, then later on, you might could only use the flexi and then use the word commands so that she would know the difference.    Seems like if a dog learns to use a potty pad, then they "should" be able to learn the difference here.  (I say "should" b/c I've got a dog that has yet to learn not to pull, so I'm not a good choice to give out advice! LOL)

What does Nicole mean by an all-belt one??

 
There are two types of flexi's - one has that annoying rope-style thing that wraps around your legs and HURTS, and can snap easier.  Then, for heavier dogs (or at least for a higher max weight) they make one that has a "belt" instead of rope - it's stronger, for one thing, and if wraps around you it's not nearly as painful, and I just like it better since mine is colored so I see the leash better than a black rope. I would just highly recommend it over the "classic" flexi if you get one.
 
Sorry I'm confusing myself here..... look here:  [linkhttp://www.flexiusa.com/products.asp]http://www.flexiusa.com/products.asp[/link]  There are classic and all-belt styles. 

Chasza- That's what I do now, I tell him "go sniff" when he can roam around on the grass and "walk with me" on the sidewalk. I just really don't want him to get desensitized to the feeling of tension on the leash. I worked pretty hard on that.

I was thinking of something like this:

http://www.caninecreek.com/JerkEaseLarge2.jpg

I don't like flexi's....too many dumb owners allowing their dogs to scar me with the darned things.  And, I think that they TEACH a dog to pull.  That's my opinion, for what its worth, or not!
 
I have used a 20 foot cotton training line and they are soooo lightweight and soooo easy to control.  A couple quick loops and the line is short again, an open hand and it's long again.  I love those for giving them a little more leeway when we walk on lead.

the command heel means stay by me. If i don't say heel, that means he can roam. but I barely use a heel, unless we see people or are in a public place. Mabye you could teach him that if commanded to heel, he must heel, otherwise he needs to stay by your side.

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

Ed- I thought about using a long line, but it would be kind of cumbersome. I think that's why flexis are so popular. []

Nicole- No walks are potty walks; Gingerbread uses puppy pads. He knows that he can potty on the grass and does maybe 1 out of every 20 walks, but yeah we only walk for exercise and sniffing.

It's starting to look like there's no real solution to this flexi situation. Just as I feared! lol

 
Tara, a 10 foot lead shouldn't be too bad.  One or two loops and it should be fine.

Oh, Thanks for showing me the difference.  I agree about the belt being far better.  I hadn't been able to use one, so I didn't understand the difference.  Thanks for explaining.
 
I don't think the jerk thing is what you want.  In my attempt to teach my pulling dog not to pull, I used everything on the market.  One attempt was something like that.  They do have to pull hard in order to stretch that material out (my guy actually "broke" one he can pull soooo hard, aarrgghh).  But, they are short, so using this will not allow him to "go sniff'.  He will be forced to stay right next to you.
 
Glenda's cotton training line does sound like the best option.  I wonder if there is a way to attatch it to you so you don't have to keep one hand around it all the time so that you would have both hands free and that would be safer and easier to pull all the rope back up when you needed to.  Since you have a small dog, maybe you could wrap one end around your waist if there is a way to attatch it to itself.     I know with walking on a road, I would not want to use that b/c it would be too much too pull up quickly.  So, maybe you could just attatch it when you get to the grassy area.