Off breed - tugging on leash

[donkon]

I have a friend who has rescued a chow/lab cross female just over two years old.

My friend uses one of those retractable leashes and when walking the dog the leash is at maximum length and she is being towed by the dog.

What is the correct way to change this behavior???

I am afraid my suggestion would involve a couple of severe yanks on the leash. There must be a better way???

TIA, don.

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Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker

[Allyn]

My sugestion is first, get rid of the retractable leash until the dog has some manners! Depending on how bad the dog is, Start w/ either a choke chain or one of those collors that it goes on like a regular collor, then has a piece that slipps aroud their snout. I think they are called gental guiders??? Something like that. Then get real serious about teaching that dog how to heal. A well behaved/trained dog is a happy dog!!

[RottnKid1]

I like the Halti. The Gentle Leader is similar, but my dogs take to the halti much better. She really needs to get rid of the retractable leash until she works with the dog on proper leash manners and obedience training. If she doesn't like the Halti or Gentle Leader, then she can try a choke chain. To properly put on a choke chain, she should hold it so it forms a P while facing her dog and put it on. This way, it will release properly when a correction is given. She should keep the dog in a heel at her left side and not keep constant pressure on the collar - this won't help. If the dog moves ahead out of the heel position, a quick yank on the collar and the command to heel. When the dog is back in the correct position, praise should be given. By the way, it's extremely important that if your friend chooses a Halti or Gentle Leader, she read the instructions to use it properly. Hope this helps

[luvarott]

For a dog that has been allowed to develop a firm pulling habit a choke chain is not a good idea...the owner does not seem to know enough to train the dog and with a choke the dog will simply pull on that as well and risk tracheal damage....
Dog needs to get off the Flexi and on to a 4 to 6 foot leash.....using either a GL, or a prong collar under a trainer's guidance....once habits like this have been so firmly established, PP techniques like red light/green light just don't work all that well........