Hello. I'm no expert at training - but just wondered if a Walking Belt might make thing easier for you? I got husband an SASS walking belt recently as our two dogs walk at different speeds etc and were pulling his shoulders and neck. He says the Walking Belt has made a huge difference - so maybe something worth looking into?

 

Thank you Hanlou for your response and suggestion will look into it

 

He may be pulling because he isn't overly confident with the mobility scooter. Any anxiety when walking can often give a dog the "head down and keep moving" attitude.

I highly recommend you use something to attach to your scooter, like a type of lead, that you can clip him too so you don't have to take the strain on your hands or body at all. I suffer with rheumatoid arthritis myself so I can totally understand your pain with pulling dogs. I have an electric scooter I use, a bit different to a mobility scooter but same concept

It did take some time, and honestly they don't walk to heel - they still walk to the end of the lead but I am ok with that
Something like this could be ideal. You could attach this to your scooter with a carbine clip or similar, I can always make/find you something if needs be to attach this to your scooter
http://www.ezydog.co.uk/zero-shock-extension/

 

Thank you sezeelson that looks very promising attaching it should not be a problem I do think your right he is anxious about walking along side but was hopeing he would have got used to it by now

 

You might need to do a bit more work to counter condition him Sometimes time isn't enough to quite get them over it.

One good way to get them used to things they aren't comfortable with, is by using food. Put some treats around the scooter, and on the scooter in an easy to reach place him to reach. Let him explore in his own time and get the treats, don't worry if he hesitates, just stay patient.

Repeat this until he gets more and more confident with exploring the scooter and reaching for the treats. You can also stop and give him treats while you are on the move just to remind him that he's doing a good job walking close to the scooter

This should all help to boost his confidence a bit and begin to associate the scooter with good things.

 

I use a mobility scooter and walk a border collie. I use an harness with a bungee jogging lead and waist belt. I fasten the waist belt around the captain seat positioned so the lead is to the left side then JJ can walk on the pavement to the left. The lead is then behind you and you an shorten it by wrapping it round the arm rest so the dog can not walk any further infront than your front wheel. Drive so your on the road right next to the kerb and the dog is on the pavement this way its harder for you to accidently run over his paws as you'd have to mount the kerb first. With the scooter taking the dogs weight you then just move forward when he pulls stop, when he stops and looks and you, try giving a treat and say 'walk' (not heel, its not safe to teach heel command for scooter as they'd have to be too close to the scooter) if tries to go straight off into a charge stop again, it will take a while to get down the road the first time!

Once he starts off and relaises he can't get ahead of the front of your scooter he should start walking properly at side of you. Then you can go a little faster if he wants to move a bit faster. I'd be careful with him being a pug and them being known to have breathing issues, to not stay at full speed for long (especially if its a bigger 8mph scooter you have).

Once he stops pulling so much you can give him a bit more freedom in some places where its safe for him to have a bit more lead (to reach a grass verge for a sniffabout) or switch to an extending lead on a grass area if you don't want to let him off completely, then when you come back to the road put him back on the shorter lead.

I usually have JJ to the left and slightly infront but he's a bigger dog and can keep up a brisker pace. It's more like cani cross or bikejoring when we do it ..lol! ..but he does know how to walk very slowly when he needs to.

The commands we use are

left, right, stop, steady, slow, pace, go, still, go wide, stay close

I've just relaised the lead shown in the video was his older one. I use the Trixie walking belt with the bungee lead and he has an harness on rather than clipping it to his collar.

 

Thank you sezeelson have looked at I have looked at the shock ex and it does look good

Thank you also IncaThePup that also sounds like a good idea I do use a harness he never goes on his collar and I do not go very fast because of his breathing because he is panting like a good-un within 5 mins of being out from pulling and it really worries me especially as he has a slight heart murmur, I have been doing the stopping and treating for nearly a year now and he is no different to when I started and I am getting to the point where I would rather wait until a family member can take him out for me as he doesn't pull on his normal lead but then he wouldn't get to go out more than a couple of times a week and he does so love his walks and going off lead. Can you please advise as to where I can purchase a bungee lead as you described

 

Thank you sezeelson have looked at I have looked at the shock ex and it does look good

Thank you also IncaThePup that also sounds like a good idea I do use a harness he never goes on his collar and I do not go very fast because of his breathing because he is panting like a good-un within 5 mins of being out from pulling and it really worries me especially as he has a slight heart murmur, I have been doing the stopping and treating for nearly a year now and he is no different to when I started and I am getting to the point where I would rather wait until a family member can take him out for me as he doesn't pull on his normal lead but then he wouldn't get to go out more than a couple of times a week and he does so love his walks and going off lead. Can you please advise as to where I can purchase a bungee lead as you described

Here is the Trixie belt and lead I'm using now.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Hands-Waist-Jogging-Exercise/dp/B00178LDWI

Here's a cheaper one too

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mudder-Runn.../ref=sr_1_10?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1438293080&sr=1-10&keywords=bungee+lead

 

Thank you Inca The Pup I am definitely going to try one of these