Any success with leash pulling?

[yorkiepaws]

Originally Posted by Britster

Wow, cool, I'll have to check this out!

What's the different between the "urban" and the "Wacky walker"? It says they're two different sizes, I think. Should I just get the regular? Jackson is bigger at 13 pounds so I don't want a tiny tiny leash.

The urban is shorter in length. I got the regular and they come based on the dogs weight. I have the small and I think it goes up to 12 pounds, can't remember. And they come in lots of fun colors. I got the purple and love it.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by Britster

Wow, cool, I'll have to check this out!

What's the different between the "urban" and the "Wacky walker"? It says they're two different sizes, I think. Should I just get the regular? Jackson is bigger at 13 pounds so I don't want a tiny tiny leash.

The regular Wacky Walker stretches from 3-6 feet.
The Urban offers a little more control as it only stretches from 1.5-3 feet.
They both come in teenie (1-5lbs) and the small (6-12lbs) but some of the colors are limited in the teenie regular wacky walker.

[salazark]

I have a completely different method that I learned in obedience class. We are using clicker method. It's hard to get down low enough to treat a little bitty dog while still on the move. They took a dowel rod (the kind you get at Lowes or Wal Mart) and dipped it in peanut butter. I hold it right where I want Sadie to be walking. Every few steps I click and give her a lick. As she's progressed I move the stick out of her line of sight. As long as she's at my left side she gets a click and treat (lick) every few steps. It's made a world of difference for us. I admit I feel a little dorky out in the neighborhood. The premis is though that they will learn that normal is loose - not pulling. Eventually that is just how they do it.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by salazark

I have a completely different method that I learned in obedience class. We are using clicker method. It's hard to get down low enough to treat a little bitty dog while still on the move. They took a dowel rod (the kind you get at Lowes or Wal Mart) and dipped it in peanut butter. I hold it right where I want Sadie to be walking. Every few steps I click and give her a lick. As she's progressed I move the stick out of her line of sight. As long as she's at my left side she gets a click and treat (lick) every few steps. It's made a world of difference for us. I admit I feel a little dorky out in the neighborhood. The premis is though that they will learn that normal is loose - not pulling. Eventually that is just how they do it.

Oooh, that's a good idea. I've heard of holding a treat at your pant leg, but with Thor, I'd have to be crawling on the ground along next to him to make that work. A stick with a treat makes a lot of sense.

[judyp515]

LeRoy could pull me down the street on a sled----oh the power of a stubborn 10 lb. yorkie I have tried everything and nothing worked, even tried a professional trainer. I bought a wacky walkr and absolutely love it!! He seems to know that he can't pull it and gave up rather quicky. I wear a treat bag and praise him as he walks beside me. I went to a quiet area and walked in a really crazy pattern over and over with him following me at my side. He is exhausted when we are done but I finally feel like I have some kind of control. He still goes crazy when he sees people and dogs and I pick him up and walk in the opposite direction without reacting and that seems to help.

[capt_noonie]

I know this is kinda an old thread, but Uni was exactly the same. I had her on a 6ft lead, pulling and crying like crazy, tore her back nails off to the point where they bled. Well I did the thing I wasn't supposed t do, get her an extra long retractable leash. Now she's fine. Oh might I add that when she was off leash she was fine, looked at me for direction, even with distractions. As soon as I got the leash on her crazy light turned on. Worked for us, don't know if I would suggest if for others, but you know. IDK

[Marie 1]

I'm going to try this as soon as Penny wakes up. She is going to puppy class now and have not had luck with leash training. My DH said we should forget the class but I want to continue, anything we can learn is a plus. I will go out in the yard soon and act crazy with Penny.

[RoxyLuv]

Originally Posted by Marie 1

I'm going to try this as soon as Penny wakes up. She is going to puppy class now and have not had luck with leash training. My DH said we should forget the class but I want to continue, anything we can learn is a plus. I will go out in the yard soon and act crazy with Penny.

