Despite constant practice I still have problems walking Roxy on a lead. The pulling is alot better than last year but she still pulls!

We have tried learning to walk to heel which she can do but appears to be alot better at this when off lead, in fact she seems to respond to most commands alot better when off lead. But .... at times she can't be offlead (if we approach a farm vehicle, I see deer, if another dog appears, etc)

She is still reactive to other dogs when leashed (although better than initially) so the main 'problem' seems to be the lead - or am I reading too much in to this?

She appears to listen to me more when offlead (although obviously not 100% or I wouldn't be worried about her b*ggering off chasing animals ) - does anyone else have this problem? Do you think she feels more contrained on a lead & is still slightly anxious by it? Am not sure how to go about changing this

Maybe this is two problems .. am not sure

Mmm there may well be some truth in the fact that Roxy feels slightly more anxious on the lead but whether there is also anxiety being transmitted down the lead by you....?

I've followed your thread from the start and I know she's not been easy and I think you're doing a brilliant job.

When you think about it the lead goes on (necessarily so obviously) ahead of stressful situations ie another dog approaching, etc.

Could you not now try a 'halfway house' between a short lead and being free?
What I mean is something like a flexi-lead locked at something like 6ft, so that you are not putting any pressure/tightening on it but you have the security should she react to another dog, passing tractor, etc.

Could she still be pulling because she is keen to get going.

Oscar pulls like a train on the way out to the park but ok on the way back.

Have you tried a bungee lead on her so there is a bit if "give" in it ?

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hi my bullmastiff was the same on the lead was told about Halti Dog Head Collar wasnt keen but something had to give so gave it a go and to my amazement it worked defo worth thinking about hope this helps Rob

Thanks for you kind words!

I do think that there are two issues; the anxiety & the excitement.

Thinking about it you are right that the lead is put on at potentially stressful situations so I may also be transferring this to her.

I usually have a couple of long leads that I clip together (it's easier than taking out one huge longline) so may start just putting them on intermittently througout the walk rather than just at times when necessary

It is definitely excitement at times, this where I think trying to get her to contain this will be something we will pratcise for a long time yet!

I am due to have another 1-2-1 with a trainer on Wednesday with a view to starting further classes. We were doing really well at the last place but the classes were just too infrequent & I think Roxy needs more consistencey.

The bungee lead is a good idea I was looking at something similar; I think Dogless has one.

Thanks, we do have a head collar but Roxy HATES this. It did work but despite trying to get her used to it she used to get so stressed by wearing it that I gave up ... maybe I should revisit this

My dog is on lead reactive, or was, off lead he avoids other dogs and has the freedom to run and I believe this is why he doesn't react off lead...fight or flight, on lead there is no flight option leaving only fight.

I overcame this by taking the excited energy away from the lead... He reacts worse when pulling, he is conscious of the lead and feel constrained when pulling so training efficient on lead walking has almost eliminated this. If he sees another dog I call his attention to me, stop if needs be, walk the other way if I can't distract his attention. If he is sniffing another dog on lead I stay close and keep a loose lead - the second it tightens he reacts in my case!

So he doesn't go out til he is calm...there is no excited cry of 'walks', I just get ready he is sent to his bed and calmly called to me and the lead goes on, we don't leave til he is sitting nicely waiting! Taking this excited energy away has helped tenfold as that energy was transferred into fear aggression.

It did take a while though. Took ages to get out the house for a while. And the lead walking also meant a five mi. Walk to the woods took half hour or more....


Hope this helps and good luck

I agree with grumpy,Also go out the door/gate/room 1st.....Leaders lead followers follow ..if the dog pulls... simply stop.... in silence and wait until he looks at you and is calm..you/he will soon learn.... one to one tuition with an expert is a good idea..nobody learns without being taught!!(not taut!!) don't try and live with problem or else it wont go away!! obviously you are not doing this or else you would'nt be asking why?
Its not the lead, its the energy holding the lead.
P.S A good teacher should teach YOU in 1 hour with this issue(?) (sorry money grabbers)

I think we have let slip our loose lead walking which has resulted in Roxy pulling & therefore being more concious of the lead. Time to go back & practise more!

I always go first through doorways, etc as I don't want to get knocked out of the way by two clumsy dogs as I had been in the past

I did have a 1-2-1 with a new trainer today & we did practise this, she gave me some brilliant tips & even though Roxy was excited being in a new situation she was walking to heel within mins!!

At times it't good to have someone watch & tell me where I'm going wrong so todays session was really beneficial.

Next week though we get to meet other dogs whilst Roxy is leashed

I would urge you to avoid both Flexi leads and bungee leads - unless you're in a park or secure field.

Dexter is reactive when on lead, to other dogs and numerous other things. He also used to pull like mad. I found that only two things helped:

1 - regular use of a well fitting headcollar; either a Dogmatic or padded Halti. This will relax YOU as well, which in turn will calm your dog. It also gets the dog used to walking by your side and can be really great for reactive dogs as you can then reward for calmness.

2 - if your dog is food motivated, use something soft like cheese or sausage; break it into small bits, and hold the treat right where you want Roxy to walk. Command 'heel' and when she walks to heel, give the treat.

At first, you'll have to give the treats every step or two, but gradually you'll find she walks to heel and you can greatly reduce the treats, to something like one treat at the end of each road.

Best of luck


EDITED TO ADD

Most dogs will object to a headcollar initially. Pair it with treats. Also ensure it fits really well - the Halti tends to ride up into the dog's eyes a lot of the time. If you email the team at Dogmatic, they will advise you re size. The padded/webbing Dogmatics are superb!

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We don't use flexis or anything like that, she's too big a dog for one of those & I don't like them anyway.

I've given up with the headcollar as it just used to stress her out too much. she usued to be really anxious of walks & I felt that the headcollar just added to her stress even though I did try to introduce it slowly.

Today we just went back to basics & I used her lead attached to her collar rather than her harness. At times when she has it attached to her harness she just puts her head down & PULLS

I still keep her in a harness as she likes to swim in the river when we go out so the harness comes in handy should I ever need to pukll her out (she only swims along the river bank not out in to the middle)