Pulling On The Lead

[KaiserNLisa]

My 6month baby kaiser has so far been quite easy to train. He does all the usual sits, downs, stay, wait etc and most of the time hewalks ok on the lead . However as soon as he realises where we are going ie the forest or the sand dunes he pulls SIDEWAYS on the leash which make it difficult to correct. He ends up walking about 3ft away from my heel and if I pull him in to correct him, his whole back end swings round! He never strains to get ahead of me...just to the side. He is also a very strong, muscular boy. at 6 months he weighs a hefty 79lbs and he is very tall. In every other way he is a beautifully behaved dog...but the leash pulling is beginning to spoil our walks out together as I simply dont have the strength to pull him back into my heel. Can anyone help?:)

[RottManK9]

Try this.....when you want him to stay in the heel, take your leash put it across your back and over your right shoulder. Hold on to the leash with your right hand. This keeps them in a tight heel and may work for you. I know I've had to use this in the past and eventually weened my dog off of it. When your boy stay's in the heel like you want make sure you praise him and let him know he did a good job. It may work, it may not, but it's a friendly way of doing it and you will have some leverage on the leash.
Let me know if you try it and if it works for you.

[KaiserNLisa]

thanks:) I will try that. Although I have a sneaky feeling I could end up with a Rottie on my back...lol:D

[robotnix]

yeah that's what I was thinking too... if he pulls hard enough and you're not a strong person... well you may end up on the ground face first

[CDN]

I had the same problem except I didn't do anything about it until he was 110 lbs and solid muscle.

i know what you mean about the walks, they become work not fun.

Our personal trainer went right to the pinch collar, firm corrections and lots of praise for positive behaviour. He didn't like the collar at all, and was a little testy about it. After one week of training on this collar it was like night and day.

Some people don't believe in firm corrections, and therefore rely on diversions followed by positive reinforcement, but after my experience with this trainer i am a firm believer in the corrections.

It was kind of tough because Cole would wine a little bit when the collar was tightnened, but my trainer assured us that his feelings are being hurt more than his neck.

It worked....unbeleivable...we went from unCONTROLABLE to - I will let him rome around on a longer lead but all I have to do is say is heel and his neck is hug around my knee....UNBELEIVABLE.


CDN

[Tazwick]

I have had a good experience using the Gentle Leader. I once had a bitch that would insist on pulling on the lead...that is until I used the Gentle Leader.

It controls the head movements very well, and I have even used it on my male a few times when we first started our basic obedience class cause he wouldn't respond to the choke collar cause he was just so damn interested in the other dogs. Once he calmed down though and class began I was able to take it off.

There is only one catch to using this collar though....there is a loop that has to go over the muzzle...it DOES NOT stop the dog from eating, drinking, or even biting if your dog is aggressive. The problems most people have is getting it over the muzzle. But once your dog is used to it....its a GREAT tool!!!

But by using this, there was much less stress in keeping the dog in heel position. I recommend it...before using the prong collar. If you have him/her in a obedience class ask the instructor for the best type of collar to use.

Also remember to praise him/her for heeling properly. Dogs thrive on praise, and rottweilers love to please their owners!

:)

[CDN]

I agree if you do not have to go to the prong...why bother...I definitely had to!!!

CDN

[LORHEL]

When the prong is used correctly it can be effective.

The gentle leader is good because you get the head control, and where the head goes the body goes. We use the gentle leader, but its a personal choice.

;)

This is in reference to the pulling on the lead...

[Trinitii]

Where might I find the Gentle Leader? I am just beginning to use the choke collar to train this weekend with a friend that is a trainer. She has shown me the correct way to put it on and to train our female with it but I am terrified of it hurting her esophagus(sp).

Thanks

Trin

[CDN]

The choker needs to stay very High on the neck, for two reasons.
1. It facilitates moving the head, which the most important point.

2. You avoid damaging the throat area.

Bottom line: If it stays to low it won't work properly.

CDN

[ILoveRotts]

I was opposed to pinch collars when we first got our dogs. I thought they were mean. But it is tough to deal with a 60lb 6 month old with no training. (I am little). I though the pinch would hurt the dogs but they don't. Just a little pinch to remind them to behave. After a while you don't even need it any more. I even bought one for my parent's dog (non Rott). It was a life saver for them. The dog doesn't even pull anymore.

Plus remember Rotts are very tough.

[LORHEL]

You can get the gentle leader at any Petsmart, Petco or similar pet store, it is usually around $20-25 and is very much worth it....It will come with fitting instructions, as it is very important you have the correct fit.....you want it tight around the back of their head, and from the side when you look at the dog, it should be in a "V: shape, not an L (the instructions say V for victory, L for loser) easy to remember....

They are not muzzles, your dog can eat drink, do everything else, it is for head control and helps with the leash pulling.

:)

[Mattweiser]

This is My Opinion

If you use a Gentle Leader/Halti.. you will deffinately be able to easily control your dog while walking... However Comma, what you will never get from this, is teaching the dog leash manners.

The Prong, or a flat collar can each teach the dog not to pull, but it requires skill and knowledge... you can't just go out and crank on the dog's neck.... timeing is everything! ;)

[Muckdogs]

Originally posted by Trinitii
Where might I find the Gentle Leader? I am just beginning to use the choke collar to train this weekend with a friend that is a trainer. She has shown me the correct way to put it on and to train our female with it but I am terrified of it hurting her esophagus(sp).

Thanks

Trin

don't buy a "choke collar", they are garbage. If you mean a prong collar, definitely buy it, but a "choke"- forgeddaboutit. True chokes can be very harmful and in actuality, they don't work all that well.

My advice is to either use the Gentle -> which I have zero experience with or use the prong collar. The prong will offer much more control with less stress on the handler and on the dog.

Just my .02

[pride-and-joy]

Yep. Choke collars will slip out of their safe and effective position with the first shake of the dog's head. Dog learns real quick how to get that sucker down low where it doesn't work.

I spent more time re-adjusting the darned thing than anything else.

A prong will stay in position and as many have said, (if fitted and used properly) can not do damage like a choke.

I tried the prong around my thigh just out of curiosity and was really surprized. The prongs kinda back into eachother and give little stimulating pinches. It's nothing like the unlimited constricting, cutting feel of a choke chain or thin nylon choke.

Prong collars are very misunderstood, probably because of the way they look.