Go to the class. If you've got a good instructor, you will learn stuff to help make things easier + it's fun.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Marie 1

I'm going to try this as soon as Penny wakes up. She is going to puppy class now and have not had luck with leash training. My DH said we should forget the class but I want to continue, anything we can learn is a plus. I will go out in the yard soon and act crazy with Penny.

Definately continue with the puppy class. Not only will you be able to learn techniques fromthe Instructor, but you will learn from each individual there -- AND Penny will greatly benefit from the social aspect of being around other dogs.

[mizzwanned]

OMG! This is EXACTLY what im going through with Teddy and he's 3 1/2. I don't know how to stop it and I've tried many things. This is why with the new puppies I've started training with them right when I got them

[msmolly]

I have that same problem. I was in Tuesday Morning the other day and they had a leash/halter called the "Sporn Halter". They had a small so I bought it, knowing it would be too big for Molly right now (she is only 3 months) but it was only $4.95 so I thought what the heck I'll try it. I took her out one time and even though it was too big it really seemed to work. When I went to remove it the snap thing stuck. I took it back to TM to exchange for another but they were all out of smalls. I went to the web site and the same halter listed for $21.95 but I may still order it. It would be worth the $21.95. here is the link if you want to check it out.
www.sporn.com - Mesh Non-Pull Harness

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by msmolly

I have that same problem. I was in Tuesday Morning the other day and they had a leash/halter called the "Sporn Halter". They had a small so I bought it, knowing it would be too big for Molly right now (she is only 3 months) but it was only $4.95 so I thought what the heck I'll try it. I took her out one time and even though it was too big it really seemed to work. When I went to remove it the snap thing stuck. I took it back to TM to exchange for another but they were all out of smalls. I went to the web site and the same halter listed for $21.95 but I may still order it. It would be worth the $21.95. here is the link if you want to check it out.
www.sporn.com - Mesh Non-Pull Harness

Oh oh oh!!! I bought one VERY similar to hat style from Walmart! It was about $7! Walmart.com: Yuppie Puppy: Anti Pull Toy Harness, 1 ct: Dogs

It's only sold in stores, but I'm sure there's a walmart near you, they are everywhere! It has the mesh part on the chest, the fleece wrapped part that goes under the arms, it's basically the same thing, just not the name brand. I noticed a much lesser pull from her, even though she still pulled, but now I have a retractable leash with this harness and it's good now.

[msmolly]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Oh oh oh!!! I bought one VERY similar to hat style from Walmart! It was about $7! Walmart.com: Yuppie Puppy: Anti Pull Toy Harness, 1 ct: Dogs

It's only sold in stores, but I'm sure there's a walmart near you, they are everywhere! It has the mesh part on the chest, the fleece wrapped part that goes under the arms, it's basically the same thing, just not the name brand. I noticed a much lesser pull from her, even though she still pulled, but now I have a retractable leash with this harness and it's good now.

That looks exactly like the one I bought. I'm going to my walmart today. It also may be smaller to fit her
Thanks alot

[YvieB]

I recommend using a harness and starting with a regular leash, not the retractable ones. And start with the leash short enough where your puppy can only walk beside you. Once he understands that you are walking him and you are leading him, you can give him a little more leash, as long as its loose. If he starts pulling, take some of the leash length away. Eventually he will get it. That worked for my puppy and now at 7 mo, she can walk on a "lose leash" when it is long and she rarely pulls. I still haven't upgraded to a retractable leash as yet though...

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

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.

QuickSilver, Chattiesmom,

I took my champion puller Max out last evening and employed your method. My neighbors are now convinced that both my dog and I are completely nuts.

Max was confused and started following me immediately. The exercise must be mentally exhausting because he sat down several times to force me to stop. We took forever to go half a mile and back.

This morning, I was tired and decided to try a regular walk. Much to my surprise, Max started moving in zig zags and figure eights down the street. Does this qualify as a success story if he pulled less?