pulling on walks

• 04-17-2008 3:59 PM

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 957 Points 10

  pulling on walks Reply Contact First I'll start by saying that Zoe is a *hard core* leash puller and has been from the very beginning.  I've tried to work with her on this and have made some progress, at least now about 5 minutes into the walk she settles a bit and is somewhat more manageable.  Now enter Zack into the picture.  Walking them together has been a total nightmare, with them both pulling like crazy in every direction.  I've solved the problem with Zack by using an Easy Walk harness with him and some positive reinforcement.  But after trying the harness with Zoe every which way, and trying 3 different sizes I could *not* get it to fit without her slipping her front legs out of it.  I also tried some of the other no-pull harness but found them to be not that effective and a pain in the butt to put on.  I gave the gentle leader a try a while back and Zoe *hated* it, even after 2 weeks of trying she was still trying desperately to paw it off her face and just looked plain miserable in it.  Her face is so tiny and the device just *looked* uncomfortable on her.  So now I've been having to walk them separately which means neither of them are getting a long enough walk.  Sometimes I'm envious of people with large breeds who can use a prong or gentle leader.  I know not to rely too much on devices but I'm at a point where I really need to use one, otherwise the walks are just not enjoyable for anyone and I can't stop and reverse directions when Zoe pulls when I have both dogs together.  Is there anything else out there that I'm not thinking of? Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 8 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

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• 04-17-2008 7:01 PM

  In reply to jenns

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,280 Points 3,970

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact  Well you do need to train them by themselves at some point - that means taking them on individual walks. But I have found the best results by putting one dog on one side of me and the other on the other side and not giving them much slack. I use a lot of positive reinforcement and only do the heal walking for short periods, then I release them to sniff and such. Then put them back in a loose leash heal for a while, then release. It is a lot of work but walks are no fun with a dog that is pulling you every which way.

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• 04-17-2008 9:43 PM

  In reply to jenns

  CoBuHe Joined on 08-03-2007 Southeast Texas Posts 671 Points 35

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact I don't know how you feel about prongs on a small dog, but they do have small and extra small sizes.  And, they really are power steering for dogs; and self correcting.  I wouldn't put a prong on a pup under 7 or 8 months old and even then, the pup would need to be "hard tempered."  But, your Zoe is old enough. Some trainers who offer kindegarten obedience classes have the plastic ones with more rounded teeth if you are worried about the chrome kind.  And, the chrome kind also have rubber tips that can be placed for a lesser "bite". I am not negating the need for training, however.  Each dog needs individual training and handling for sure. Its funny, both of my dogs much prefer walking together as opposed to individually now.  And, Heidi must have her prong for now, but it is just a training tool and she will transition out of it just like my other dogs who have needed it.  She's beginning to master the command "slow" which is nice.

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• 04-17-2008 9:57 PM

  In reply to CoBuHe

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,844 Points 275

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact Have you tried just stopping when there is any pulling?  Stop, stay stopped until they look at you, give a command like "wait" or something you prefer, don't start the walk again until they look at you, then proceed.  If more pulling, stop again.  It won't take long for them to get it.  You will need to do it separately most likely at first.  But, I do it with Willow all the time.

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• 04-17-2008 10:18 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  BCMixs Joined on 01-10-2008 Virginia Posts 996 Points 25

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact  I've been dealing with this issue since getting Indie.  He is really a joy to walk, but had picked up a few bad habits from Woobie, the pulling machine.  Getting Woobie to stop pulling has been a constant battle.  Different things have worked, but only in the short term.  Usually, he knows where we're headed (towards the lake) and pulls like crazy, no matter what.  The only thing that worked for a while was a prong collar (the type with rubber caps on all the prongs) but I didn't like relying on it (just a stubborn thing with me).  The last couple of walks I tried a new tactic that seems to have worked.  I used a longer leash on them both and let it drag a bit on the ground (while I was still holding it).  As soon as they began to pull ahead, I'd step on it.  It causes an abrupt pull down and to the side as they're both in harnesses.  It only took once with Indie and he fell in place beside me and never left.  Woobie took a few more times, but after about 5 steps on the leash, he got it and stayed beside me for the rest of a 2 mile walk!  I'm not sure if it'll last but it seems to be working much better than me stopping, walking backwards, jerking, talking, growling, tugging to the side, tugging back, etc. and I can correct one without it being a correction to the other one, which is nice.  That way I can still walk them both at the same time.  I still work with Woobie individually, but he's not stupid.  He knows when we're just walking around the field or alone, I'm better able to deal with him and doesn't try to get away with stuff like he does when Indie is with us.  Indie's a dream, so it really doesn't take much to get through to him. Good luck!  "I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl" Penny Ward Moser Save a life, make a shelter pet part of your family.

