Caro
Moderator
Agree with walking just the two of you - that way she can focus on you and what you want her to do. I sometimes use a gentle leader on Tully when she is being silly.
pulling on the leash
- Thread starter emmygirl
- Start date
If all other methods fail, then I've read that using a prong collar should work. When we adopted Shadow he came with a prong collar. We thought what Sheltie could possibly need a medieval torture device like that, so I threw it out. But some training DVDs have said they are not as bad as they look and will not hurt the dog the way some choke collars will.
labgirl
Forums Sage
At 12 weeks you have plenty of time to work on this. 
Pulling can be one of the hardest issues to correct because it is very self-rewarding, if the dog pulls even for a few seconds and gets somewhere it is rewarded (ie. they pull and get to sniff a tree). However, at such a young age it is unlikely the behaviour has become very reinforced yet, so with patience and consistency you can sort this.
First, start in the garden. Put the lead on and walk around the garden if pup starts to pull turn and walk the other way, Avoid using a very short lead, the long halti training leads are excellent for this, if the lead is too short then it doesn't take much for pup to pull and this makes your life harder.
Next move on to walking outside the house. Don't plan on going anywhere in particular, just walk, when pup pulls turn and go the opposite direction. Don't ever allow your pup to drag you along as the behaviour will be reinforced and ruin your good work.
The key is to watch when your pup is about to reach the end of the lead and turn then. Over time you can get this sorted, but bear in mind dogs learn in context and it is likely that even after your dog learns to walk perfectly around your local roads when you take them to a new place the bad manners will return and you will need to follow the previous training again in a new place.
I am not keen on prong or choke collars, especially on such a young pup. There are far kinder ways to deal with this problem - but you do have to be 100% consistent or you won't get anywhere.
Good luck, I have a puller too, but with a new trainer we are slowly getting there and I hope to one day soon take our Bronze Kennel Club Good Citizenship test - and that involves no pulling!
Pulling can be one of the hardest issues to correct because it is very self-rewarding, if the dog pulls even for a few seconds and gets somewhere it is rewarded (ie. they pull and get to sniff a tree). However, at such a young age it is unlikely the behaviour has become very reinforced yet, so with patience and consistency you can sort this.First, start in the garden. Put the lead on and walk around the garden if pup starts to pull turn and walk the other way, Avoid using a very short lead, the long halti training leads are excellent for this, if the lead is too short then it doesn't take much for pup to pull and this makes your life harder.
Next move on to walking outside the house. Don't plan on going anywhere in particular, just walk, when pup pulls turn and go the opposite direction. Don't ever allow your pup to drag you along as the behaviour will be reinforced and ruin your good work.
The key is to watch when your pup is about to reach the end of the lead and turn then. Over time you can get this sorted, but bear in mind dogs learn in context and it is likely that even after your dog learns to walk perfectly around your local roads when you take them to a new place the bad manners will return and you will need to follow the previous training again in a new place.
I am not keen on prong or choke collars, especially on such a young pup. There are far kinder ways to deal with this problem - but you do have to be 100% consistent or you won't get anywhere.
Good luck, I have a puller too, but with a new trainer we are slowly getting there and I hope to one day soon take our Bronze Kennel Club Good Citizenship test - and that involves no pulling!
OntarioSheltie
Forums Celebrity
I was never able to train my parent's pup Milo not to pull. Then again, when I was training him my parents wouldn't pay for puppy class, I was basically on my own.
With Sadie I trained her with a no pull harness I've never been able to find the exact one I have online but it worked like a charm.
When she got older I started using a martingale harness on her and on occasion when she gets excited a give a sharp tug (not hard) and she stops pulling. I've tried either stopping and standing till she doesn't pull and also walking in the other direction. Both have also worked for me.
Another thing you might try is a head harness like a Gentle Leader or Haltie, but at 12 weeks she may be too young for something like this yet.
I'd also suggest taking your pup out on her own at least once a day so that you can trainer, instead of always going with a friend. It will take the pressure off so that your friend isn't always waiting for you and you'll feel less frustrated.
With Sadie I trained her with a no pull harness I've never been able to find the exact one I have online but it worked like a charm.
When she got older I started using a martingale harness on her and on occasion when she gets excited a give a sharp tug (not hard) and she stops pulling. I've tried either stopping and standing till she doesn't pull and also walking in the other direction. Both have also worked for me.
Another thing you might try is a head harness like a Gentle Leader or Haltie, but at 12 weeks she may be too young for something like this yet.
I'd also suggest taking your pup out on her own at least once a day so that you can trainer, instead of always going with a friend. It will take the pressure off so that your friend isn't always waiting for you and you'll feel less frustrated.