Hi all,

A few weeks ago we bought a Dogmatic headcollar for Molly as she has defeated every other training aid for pully dogs....at 1st it was a miracle & i could walk her easily-now she has learnt to pull on it & is constantly fighting to get it off,then yesterday she pulled our neighbour dog walker over & she has sprained her wrist & grazed her knee. We do heel work at puppy class-where she is really good-but at home she just pulls no matter what. The Dogmatic allowed me to walk her better-but it's not teaching her not to pull....tried the 'every time she pulls stop technique' but after nearly 4 months she just isn't getting it-even when we tried her on normal neck collar & she's rearing up & half chocking on it she doesn't stop pulling. I feel terrible about the accident with our neighbour-she's ok about it & just said it's one of those things but really do need to nip this in the bud. Thinking of trying to find a trainer to help???

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Have you tried a Canny Collar - when Henry used to pull badly (he still does a bit, but only if we're going to the fields or woods!), this was the only one I had success with. Haven't got it now as he outgrew the size and my friend uses it for her dog, but she thinks it really helps, too. There again, it sounds as though you've already tried most things...... Claire

Have you tried the Cannie collar? I found that better than the dogmatic or halti ones but we use the Mekuti Balance harness now after trying all sorts of other 5min wonders its made a big difference with these two or a clicker may help

Glad your neighbour is ok about it

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All my children have paws!

yeah have tried canny collar-she's wonderful on it during puppy classes but terrible when at home. she such a lovely dog & pretty good at other things-just can't seem to crack this pulling which is making for some miserable walks for all of us & an accident with our wonderful neighbour

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Can honestly say I have tried (over the years) perhaps most of the head collars that have come onto the market!
PErsonally I get the best results with a straight forward slip lead (gun train lead) Just took me over thirty years to learn HOW to use it to correctly!

OF the head collars the one I perhaps had the most sucess with was the K9 bridle

DT

K9 bridle all the way, we have these and they are really good

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Okay so the dog walks to heel in puppy classes. But will not when anywhere else.

So the dog knows what to do.

So what is different?

The end product is possibly more rewarding, so the puppy may associate the lead with a walk.
Your interaction is different.

So change these, don't just use the lead for going on a walk. Use it during the day for no high reward reason, put the lead on and do some sit stay recall work. Or just walk around the house. Do some heel drills in the garden a pup does not need a run in the park every day if they are given some thing to do in the garden.

I do not know how the puppy classes are teaching you, so please feel free to disregard, I use a slip lead (gun dog type, never a harness or halti type) An I just amble around going nowhere, but I make the dog go with me when it pulls I stop, no talking when it relaxes I walk on, I always put the dog on one side and keep it there, I turn into the dog this means he has to look at me as if he does not i will bump him or tread on him. This keeps him slightly behind my knee.

There is a video that is similar to my method here. YouTube - kirkbournegundogs's Channel

If it is your interaction you will have to identify what this is and make your own changes sometimes having someone come and watch you will help you to spot this.

I have people bring their dogs who have pulled for years and I can get them walking with me at heel in a really short time both on and off the lead, however other people really struggle with this and when the dog goes back to them they immediately start to pull again, this shows me it is all about how they are handled so often it is about the person and not the dog.

Also practice this in different places as dog get used to behaving a certain way in a certain place and then revert back in new and unusual places.

Good luck

Nick

Loved the clip! It were a very young gundog trainer by the name of Charlotte that taught me how to use the slip lead correctly (using two hands instead of one) That young trainer taught me more in a couple of lessons then ALL of the other trainers put together!

Maybe you could do another clip for PF with words - how to teach you dog to walk to heel in one easy lesson! because I can vouch with correct use thats all it does take!
DT

can I ask where you were training in that clip please?

Another vote here for the K9 bridle, or a balance type harness with a double ended lead. I use one of the fleece harness with front rings and a double ended lead on a young boxer that i walk. I would say its not perfect all of the time but it is definately easier than when she was just on her collar.
J

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Jessy from SD Petcare est 2002
www.sdpetcare.co.uk

How are you using the dogmatic? For best results you need a double ended lead, one end clipped to the headcollar, the other clipped to his normal collar. You need to keep his head down; if he can't get his nose up, he cannot pull. I have to admit I have not tried one on a determined puller. The other thing I have seen used which seems to work well is a front clip harness. What happens with these is that if the dog pulls, he just turns himself around, and the idea is that he gives up trying because he ain't getting anywhere.

You certainly don't want to put off your neighbour, so I expect it would be worth trying either of these techniques, or the other things recommended.

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http://www.gentle-newfoundland-dogs.com
http://www.royston-pet-care.co.uk



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