In your case I would recommend a doggie back pack. I use them for my 3 rescue dogs as they have issues on walks i.e other dogs, cats. By using these it sends them into working mode and makes them focus on the task in hand, and although does not erradicate the problem, it massively helps. It also stops the constant peeing! It also gives a tougher work out and drains energy faster. I build up the weight on my guys and when the sun is shinning and we are walking up hills - it sure tires them out. They carry poo bags, bottles of water, treats and anything else I can think of! I have been using them for about 4 months and I cannot recommend them enough. Only cost about 10GBP from ebay.

Thanx again everyone , good tips i will try.
He doesnt see me the boss yet, and the idea of when theres any tension i should stop, thats not possible lol as he drags me down the road regardless, ive already ruined trousers because of him lol! I might do the, change direction idea, ive seen that on tv and it works well with some dogs !!

If he's already too strong for you, maybe you could adopt the puppy training approach of using treats to lure him to your side. Described in Gwen Bailey's Perfect Puppy book. You need lots and lots of tiny food treats and a "food driven" dog, which I believe labradors generally are.

Hi Cherene,

Great that you are taking him on

If he is pulling on the leash then he simply hasn't been taught to walk on a loose leash, and has instead been rewarded for pulling; meaning that pulling has allowed him to get to where he wants to go... sniff that tree, meet that dog, etc.

I'm afraid it hasn't got anything to do with whether a dog respects you or not, it is all down to training. A dog that has been trained to walk on a loose leash will do so for anyone that walks him, even someone he has just met. I can tell you this from regular first hand experience, because as well as being a dog trainer, I am also a dog walker.

This does not mean to say that your dog shouldn't respect you, he should but you simply have to control all the resources; food, attention, toys, etc. as well as activities; games, walks, sleep, interaction with other people and dogs, etc. If you control all of these as well as applying positive training methods you will be a benevolent leader, and you will have a dog that is happy to comply with your requests.

One of the best easy to follow books for training loose leash walking is by Turid Rugaas, but the great news is she now has a DVD.

Here is a link to an excerpt of her DVD: Huldra Forlag

And this is her website: Turid Rugaas - International Dog Trainer

You can also purchase the book on Amazon: My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do?

Hope this helps.

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Sorry, have to disagree with this. A respectful dog will not pull but will follow you. The same way they should not charge through door ways first. My dogs have never been taught to "heel" in the training sense, the same way I have never taught them not to run down the stairs first. They just do all this because it is what I expect.

I think people talk about training far to much, which is human psychology on a dog, rather than work with what the dog understands. I think the sooner people cotton on to this, the happier our dogs will be and the better behaved.

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Hi,

The suggestions I gave were relevant and helpful, so to just dismiss them is not very constructive. By dismissing them you are also dismissing renowned dog trainers like Ian Dunbar, Turid Rugaas, Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell and many more.

I am aware your approach is based on dominance/pack theory, so I can understand why you disagree with my suggestions, but it is very blinkered to think that a dog will only follow you or not go through doorways first if they respect you. This is just not correct, it helps of course, but if a dog has been trained not to pull and not to charge through doorways first, then they won't, regardless of whether they respect you or not. And in a sense using the word respect is also applying human psychology to dogs. But hey we're humans so we have to use words

Not quite sure what you mean when you write

rather than work with what the dog understands???

If this means the dominant and corrective approach, then I don't agree with this way.

I am a positive trainer and my approach is based on scientifically proven learning theory. The same learning theory that is used to train killer whales at marine shows!

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My dog respects me but she pulls on the lead. I know she pulls on the lead because she was brough up with a few other dogs who were alowed to walk infront.
I agree a respectful dog will stiill pull, they just haven't been taught where you want them to walk.

I would train this dog using methods you would use to train a puppy to heel. If possible I would even use clicker training- it has done wonders for my pup Plenty of treats and keep treating the dog every time he is at the wanted position.

x

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I am not dismissing trainers, but I think it is far easier for owners to take a dog to a training class rather than apply the principles of leadership. Leadership is about being consistant 100% of the time and being the boss. I do have to say, that this is not applicable to most of the people on this forum, becuase everybody here is absolutely dedicated to their dogs. But there is a lack of information of this way of being with your dogs. "Training" is readily available while talk of the pack theory/dominance is not. Some might argue that that if I was correct then it would be the other way around. Who knows......

You talk about positive training methods, whilst I agree that this is fine for your average dog. If you have a dog with serious behavioural issues, then I feel that another approach is needed.

Example. My problem dog Max has, from day 1 tried to fight with the dog next door, through the fence. I openly admit, that I created this problem by not addressing it correctly from day 1 ( I knew nothing about dog psychology and this is part of the reason why I try to assist others). I have tried almost everything at this fence, including working with a behaviourist who has used positive methods. Because of the intensity he gets to, if the dog is the other side, absolutely nothing works. I got a new rescue in January, Sammy, who I actually got to try to help my guys. The only thing that can stop Max from doing this, is Sammy. When he gets out of control , Sammy goes to the fence and nudges him away, if Max does not listen, then Sammy will bite him and then Max moves. This is what I mean by working with "what the dog knows". This is how they deal with each other and in my opinion, if you work with their psychology and not our own, then you have more success.

I think respect is used in all species. If you look at how dogs behave in the park. Some are totally disrespectful to others, they charge and bark, whilst a respectful dog will approach in a calmer manner and go through the greeting ritual.

If somebody had given me the sort of advice on how to be the boss/pack leader, when I got my first 2 greek rescue dogs. I would never have ended up with the problems I have had and still do on occasions. There is no positive training you can give when you take on these sorts of dogs, who are so frightened of everything and everyone. What they needed from day 1 was for me to step up to the plate and show them I was the boss and I would take care of them. Instead I gave affection, I felt sorry for them and I brought every book on training, which did not help. I could barely touch them for the first few weeks. If I had had an understanding of dog psychology I would have realised that I was doing it all wrong.

This is why I am so passionate about this subject and if I can stop one person making the same mistakes I did, then it is worth it.

Your posts are always very informative and helpful to people, I just have a totally different perspective on it.

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Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk

Dogs certainly do get into bad behaviours, and it becomes the norm, if not addressed from the outset. Just out of interest, is it the white dog who pulls? x

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Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk

Good advice!! Although my lab is getting there with lead training and many labradors are generally food driven, mine isn't haha. Though I kinda count myself lucky as he's so fit and healthy.

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