i have just got a 15 month old sib husky she is generaly good but she pulls like mad when i take her for a walk i use a coller n lead she is learning that pulling is a no no cos i pull her back 2 me when eva she pulls n she is gettin better.i no she is ment 2 pull so i want 2 put her in a harness n teach her how 2 pull properly on comand but i am unsure how 2 do this or what harness 2 get her or what 2 get her 2 pull there in fields all round where we live but they are not enclosed so i am not willing 2 let her off the lead please help !!!!!!!!!

Hi

I am not sure what you are getting at here. Do you want to teach her to pull because you want to do sleigh work with her? Or do you not want her to pull if she is on the lead?

Huskys are trained to pull, they are not 'meant' to pull. Like any other dogs they can walk perfectly well by your side!!!

Most working Huskys, and I don't profess to know much about training them although I used to live in the New Forest, where there were a lot of Husky competions, are trained to a special harness, which they know when they are in this they are working, behind a lead dog, otherwise they were just ordinary dogs! This is very specialist and not something you can do on your own, or read a book about and then do it. You could injure your dog and yourself.

I think you need to decide want you want here, if you do want to train her for working then you need to find someone who can help you teach it properly, who has the right euipment to do this.

In the meantime, I would be teaching her to walk nicely on a short lead, and using a flexi lead when in an area she can run free - this will also mean she will learn that when she is on the short lead she doesn't pull and when she is on the flexi she can do as she wishes, with minimum input from you.

I would also want to be working on her recall.

Please please, don't just 'have a go' at this sport because it is what she is bred for, lots of people have sheepdogs and don't work them on sheep!!

Kate

P.S Pulling back when she pulls will not stop her pulling, however, it could make it worse as dogs will counteract any pressure on them, by leaning in - try pushing your dog and they don't push over, they push back!!

You need to be using something to get her attention, or walking backwards when the lead starts to tense, or change direction, or stand still and use your reward when she is back in the right position.

There are a few threads on here about pulling on the lead, get some ideas from there!

Best of Luck

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I wouldn't encourage the use of a flexi on a husky or any dog that you're trying to walk on a loose leash, it pulls the collar and you want to stop that sensation not enourage it. (I do use a flexi but I'm not training the dog I walk, when I'm trainng I like to be totally consistent so wouldn't use a flexi for that reason)

What I'd suggest is a long line, 100ft or more if you can get one longer. Tie knots in it so that if she decides to go you can stand on it and the knots will hold, also helpful for grabbing so you don't get rope burn! You can wrap it round a tree too.

The recall on a husky is going to be a challenge! Work the recall by using the long line, when she comes back lots of praise and treats, as long as she's on that line you're in control, take it off without a strong recall and your husky might be gone. I know a few most of them don't come back, whether that's genetic or learned I don't know as it CAN be done, some people manage fine.

There's loads of threads on here on loose leash training. I like this method as it helps to build the duration of the loose leash walk, you don't have to use a clicker, a praise word works when followed with food.

"300 Peck" - A Simple Method for Increasing Duration or Distance - Part II | Karen Pryor Clickertraining

There are a load of people who take huskies out on rigs in your area, I'd ask around and get someone to show you how to do it. They use specific harnesses for pulling and your dog will work out when it's working or not, she won't think she's working on a flat collar.

I promise it can be done as my friend walks his husky on a flat collar and lead (wainwrights at PAH, they're really nice soft leather!) just fine, don't give him your tennis ball though as you're not likely to see it again!

Hi Gary

I have just got a 15 month sib husky (we think she is a cross with a German Shepherd), from Bath Cats and Dogs home, we got her 2 weeks ago. Tala pulls like mad too - most of the time. Its very wearing, I too am looking for advice. I am 6ft, and she walks pretty fast at standard, and I also walk quite quick, but dont keep up with her pace.

The kennels had a harness for her, which we used a few times on walks with her, and to be honest she pulled as much, if not more on the harness, so I'm not sure that would have any benefit.

I think she needs to run about, but I cant let her off the lead..... I'm looking for a football pitch sized fenced garden for her to exercise in, ha ha - like they exist!!

