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Pulling on leash

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Heather Faulkner

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How do you stop a whippet pulling,it’s like walking with a hoover ?just can’t get his attention.
 
About 13 months He is a lockdown rescue and hasn’t been trained he has a lot of bad habits but we are finding this one of the hardest.
 
He’s still very young. Our first whippet (the one we found) used to pull on the leash but we think she grew out of it (‘twas sometime ago). Our current whippet, Mabel, is on a harness, as she can get out of a collar, and she’s never pulled. Not sure if this is down to the harness - others may have a different spin.
 
We have him on a harness and he goes for a 5-6mile run 4times a week and good walks in between the problem is you can’t get his attention when he’s outside,his focus is on rubbish on the ground and who’s walking around us,i think he is just a teenage pain
 
Heather Faulkner said:
We have him on a harness and he goes for a 5-6mile run 4times a week and good walks in between the problem is you can’t get his attention when he’s outside,his focus is on rubbish on the ground and who’s walking around us,i think he is just a teenage pain
Click to expand...
I’m not an expert and I’d hope that someone with more experience would contribute to this situation. I’ve seen examples on YouTube where a double leash works - the connection to the harness on the dog’s back acts as the brake with the control leash on the front of the harness by which you can steer your dog.
Have you had any success with finding a group in which you can socialise Buddy? Are you having regrets re his adoption? - “…..I think he is just a teenage pain…..”. Like all sighthounds they’re very sensitive and can pick up on moods.
 
Harnesses with a front ring and double ended leads are tools that can help you keep control but really, the key is training. I'll link a video below but it may help you if you frame the training as training, not going for a walk. Then, if you only get 50 yards, it feels less of a fail.

A lot of people favour stopping as soon as there is pressure on the lead, and waiting until the dog eases back before moving. That teaches that pulling doesn't achieve their aim of going forward. It makes for a very stop-start trip but that's ok (training, not walking).

I haven't personally done this but I totally see how it would work and would definitely have a go if I needed to train this - try training without the lead. Use a clicker while you walk round the garden or other safe enclosed space, and only click and reward when the dog is in the right position, near your knee. More on clicker training is here Training with a clicker

Then, when your dog is walking reliably close to your knee you can pop on a lead then.

This video is on training a dog not to create pressure on the lead


Any or all of these could help.
 
JoanneF said:
Harnesses with a front ring and double ended leads are tools that can help you keep control but really, the key is training. I'll link a video below but it may help you if you frame the training as training, not going for a walk. Then, if you only get 50 yards, it feels less of a fail.

A lot of people favour stopping as soon as there is pressure on the lead, and waiting until the dog eases back before moving. That teaches that pulling doesn't achieve their aim of going forward. It makes for a very stop-start trip but that's ok (training, not walking).

I haven't personally done this but I totally see how it would work and would definitely have a go if I needed to train this - try training without the lead. Use a clicker while you walk round the garden or other safe enclosed space, and only click and reward when the dog is in the right position, near your knee. More on clicker training is here Training with a clicker

Then, when your dog is walking reliably close to your knee you can pop on a lead then.

This video is on training a dog not to create pressure on the lead


Any or all of these could help.
Click to expand...


Hi, interesting point this one!

I cannot hold my Borzoi when he leaps at something! HOWEVER! He does not pull constantly! I'm thinking that keeping in mind the dog can only pull if you pull against it? I could never hold my horse or my dog if they were continual pullers - the dog is only excited and keen to explore so it is important not to knock confidence nor interest, I think. What I have done historlically ( often hysterically!) is one step at a time! reward a step without a pull and if the dog does pull turn around and go back, the theory in this is that eventually the dog will find it is father from where it wanted to be, and should put this in prospective and stop pulling, but, it is not gonna be a 'walk in the park'! and will take time, but there is always some really great advise on this sight so I am sure you will quickly find what is right for you! Best of luck! J.
 
Have a look at Kikopup videos on Youtube.
99% of dogs pull on the lead because they have not been taught walking next to their owner is rewarding. I start my dogs off walking off lead at home, luring the dog to my side with really high value treats, making the position with a click & treat.
You need to go back to basics, if you want to run with a dog you need a Canicross belt & lead to free up your hands
 
CoCo2014 said:
Have a look at Kikopup videos on Youtube.
99% of dogs pull on the lead because they have not been taught walking next to their owner is rewarding. I start my dogs off walking off lead at home, luring the dog to my side with really high value treats, making the position with a click & treat.
You need to go back to basics, if you want to run with a dog you need a Canicross belt & lead to free up your hands
Click to expand...


(and NOT a BORZOI! LOL)
 
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