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04-16-2009, 04:35 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX, US
Posts: 254
| Any success with leash pulling? I am just about at my wits end with this whole leash pulling thing. Wookie is 3 years old now and will not stop pulling! I hate to think that I just have to quit taking him for walks! I have tried sooooo many things. I tried Victoria Stillwell's method of turning him to go another direction when he pulls...nothing. Tried Tamar Gellars method of stop walking and don't start walking again til he takes a step back and feels the slack in the leash...nothing...he starts pulling again as soon as we start back. It takes us FOREVER just to go a few houses down the street. I have tried giving him treats when he does the behavior that I want, but when we are outside, he wants nothing to do with treats. Even boiled chicken!! I bought the EZ walk harness that clips in front, as soon as he pulls hard and his legs raise up off the ground the harness comes off his legs! I have tried 3 different sizes and adjusted them a million ways. I just get so aggravated because he is choking and hacking, and I know its not good for him. He can't be getting a good walk out of it, and neither do I. Has anyone tried anything else or have any recommendations that we could try?
__________________ Shelly and Wookie |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-16-2009, 05:13 AM | #2 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: new jersey
Posts: 76
| I wish I could have some good advice for you. I read your post and it was like I was posting it. Lola is EXACTLY everything you have said. I too have tried all the methods you have used and have had the exact same problem with the gentle leader harness--even bought another brand and the same thing--she steps out of it. Lola is 2 and we are tired of waiting for her to grow out of it!! If you ever hear of anything that works please let me know morrislaz |
04-16-2009, 06:01 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama
Posts: 17,674
| If the EZ harness is slipping off, it doesn't sound like it fits correctly. The harness should fit snug but not tight. I have two golden rules for training which I gleaned from a horse trainer that I respect: #1) Is it safe for me and my dog #2) Is what I am doing working? If not, try something else. Be creative, have fun, after all YOU are your dog's best trainer. I would try some different tactics. Forget food treats for this one. His reward will be on a mental level. Wookie can quickly learn to pay attention and respect you while walking using these few simple little tricks. Make sure your harness is properly fit AND safe - be absolutely certain that there is nothing in the throat area. This will require that YOU be quick and on your feet and that you focus 100% of your attention on Wookie. It will require that you follow through EVERY SINGLE TIME until Wookie gets the idea. Don't jerk the leash, and above all, don't get angry. In fact, enjoy yourself, sing a song, whistle, etc. You want Wookie to get the idea that you are enjoying a nice pleasant walk, but it won't be pleasant for Wookie until he stops pulling on the leash. Remember, this is a training exercise, not a regular walk - and every single walks should turn into a focused training exercise until Wookie is walking nicely. Start the walk as normal. BUT before Wookie gets to the end of the leash, turn and start walking the other way. When Wookie gets to the end of the leash he will have no option but to turn and go with you or he will stop being the puller and start being pulled. I guarantee that Wookie will dash ahead as soon as he realizes that something went wrong, so be ready and before Wookie gets to the end of the leash again, turn and walk in a different direction. ANY time that Wookie is NOT pulling, quietly praise him. His biggest reward will be that he is doesn't have to keep up with your quick direction changes. You will look silly and for the first few walks you probably won't make it out of your own driveway, BUT it won't take long for Wookie to get the idea. Continue with this until he stops tugging and when he is walking nicely reward him by letting him have a turn at deciding which direction you walk. But any time he starts pulling, just turn and walk in a different direction. You can also add a verbal command, to remind him not to pull - NOPULL would work. This is helpful once he gets pretty good at not pulling and if he gets excited and forgets. |
04-16-2009, 06:04 AM | #4 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 289
| The Dog Whisperer (I just love that guy!) says that if you pull back on their leash they will always pull forward He says that you have to keep them on a short leash, so that they're right beisde you. If they start to pull or do any behavior that you're not happy with you give the leash a quick little jerk straight up and stop until they calm down. Also, you have to be in a calm frame of mind on not be anticipating the "bad" behavior but be anticipating the "good" behavior that you want. Don't get frustrated as the dogs can feel our energy and this is mostly what they react to. Maybe you can try googling Dog Whisperer and leash pulling to see if you can get a better explanantion. Hope this helps a little!! Michele :-) |
04-16-2009, 06:31 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member | My 4 year old does this too, but she is new to the leash, harness and going for walks as she is a rescue that spent her life in a cage till we got her last June. I hope she settles down when the excitement wears off a bit.
