Oscar is a reactive lurcher x and he will not tolerate a Dogmatic. It hasn't helped with his pulling and he spends the whole time pawing at it and rubbing his face along the floor. The Dogmatic rubbed his face raw and he lost a lot of the fur around his snout. Yes, I've done lots of habituation with him and he wears it well and walks nicely until he sees something he wants to react to (car, bike, bus, people, dog, car, leaf).

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Kate x
Oscar the dog
Rufus the cat
Manny, Floyd, Boba, Maida, Nilda, George, Tom, Tiny, William & Eugene the rats
Bobby the hamster

- plastic bag too? Sounds very much like Nicky!

He is just completetly unmanagable with a normal lead so i am willing to try everything humane! Lol. If it doesn't work the naughty fosters can use it.

Jim only came down to see us the once, he spend at least 4 hours with us, and gave us some very good techniques that we did after he had left. it did take a good couple of weeks for Charlie to get the idea but it did work.

I once looked at training around my area and the prices IMO are extausionate compaired to jim's prices.

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I sort of know how you feel but Flynn was never quite as bad as your boy but at 60kgs he's also a force to be reckoned with but I have come home in tears on many occasions. I have never been pulled over by him and he has never got away from me, even when he was in a panic because two rockets landed at our feet when out, I just hung on to him for dear life!

I walk him on a head collar and he's never been off lead, I find a head collar so much easier to control him with. I can get him to sit and watch me for an extra special treat, not what he has in the house and liver cake is a good special treat for dogs. His out doors treats should be something he only ever has out doors as he'll be fed up with anything he's had too often.

I would up his in house training like, sit, down, leave, close, flat, stay etc and not give him anything unless he earns it. You say he doesn't listen to you so making him earn everything by getting him to sit or down or look will make him pay attention as he'll know he gets his dinner or is let out, then you will be more interesting to him outside too.

Marty is my daughters dog and lives here with all the others and he doesn't listen to her when out either, I put that down to her constantly talking to him - or should I say at him. She is also very inconsistent in the house, one minute he has to wait and the next he doesn't so he is given very mixed signals by her. If I take him out I don't say a word when getting him ready or when out and he's so different with me.

You can't let your boy pull you all over the place, it shouldn't be a battle of strength, Flynn weighs ten kgs more than me and because of this i've had to be very strict on our walks, not now but when he was younger. I would never take him out of the door if he was at all excited - recipe for disaster that, i'd put his harness on and leave it til later in the day if necessary. Most often he'd go to sleep but at first he would go banana's. Now he doesn't even care when I get the harness out and just strolls up to have it on, goes out in a calm manner and stays that way on our walk, not bad for a three year old Mal. He can still react to dogs occasionally but I have to have the confidence in knowing I can handle him while also keeping as relaxed as possible, if you get scared you will fail, you just mustn't let fear creep in.

In house training on a daily basis and calmness before going out helped Flynn and I get where we are today and remember, he get's nothing if he doesn't earn it in some small way. With dogs like yours and mine we really have to be able to call the shots. Good luck.
Read this.
Nothing in Life is Free

Just to add, Flynn reacts to bikes and especially motor bikes but because I know this I think i've been pre empting it and making it worse. The reason I say this is because when a bike surprised me and I didn't know it was coming Flynn didn't react, so I must have been tensing up on approach - now I stay as calm as possible and keep the lead loose, if he reacts I deal with it but I give him the benefit of the doubt and very often he doesn't.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

I would use a headcollar of some sort. As soon as you see another dog coming, and hopefully before he notices, then put him in a sit and play with a toy or give a titbit. At the moment another dog approaching means tension in your, a sore neck for him and total bedlam. Make the approach of another dog mean calm and fun and food. It will work eventually but only if you get your timing right and make sure his attitude changes.

Years ago when I first left home I was in a bedsit and my landlady had a bull mastiff. Her husband used to walk it and it pulled him everywhere, he had been pulled right over a couple of times. I took it out, gave it one hard correction and had no more problems with it. We walked all over the place and he never gave me a moments worry. If you let them pull they will pull for ever, the correction has to let them know that walking properly is comfortable.

Hey guys!

Phoenix&CharliesMum- I have emailed Jim and am waiting on a quote of how much it would be for him to come to Fife. I have a trainer in mind who charges £25 first session then £15 follow up sessions. But a one off visit would be much better even if it is more expensive. Thanks again for your advice! Fingers crossed the quote is affordable!

MalMum- Aw bless him. Yes i hang on for dear life and end up taking flying lessons lol. I also use some sort of headcollar on Nick. I will try the different types of treat when out, thanks. The thing is, in the house he is great. He knows all his basic commands and he NEVER gets anything without earning it. Apart from letting them sleep on the bed i am pretty strict with them. They arent allowed in the kitchen and they respect this. They have to 'sit' and 'leave' their dinner until i say 'ok'. They wait for me to go through doors first etc. He is a completely different dog outside. Thats not bad at all! Swap? just kidding. I am very stubborn and I have spent over an hour picking up and putting down his halti until he calms down. He sits until his halti is on, sits and stays at the door until i tell him he can come out. Then, as usual, disaster. Also, I don't get scared as i know he is fine with other dogs. Its more frustration to be honest. I did consider it could be my energy making him react like this but sometimes he sees the dogs before me. He is usually alert and looking for trouble. Thank you for your advice, much appreciated!

Blitz- I am going to be using a Dogmatic and a harness on him. Great advice i will defo try this and im sure it will be amusing for the neighbours. Me jumping about with a squeaky toy hehe. The thing is everyone is always saying how great i am with my dogs and i have sorted out lots of behavioural issues. I just can't seem to crack this one. I am sure we will get there eventually!