behaviourist / trainer Oct 31st - lead pulling

[cazza]

Went into vets yesterday to get Jock weighed and they had a leaflet about a trainer/ behaviourist that has just started lessons not far from here, course started on Tuesday Wish I'd known last week

Any way I phoned her and guess what SHE'S FULL    Discussed what I was actually looking for on the phone (Must have been on for good half hour) and she has suggested that I go and have a 1 2 1 with her for an hour.  Then as I also want the classes more for socialisation I can go in half way through, is this a good idea or not?

Now here is the FUN part - I said I've made a rod for my own back by using an extending lead  (Think alot of you on here will agree with that)  She begs to differ  so she reckons she can get Fern not to pull on a normal lead and on the extending lead 

Well I'll let you know if she can or not

[lyn]

good luck
let me know what she says about the lead pulling,paddy was a husky in his last life

[cazza]

Fern is definately in the category of a train when she has spotted a bird or falling leaf 

[Tracy S]

Give us some tips when you've been

We either have to drag Louie everywhere  :embarassed:or stop him from charging at 100 mph

[cazza]

Tracy S - I promise I will report back

I'm intrigued that she reckons that an extendable lead will not have made a rod for my back, so this will be most interesting

[scooby's mum]

I've tried everything to get Scooby to stop pulling - he's a nightmare   

He charges ahead at full speed, I have tried the stopping and starting / rewarding etc etc but it doesn't work.  The only time he doesn't pull is when he gets tired at the end of the walk.  It's such a problem that the kids don't want to walk him, which is a shame 

I'm dreading it cause I'll have to walk 2 soon    That'll be fun 

Let us know how you get on 

[Tracy S]

Well if my daughter(12) takes Louie out, she uses an extendable lead as I don't trust him to come back to her and I know she would really panic.  However the lead does give him some freedom.  She keeps it short on the footbath though and only lets it out when on the open area.

I have been using a harness for Louie and tried a walk with his collar today, he seemed better with it Might have just been a fluke i think, will try again later

Ist training class tonight   wish me luck

[mononj]

Has anyone heard of a harness (sporn I think) that is supposed to teach dogs not to pull? Do they work? where do you get them from? Rosie is so small at the moment that her pulling isn't a problem, but i can imagine the kids not wanting to walk her either when she gets stronger.

[cazza]

Has anyone heard of a harness (sporn I think) that is supposed to teach dogs not to pull? Do they work? where do you get them from? Rosie is so small at the moment that her pulling isn't a problem, but i can imagine the kids not wanting to walk her either when she gets stronger.

Do a search for the sporn harness (yes you got the name right ). Alot of COLers like them and think they are good, I don't know much about them myself, so hopefully someone will be along and let you know more

[cazza]

Now here is the FUN part - I said I've made a rod for my own back by using an extending lead   (Think alot of you on here will agree with that)  She begs to differ   so she reckons she can get Fern not to pull on a normal lead and on the extending lead  looking forward to seeing how this will be done

We'll be leaving soon, as I'm dropping the boys off with a friend and then give Fern a walk so she's not too hyper  not sure I'll achieve that last bit

will post when I've get back - anyone got any tips to make sure I take as much on board as possible? (would taking pen and paper for notes help?)

[Nicola]

Has anyone heard of a harness (sporn I think) that is supposed to teach dogs not to pull? Do they work? where do you get them from? Rosie is so small at the moment that her pulling isn't a problem, but i can imagine the kids not wanting to walk her either when she gets stronger.

I have a Sporn harness for Alfie (well, *had* might be more accurate cos I've lost the collar part  ) but I don't need to use it any more. I found it great but it doesn't teach the dog not to pull, it just gives you more control while YOU teach the dog not to pull 

I used it for about 6 weeks coupled with intensive heelwork training and now he walks pretty much perfectly to heel on and off the lead 

TBH as Rosie is still small if you concentrate on her training now she might not need a harness at all! 

[cazza]

Well it went well, I liked her methods (mainly clicker training )

As Fern is pulling like a train and 500 miles an hour she suggested a harness for her and put one of hers on. She said to work with this for 2 weeks and also do off lead heel work in the house. I used the harness this morning then took her out in the garden later with out it and I can notice the difference already

Fern is now only being fed half her meal in the morning and evening and the other half she has to work for - sitting, down, off, come and stay. This way she said it makes you train her as you know you have to give her the rest of her meal

She's also suggested another food for her but I'll put that in another thread later today as want to read up on the different foods she suggested and then will be after your advice