Pulling on lead

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Kimmy1337
Posts: 1
Joined: 02 Dec 2018, 10:31
First Name: Kim
Dog #1: Carlos
is a: Black Mini Dog
Born: 17 Jun 2017

Pulling on lead

Post by Kimmy1337 »

Hi all, I recently adopted an 18 month old mini called carlos from dogs trust. He's a lovely dog, super friendly to everyone and every dog. When we got him he couldn't do any basic commands and he's quickly learning but I can't get him to walk without pulling. I've tried the stop start method which worked at first but now he will sit whenever we stop and start pulling the instant we start walking again! Any help please!
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zeta1454
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Joined: 19 May 2011, 16:58
First Name: Leigh
Dog #1: Magic
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 20 Apr 2010
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is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 15 Mar 2012
Dog #3: Pip
Born: 21 Feb 2014
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
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Re: Pulling on lead

Post by zeta1454 »

Hi Kim and welcome to the Forum :-)

It is always hard work with a rescue / rehome dog when they first join your family although Carlos sounds a lovely boy.

You could try turning him every time he pulls - walk forward and as soon as Carlos pulls, just turn round and go back so that he begins to see that he is not going forward unless he stops pulling. The only downside being you may get dizzy if he pulls every time!

Try doing some heelwork in your garden or a safe outside play park ( hired field / paddock) where you can concentrate without distraction. Initially do not have Carlos on lead at all but just walk round / up and down the area and try to encourage him to come to you as you walk and reward him with a treat every time he joins you at heel. You need high value treats - chicken, sausage, cheese, tripe, liver - but very small pieces. This is a long term strategy that needs patience but really should help build the bond between you and Carlos. Once you feel confident that he is happy walking to heel for some distance beside you off lead, then introduce the lead and repeat exactly the same walking, talking to him, rewarding him - only ever reward for walking at heel and never when pulling ahead. This is more than just stopping him from pulling on lead as it is establishing a good relationship between the two of you that will be useful in all training in the future.

If you are using a clicker in your training programme already, use the click / treat method with this too. Click and treat every time Carlos walks to heel. You are building a relationship with him that means he wants to be beside you, looks to you for guidance and finds it rewarding to be near, rather than pulling ahead and although it is not a quick fix, it will pay dividends in the future.

Carlos is still quite a young dog and some of the pulling on lead will be youthful exuberance but with patience and training, I am sure you will get there :-)
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud


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