__________________ Mammadoodle to my Yorkiedoodle Barney and our crazy cat Ms. Sassy Pants. RIP Audrey-Belle Within the heart of every stray lies the singular desire to be loved |
04-16-2009, 06:54 AM | #6 | |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX, US
Posts: 254
| Quote:
I am tellin ya, I have tried exactly what you mentioned. Tried it for a month!!! Almost everyday! Then went to the stopping til there is slack in the leash method, still doesn't work!! I will give it another go the way you are describing again and see what happens! I have been really successful at training him in so many other areas, so I know about patience and repetition, but man.....he is just not getting this! Stubborn!!!! I am wondering if he is just getting too stimulated when we go outside and walk down the sidewalk. (And at the park....)
__________________ Shelly and Wookie | |
04-16-2009, 07:24 AM | #7 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Woodbridge, VA
Posts: 43
| Ahh, this sounds just like Teddi when we're going out for a walk! I swear he looks like he could pull me on a sled! I'll try chattiesmom's advice the next time we go out. Teddi wears a comfy harness that goes around the neck and the chest, maybe too comfy because he tends to push forward by walking only with his hind legs. I'm contemplating on getting an Easy Walk Harness or something similar...
__________________ ----------{{---{(@ Teddi Alexander, my daily dose of cuddly cuteness |
04-16-2009, 07:29 AM | #8 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Georgia
Posts: 397
| When Baxter is acting out on his leash - which can be any # of things from attacking my big dog to running around in circles - I pick him up and carry him for a while. He is almost to the point of learning that being bad means no walking and being carried. And he is worse than a 2 year old child about being "toted." He wants to walk on his own. You might try that. Good luck. |
04-16-2009, 07:31 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member | Isn't it funny how they pull so hard? I was thinking the other day mine could probably pull me on roller blades! If I hadn't felt her pulling so hard I'd never believed it. She really wants to control the walk right up to the end. We walk a mile everyday which is twice around the lake. The second time we come to the parking lot instead of turning left to go again she goes straight and leads me to the car. I take off her harness and leash and give her water, and we go home. She's smart!
__________________ Mammadoodle to my Yorkiedoodle Barney and our crazy cat Ms. Sassy Pants. RIP Audrey-Belle Within the heart of every stray lies the singular desire to be loved |
04-16-2009, 11:12 AM | #10 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lebanon, PA, USA
Posts: 1,162
| Quote:
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04-16-2009, 11:44 AM | #11 | |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
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__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 | |
04-16-2009, 12:08 PM | #12 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Cesar is genius with certain things! I loved this method for leash walking and it has worked on Jackson.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
04-16-2009, 03:53 PM | #13 |
Thor's Human Donating Member | I got an incredibly useful suggestion from an eBook someone sent me. It's similar to chattiesmom's method. Go to a park if you can (I did this on the sidewalk and dealt with looking completely crazy). Your goal is to make your dog realize that he can't make any assumptions about which direction you are going in. So basically, move as unpredictably as you can. Run a couple steps backwards, stop dead, and shuffle off to the right. Spin in circles. Do figure eights. Change your speed. Hop. The weirder you can get, the better. The book said this is very tiring mentally for the dog, so just do it for ten minutes or so, and then let them go off and play. The book suggested doing this several times a week, but I just had to do it once! I was getting incredibly frustrated with Thor, because he would insist on running ahead of me, despite the fact that I was completely consistent with stopping or turning around EVERY SINGLE TIME. Now though, I can see him checking to the side to make sure he's in step with me. If he does get a little ahead, I stop, make a little correction noise, and he walks back to my side. He's not absolutely perfect yet - he ran in front of me to bark at some dogs today - but he's seriously like 99% better. He'll even walk by my side when we're in front of a park.
__________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger. |
04-16-2009, 04:05 PM | #14 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY
Posts: 440
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__________________ Loved by Chase | |
04-16-2009, 04:16 PM | #15 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Minnesota
Posts: 219
| Lexi and I just got back from our walk and here is this thread! I do have a harness with a hook under her chin, (can't remember the name) but when she gets to the end of the leash it turns her head back toward me. This only works to a certain extent, and I did catch myself being frustrated today. There were alot more distractions today. Tomorrow I will whistle or sing! Thank you for your ideas! |
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