Pulling on lead.

[Itsonlyme]

At the moment Nutmeg ( almost nine months old now - where does the time go?) is fit and healthy and we are gradually increasing the length of her walks. We do lots of road walks as well as across the fields, park etc with Kizzy who has a good recall so is frequently allowed to run free. Nutmeg is walked on a harness ( usually a Halti harness which fastens to her collar and has a clip on her back which gives us dual control - or that's the theory!) plus an extending lead for when it's safe and an ordinary one when near roads. The problem is that she pulls like a steam train and no matter what we've tried ( stopping 'til she stops pulling, turning and walking in the opposite direction, 'clicking' when she's walking properly etc. - not all at the same time obviously) it is getting worse instead of better. We've tried to make allowances for the fact that she's SOOO excited about being out but are worried that if we don't get her sorted soon it's going to be a life long problem. We do go to a puppy class but she is so pleased at being with everyone she leaps about, squeals with delight ( she has been described as looking like a meerkat on a pogo stick) and is generally worse than ever!!! Any suggestions would be very much appreciated

[MaxandMindysmom]

I have found with my two younguns that taking them out separately it can be REALLY short walks is the only way. Max heels beautifully, Rylie is getting it. With Max if I can get his attention first he will heel past any distraction. Rylie is harder to get his attention. What I noticed this week - and you might consider if this is part of the problem. Max and Rylie are both in intermediate obedience (hubby takes one - this is an idea I DON"T recommend btw). Rylie has been a brat but I realized this week he is worse when we are working on heeling. Even before class started he was having a fit as we walked in. It finally occurred to me that 99% of the time he is walked on a coupler with Max and the other 1% of the time he is walked with only me (and he walks pretty nicely either way). Being on a separate leash with a different person than Max is apparently really stressful for him. Is it possible your pup wants to be with the other dog?

I don't know how I'm going to handle it for class but it's not a life problem for me because I'm going to continue walking them on the double lead and I won't be putting them in the same class again. They both work well for me but watch me even when hubby is trying to train them

[Indi-moore]

With Indi we use his fav toy to walk to heal and then when we get to the field we throw his ball and play, and on the way back holding it again. (The ball is held at waist level.)
In puppy class Indi was like a monster and wanted to just play with the other pups.

[Busybip]

If you have one dog running free and Nutmeg on a lead I am sure she will pull because she wants to go and play with Kizzi. I think you would be better to do walk training with Nutmeg on her own for a while so she gives you her full attention. You might need to run some of her energy off first by playing with her in the garden, running games or retreiving a ball or something. I have always had to seperately train my adolescent puppies or take them out with a steady old dog. They also learn to return to you better if they are on their own and it is as well to get this established (in a safe environment) while she is still a puppy.
They get too excited if they see what they think is pack 'hunt' about to happen.
Presuming Kizzi walks nicely, you could then couple them together for short practise walks.
If Kizzi has a good return, and Nutmeg has learnt that on her own, Kizzi should teach that to Nutmeg when they are off together, so long as they are in a safe enclosed place and you give lots of rewards for returning on command.
I hope that helps and good luck!
Philippa

[Itsonlyme]

Thank you for your suggestions. Kizzy does walk well on the lead and we've tried putting a coupler on them but Meg pulls so much poor Kizzy gets dragged along looking confused. We've gone back to complete basics and we've had some success with Nutmeg being relatively calm until she realises that we are heading back to home and then all training is forgotten . We don't expect Nutmeg to walk to heel while Kizzy is running free, hence the extending lead to give her some freedom ( her recall is not good enough to be trusted off lead). I think it is just a matter of practise and as soon as Meg has a good recall and can run off some more of her seemingly endless energy I'm sure she will improve. ( Or at least we hope she will)

[katieak]

i had the same problem with angel she is nearly 6 months old but i dont have another dog.. i found it better taking her out when there isnt that many distactions ( i wait till all the kids are in school) that way i dont get to much of people trying to stroke her or stupid people trying to call her over while im teaching her to cross the road.. it helps when its just the two of us she is more likley to do what i want her do she sits at the kirb now waiting to cross before i can even say sit but as soon as she see that lead her tail goes mad and it wags the whole time we are out she sees a bird she pulls or another dog but i shorten her lead and just stop walking make her sit and tell her no then continue walking her thankfuly no is one word she listens to i keep her exstendable lead for the park only so she is learning that its more fun time in the park and no messing time on her short lead and if she plays up on the short lead we dont go the park i play the recall game in the park on her exstendable lead and at home in the garden and i always give her a reward when she comes back