Pulling too much!

A question about : Pulling too much!

Hi everyone,

I have a 7month springer spaniel, he's been to puppy training and we have been using a halti to help with his pulling, but my god he's even pulling with this now.

Just got back from a walk that should take half hour but took me hour and half, started on his halti and thought I would try him just on his collar and lead doing the stopping when pulled or turning round.

Shall I continue doing this? I've started to suffer with back pain and after today's walk I was in a lot of pain.
Any advice on how you got your dog to walk nicely on a lead? X

Best answers:

• Dogmatic all the way... https://www.dogmatic.org.uk/
  Best thing I ever got!
• We use a Halty. Works great everytime.
• With the halti he stills pulls though but not as strong.
• holding a treat/ interesting thing by your side as you walk and a quick check on the lead if they start to pull/move forwards of you. On and off lead repeatedly on walks.
  I think we got lucky with ours though, she's learnt very quickly not to pull
• I find a harness woth a D ring at the fornt in much more effective.
  There are several makes but Dog Ganes is a good one. It has a ring on the back and you can get one on the front as well.
  https://dog-games-shop.co.uk/perfect-...ce-dog-harness
  Another one is the Premier Easywalk Harness
  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Premier-Easy.../dp/B000BHT5OE
  This one only has the ring on the front.
• I think the key thing here is that you have a springer spaniel. The two breeds I've found the hardest with pulling are springers and dobermans. Both have a very strong nose and are easily distracted by smells.
  For my dobey, a halti helps, but it doesn't solve the problem. My recommendation here (as in most things) is approaching it from a few angles:
  1 - make sure they are getting plenty of strenuous exercise to get their energy levels down. Ball play is perfect.
  2 - setting the scene right from the off. Only allowing the dog out of the door when calm and focused on you. Take as long as it takes for her to give you eye contact
  3 - if pulling away from your side, stop and again, no moving until they are back in position AND giving eye contact. Turning around in the opposite direction often works get the message accross, but can mean you have a few really silly walks
  4 - find a good reward for them when they are focusing on you when walking. For a springer, I'd say a tennis ball will work Possibly even allow them to retain the ball while walking in areas of particular distraction, but be careful not to let them keep the ball constantly. It can mask the problem, but could lead to obsessive behaviour.
  Personally, with springers, it's all about trying to reel in the crazy nature of the breed. I love them to bits, but they can be nuts
• I use Dogmatics when I walk my 2 Alaskan Malamutes at once. It makes a huge difference to my confidence which I am sure transmits down the leads. One of my dogs is fear reactive and it helps to know I can keep control if we get approached by an off lead dog with no manners.
  That being said, they are sled dogs, bred to pull so I expect a certain amount of drive from them. I signed up for that!
• If you need a 'device' to train your dog not to pull on a lead then your dog really would be better off with a different trainer.
• Kikopup/Emily Larlham does some fab videos on teaching good lead manners
  https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/search?query=loose
• Another vote for the Dogmatic. My malamute can pull like a train when he wants to get to something and the dogmatic means I can keep control.
  While I agree training is important, with some breeds and the nature of some dogs, it would be silly to risk them being able to get out of control. My dog knows how to walk perfectly, but if he wants to get to something badly then all his training is forgotten. It would be irresponsible of me to not have a 'device' which allows me to keep control.
• Buying some kind of fancy lead attachment is NOT the answer.
  Doing just a little research into how best to train a dog is.
  I'm gobsmacked that sooo many folks are allowed to be responsible for dogs when they really shouldn't be allowed the responsibility for anything more important than a waste paper basket !
• Thanks everyone, we've start the day with a trip to the park where he has an hr ball catching then I do some small 10 min walks on the lead during the day doing the treat and walking other way etc, it's working well
  As for your comment babbawah I'm quite offended, there's no need for such rudeness. Not everyone find training easy. Think before you comment as to wether it will be appreciated.
• Well that escalated quickly!
• Habit of Babbawah on the Pets board. Comes to a thread, insults the OP and all the replies, yet doesn't contribute anything to help (or any advice given is old fashioned and outdated). Best off just ignoring, really.