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• 04-17-2008 10:23 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  sweetbon Joined on 09-10-2007 Manitoba Canada Posts 160 Points 0

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact  my Zoe is a major puller too,,, and since we are planning on moving to town I really need to crack down on this.  She has only once in her life gone for a walk in town, and with all the new smells and sounds etc she was way out of control. I know alot of you don't  like Cesar Milan, but I've been trying to implement some of his teaching for walking and Zoe seems to be getting the idea.  It will take some time tho.

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• 04-17-2008 11:05 PM

  In reply to sweetbon

  janetmichel3009 Joined on 11-28-2006 Beijing, China Posts 1,969 Points 290

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact i know your problem. but for me, at least i enjoy walking my dogs seperately. it's a bit of one-on-one time for us. but when i do walk them together, i usually do make them walk in a heel position, sometimes for quite a while. it's kind of a pain at first, but it teaches them to pay attention to you. and then, in that position i start walking slooooowwwly. this way they cannot walk at their normal pace and start to pay more attention to me. also i stop regularily, even if they arent pulling, until i see they are paying attention to me. the constant stopping and changing of pace keeps them on their toes and after a while it becomes something they're used to. then they get more freedom to sniff etc. and usually only need small "reminder" sessions of this insane walking to get back on track. it really is a pain, but it works well in a long run. at least for me. Janet thanks to Kelly (sooner) for the awesome signature!

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• 04-18-2008 9:54 AM

  In reply to Jewlieee

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 6,443 Points 750

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact I would make sure to walk them separately for at least as much time you walk them together, if not more.  The real training will happen one-on-one.  I have two BIG dogs and neither came to me as perfect walkers.  We often walk/run them separately, and that is when we do the training and try to improve walking/heeling. We also walk them together, but we each walk our own dog.  Once I got Kenya perfectly under control (walking at heel, basically touching me, without any corrections or having to direct her), I started walking Coke with her by myself.  I wanted to have at least one dog under control before walking them both.  When we walk as three, Coke wears an Easy Walk and a 4' leash.  Kenya wears anything but also a 4' leash.  Kenya is at heel, RIGHT beside me (basically touching me), and Coke is also on the left but next to Kenya.  Like Julie said, I do not give either dog much slack.  I don't have tension on the leash constantly b/c that's bad, but neither dog is extended at the end of their 4' leash.  We walk at a brisk pace.  Both dogs potty beforehand, so there's no need for any stopping and sniffing.  The only times we have trouble is making a left turn, lol, otherwise I have them both under control and we move right along.  Often people comment on a young woman efficiently walking two dogs that outweigh her, lol.  My Blog - http://24ft.dutchbingo.net My Site - http://liesrosema.com

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• 04-18-2008 10:09 AM

  In reply to Liesje

  tiffy Joined on 09-10-2007 Tacoma, Wa. Posts 1,486 Points 80	Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact  Our min pin mix, Sammy, was the worst puller, but after 5 min. in a prong collar, he was a dream to walk.
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• 04-23-2008 9:30 PM

  In reply to tiffy

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 957 Points 10

  Re: pulling on walks Reply Contact Thanks guys, I ordered a micro prong collar (for toy breeds over 5 lbs) and tried it today.  First time ever we had a walk with no pulling. I plan on working with Zoe indivually with this collar for a while before I walk both dogs together because I don't want the leash to pull hard accidently.  I also will use lots of rewards when she is walking nicely so that eventually we can move to just a regular collar. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 8 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

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