Sorry I cant offer any help, but i am reading the replies in eager anticipation of a miracle 'cure'

J

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Husky's are one of the most challenging breeds.

A friend of mine is a behaviourist and has 8 dogs and it has taken him over a year to get the husky off the lead and to recall. Even now, he has to go on the lead quite often. He is able to work with his dog intensively every day. Many people never allow these dogs off the lead because of their wanting to just run.

With regards to lead walking, either enrol in a class, buy a book or work one to one with a behaviourist. There are many ways to get the dog to walk to a heel, it is just finding the one that works for you.

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I'm sorry but I find this quite hard to read - I'm assuming you didn't type it on a phone and so there is no need for the text talk.

As with the first respondent I find it hard to understand your questions as the meaning is lost in the poor text.

If your statement refers to the fact that the dog pulls and so you want to teach it to pull??

I would say that sled dogs are highly trained and work as a team on command, to do this you must first teach the basics, i.e not to pull on the lead. I would start here, if this is a success then you can maybe think of moving onto other things. Imagine rattling through a forest on a sled you cannot stop as the dog knows no basic commands rather silly and dangerous.

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www.sylvestriskennels.co.uk

I'm thinking of teaching Romeo to sled pull which is what i think your asking about. This site has been of a great help to me
Sled Dog Training for Your Husky

Just remember if you've just got your dog you need to spend time bonding first so you find out what its traits are, and it takes a long time to train your dog, you have to start off slowly and build it up. Romeo won't be starting his training until he's a year old which is only a month away but patience is the key to it I've been told. Also some dogs don't take to it and you just have to accept that they don't want to do it.

If you join the siberian Husky club of GB, they have a forum, where members will advice you on training, and maybe you can get to meet up with some other husky owners to practice. Usually the dogs know when they have a working harness on and when they have their walking lead on, its all a matter of training, you need to train your dog to walk on lead like any other breed, it can be done, just because they are sibes does not mean that they automatically pull on lead, ALL dogs do this if not trained, the harnesses you use for pulling a sled/rig is usually an X back harness, this must fit correctly. As you are walkng your dog you can give commands, ie gee for right and haw for left, these are the common commands for working huskies, and most mushers use this terminology, there is also onby to pass other teams/dogs, what I would say though is one sibe is not IMO strong enough to pull an adult person and the sled/rig, it usually requires at least two dogs to do this, and that also includes the musher assisting uphill by scootering with one foot, obviousy it would be fantastic if two dogs could pull all this weight without assistance, but they would have to be amazingly fit to do so.

mo

Hi, read all the messages! I have 3 teenage huskies and 1 pup husky. I can walk them all at the same time with my eyes closed and no pulling whatsoever and I'm 22 and had no help - it IS easy if u be calm!
1) Use a 2 or 3 ft leader.
2) You gotta beleive that YOU are in control because if you have any doubts they pick up on it and THEY try to be the leader
3)Hold the lead very loosely and gently with your hand (DONT wrap it around your hand as this causes tension to them)
4)If they pull you, DON'T pull backwards! Pull to the SIDE with a very quick gentle tug at the EXACT moment they pull you (If you need to, hold the leader in the opposite hand to the side the dog is on)
5)Find out what they go nuts for!!! Yes, "go nuts for"! (e.g. mine go nuts for squeaky toys, so I take that with me, and if all else fails, i squeak it so i get their FULL attention. Then I continue with the training). I do this because getting frustrated/upset/to the end of your tether will always affect them and they will just play up when they sense how you feel.

If i'm walking my boy husky and want to let him off the lead in a park, I take the squeaky toy and get him excited about the squeaky toy(by squeaking it) when im entering the park. So he associates the park with exciting squeaky toy! As soon as he's off the lead, i squeak the toy and if he looks at me i give loads of praise and let him have it for a few seconds, then take it back. Keep doing that. I've done that for a few days then i started throwing it for him and getting it back. He has NEVER left my side since if i dont give him the toy!!! YEAY! Keep it in your pocket (or whatever makes him go nuts). Huskies wont do anything if they dont get something out of it!

I hope this helps xxx Naomi