Walking on a lead

[itchy]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but I saw another puppy post had been moved here.

Has anyone any tips for teaching a puppy not to pull on a leash?  Tilly is now nearly 12 weeks and I've started little walks, but she alternates between sitting and whimpering (though that is getting better) and pulling like crazy to the point I'm worried she is hurting her throat.  She is a bright thing and will sit for her lead on and off, but when she gets giddy she also gets unruly!  Reading the forums I suspect that is pretty common for a cocker!

I did read one tip which was to refuse to walk while a pup pulled and only move when the leash is loose, but this is a waste of time because she just doesn't get it - I've had very strange looks too  

I'm worried if I don't nip this in the bud she will get bad habits and I really want her to be a nice, well trained dog.  With that in mind I'm trying to find a class, but so far most are either too far away or on nights I can't make, but hopefully I'll find one soon, but in the meantime I don't want to make things worse..

[Sarah1985]

You need to give her a little incentive to stay with you. If you hold a treat in your hand and use it to lure her forward as you walk forward. As shes still young you'll need to bend.

 To save my back I taught my youngest to follow a target stick. This is just a teloscopic stick usually with a ball on the end. Present it to her and she'll no doubt sniff at this point give her a treat. After a few goes she'll be purposely touching the stick with her nose to get the treat. Then you can progress to getting her to follow the target stick as you move it around. Once shes doing this you can hold the target stickon your left and she should follow it along as you walk.

Alternatively you can encourgage her to walk next to you by doing the opposite of what she wants. So if she stop dead you exicitedly run forward (slowly but with exaggerate movement). If you do it with enough excitment she should follow. The min shes at your side give her a treat and then slow back down. You'll need to drip feed treats to keep her there till she understands what you want from her. If shes pulling forward you stop dead untill she returns to your side. Only walk forward if shes at your side.


Hope that helps

[Sheepscheeks]

It is a long uphill struggle for us - Freddie can walk nicely - we were shown at puppy classes to stop as soon as lead is taught and to lure pup back to your side with a treat. It has got to the point now where I stop and Freddie goes full circle back to my side without a treat incentive so he knows what I want him to do but often as not he's back to the end of the lead as soon as we set off again! He's often worse if he is given a treat - pulls straight away afterwards. I occasionally turn and walk the other way but some lead walks still take a LONG time. He is 8 months now and hasn't got any better since about 4 months of age. I'm starting to think this might be as good as it gets?

[itchy]

I think maybe I need to find a treat that motivates as I'd already tried food, but she just completely ignored it.   She is such a bright little thing, but stubborn to boot - pretty much like my kids

[harveyroan]

Sounds just like my little lad it must be the clever ones food doesn't motivate mine either so it's just perseverance and LONG 35min short 500yrd walks kept at it

[Pudding]

I think maybe I need to find a treat that motivates as I'd already tried food, but she just completely ignored it.   She is such a bright little thing, but stubborn to boot - pretty much like my kids

sounds like you need to make some liver cake for the treats
good luck

[itchy]

Liver cake?  Is the recipe lurking on a forum somewhere? 

[Chedi]

Lol. We tried the stopping everytime Dylan pulled. We got absolutely no where! He as well didnt understand.

Treats, toys, or a stick really does work at keeping the dog next to you so he knows where he's meant to be (and good at destracting them from rubbish on the floor!) - and if youre using treats, everytime you say your word (we use 'back') and your dogs next to you - he gets the treat. Dylans now really good - and its quite funny to watch him walk as every now and again he'll speed up a bit but then give you a really sly look to see if you've noticed him in front of you - and when he sees you watching he'll slow down. Its a cute look but so cheeky!

And we did also notice after a little while is that he walked really well if he was walking inbetween two people! So maybe give that a go too?

[Top Barks]

One huge tip is to completely separate training to walk on a loose lead and the dogs exercise!
Also start training in your house as it'll be less distracting.

[Top Barks]

I think maybe I need to find a treat that motivates as I'd already tried food, but she just completely ignored it.   She is such a bright little thing, but stubborn to boot - pretty much like my kids

I use a tube of squeazy primula cheese! Also try and ensure your dog will stand next to you first as if she can't do that she certainly won't walk next to you.
Ever tried clicker training?