I have a Siberian Husky, i know it is in her nature to pull and thats what they are bred for but i would like to know how to walk her properly and get her pulling to a minimum and have her walk by my side.

She is an extremely curious dog, she likes to sniff everything she walks past, loves other dogs, birds and rabbits which we come across sometimes on the field i take her on, if she sees one of these she pulls and pulls and wont give up. She is not aggresive in any way, just a curious dog. The reason i would like her to stop the pulling is because she is almost 10 months old, she is getting big and is very strong.

If you have any training methods i could use to help get her to stop pulling so much i would appreciate it.

Thanks

I'd like to hear any advice on this too. I walk my friend's male entire husky, who is a year old, however he is "dog aggressive", as he will go for other dogs. He is ok-ish when on check collar and training lead, but he hates anything on his face and goes for me if I try to put halti on... hmm...

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The training method I use in my training classes and with my dogs has proved very successful. Its a kind, treat based method (you can gradually wean them off the treats) but you need to teach the command "heel".

To do this I use a slip lead and a check principle to condition your dog.

Stick to the same heel side (left or right...I use left) try not to change what side you walk him on.

Have your dog sitting at your heelside with your dogs full attention, there is no point starting any exercise if you haven't got your dogs attention.

Before you start off, show your dog a treat (chicken, liver, sausage) normal biscuits won't cut it, you need something yummy, give your dog a quick check, that is a firm tug on the lead then command "heel". Keep showing your dog a treat and when your dog is heeling just give plenty of praise "good dog, good heel, goooood, good dog, thats heel, good dog" If your dog should pull infront, try and condition him before he gets the chance to pull by checking the lead, a check is to simply release pressure, and with a slip lead, it isn't pivoted on the centre of the throat, it puts pressure on the side, which is more comfortable for your dog.
Each time you check the lead, use the command heel, and as soon as your dog is walking nice, praise him again.

To keep your dogs attention, keep showing him the treat and occasionally stop with your dog, when you stop, your dog should sit beside you (if not make him sit) then reward him with the treat, release him by saying "ok" then command him heel again and repeat the process.

The trick is to be consistant, there is no point trying this if you are going to use this method as and when, randomly.

If you let him off lead (I know he is a husky and not many go off leads) then spend 10-15 minutes during the walk doing this, if you always walk him on lead, then it is important you are consistant with this method, and constantly condition him with this method, because if one day you allow him to pull then thats all your hard work gone and you have to go back to square one. It will never work if you don't keep the consistancy.

Huskys are bred to pull, simple, but you can teach them to walk to heel, it is possible, I have seen it done many times. It is down to you to show your dog the way, and I would use kind, reward-based methods, I don't believe in cruel methods.

All the best!! Keep us updated

pinksliplead.jpg

As you can see from this picture the pressure will be to the side of the dogs neck, you should aim to have a loose slack lead when walking and be able to swing your arm, if your dog should start to pull, remember the check princible, the quick tug, its to quickly release the pressure, its important you don't drag him back, like I see many people do, its a firm and quick tug of the lead, instant release, and your dog should, in theory, look up at you, this is the prime time to praise "GOOOD BOOOY!!! GOOD HEEELL!! GOOD BOY" and keep reinforcing that HEEL command!! So he relates his actions with a command xxx

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"A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas!!"

Have you tried offering him a tasty treat? A piece of chicken or ham, cheese or sausage, put it in your hand the other side of the halti so he has to slip his head through to get the treat, guide him into the halti. Associate it with good things, the more treats and praise he gets for putting it on, the more he will want to wear it! xxx

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"A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas!!"

Checking and firm tugging on the leash, slip leash or not, is not in my opinion 'kind and treat based'

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

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I have Bella on a normal collar and lead and used treats to get her to focus on me. Once she was watching me she wasn't pulling so then put the word 'heel' to the action. Now I say it before we start walking and off we go! I also treat her randomly when i'm out with her and she is being good. Also when i'm out in fields, being part husky her recall isn't that reliable, I change direction and turn and get her to do things such as sit, down, stand, wait ect... so she has to keep a check on me to make sure she knows where we are going.

This also helps wear her out more and helps her listen to commands in lots of different situations.

I am definatly not a dog trainer or anything but this is what I have found to work with Bella. I'm sure someone with more experience will add to/correct me if they think its wrong.

Good luck, let us know how you get on with her

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It is completely harmless, especially on a slip lead as the pressure would be on the side of the neck. A check is a simple quick tug to RELEASE PRESSURE between the slip lead and the dog to become COMFORTABLE to the dog. A check is not a big yank so the dog goes flying, its simply to release the pressure built up between dog and lead to make them more comfortable. x

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"A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas!!"

Better than the dog pulling and choking itself constantly on a leash where it could damage the front of the throat x

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"A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas!!"