Loose leash walking

[BobO']

We have a six month old Cocker Spaniel. He is fantastic, adorable, loving, great with the grand children. He is doing fabulously well with his training course and is very intelligent.

He does have one significant problem however in that he pulls and lunges on the lead. 

Our trainers who use the positive method have explained this aspect is one of the most difficult to train, and that cockers as a breed can be difficult in this area and that it will take time.

 As well as the poisitive methodlogy, we have tried different leads, harnesses, nothing seems to make a difference.

He is reasonably OK in the garden but demented on an outside walk because of the distractions presented. ( I know you will have read the last sentence on endless other threads, as I have)

The preamble leads me to a very specific question. It is especially important as our arms are at the end of what they can take.

In an extreme case like I describe, when all else has failed, is there anything else that can be tried as a last resort. 

Hoping for a miracle,

Bob.

 

[JoanneF]

It may be a little unorthodox but I found having treats in the hand that holds the lead helped keep my dog's nose closer to my hand and therefore slacker on the lead. If you can manage the control, carrying a tube of squeezy cheese and delivering tiny amounts occasionally might get you started. If you can combine this with a marker like a clicker or a chosen word you might be able to get him walking a bit better?

 

[Peegee]

I have a 15 month Cockapoo and she too pulls constantly on her lead.  I spent 12 months trying every method I found.  She does know what is required, because if she pulls, I stop, she turns and brings herself back to me, we then set off again but she immediately gets to the end of the lead, I stop and so it goes on.  Can take us an age to cover the smallest distance.  At 13 months I bought a Halti collar and hey presto she stopped pulling immediately and now our walks are a pleasure for us both.  I still treat her intermittently especially when she is walking alongside me in the hope that one day I'll be able to remove the Halti.  

I do wish you good luck though because I know how frustrating it can be. Not to mention painful!

 

[gypsysmum2]

One of the dog headcollars will, as Peegee suggests, prevent your arm being stretched. This makes walking more of a pleasure. I have found that after prolonged use and with lots of positive reinforcement that the headcollar can be discontinued. Do introduce it slowly, by putting it on the floor with treats scattered around it. Then pick it up and feed treats through it, Gradually fit it, feed treats, and take it off until your dog accepts wearing it.

There is an elderly, frail, man in our village who, despite us all advising he use a headcollar, on his boisterous Labrador, got pulled over twice. He now uses one and the dog walks like an angel. There is anecdotal evidence that cradling the head calms the dog and it has certainly done that with this Labrador!

Loose lead walking takes a tremendous amount of concentration on the part of the dog. We, too, have to concentrate all the time in order to reinforce the right behaviour and make sure the wrong behaviour isn't inadvertently rewarded.

Luring, ;as Joanne suggests, can be a good way forward, especially in the "difficult" situations where life is just too exciting to walk calmly! Give the treat little and often at first and then gradually ask for longer heel work before delivering the treat. Keep it random. Give a treat after two steps, three, four then two, five, three etc.

 

[excuseme]

A "Halti" fitted loosely but not tight and cutting into the face, as I see so many , is a fantastic tool to stop pulling !

I have had to use them with some of my cockers and results are a pleasure. 

 

[gypsysmum2]

Other brands of headcollar are Dogmatic (my favourite) Gencon, Gentle Leader.

 

[BobO']

Hi Everyone,

just wanted to say especial thanks for such good and helpful replies. We'd held off using head collars because of the aversion risk, not wanting to do anything that had negative connotations however slight. Reading your replies made us re think this and we are now using a Gencon with one hundred percent success.

It is true that there is an aversion aspect but our young Cocker has very quickly got past this and now walks perfectly, is still allowed to smell about on the walks and takes treats in the normal way. Further when we reach his play area, (a fenced in paddock), it's game on !

So you have collectively saved us and our arms are improving rapidly.

With kind regards,

Bob O'

 

[gypsysmum2]

Thank you for the update and well done with the perseverance

 

[Peegee]

Hi Everyone,

just wanted to say especial thanks for such good and helpful replies. We'd held off using head collars because of the aversion risk, not wanting to do anything that had negative connotations however slight. Reading your replies made us re think this and we are now using a Gencon with one hundred percent success.

It is true that there is an aversion aspect but our young Cocker has very quickly got past this and now walks perfectly, is still allowed to smell about on the walks and takes treats in the normal way. Further when we reach his play area, (a fenced in paddock), it's game on !

So you have collectively saved us and our arms are improving rapidly.

With kind regards,

Bob O'

So glad it has worked for you too.