Walks are stressing me out!

[bizzylizzy]

I went and got a harness at the weekend. I think the pulling may have reduced very slightly, but the main thing is I no longer have to worry about his little neck and listening to him nearly choke himself. Walks are much less stressful as a result, and I can always slip on the old slip-lead if I need to exert more control.

Thanks all, we'll stick at it!

Good idea, a harness is always useful to have anyway, - for long leads etc.
Happy Walking! 
 

[ejp]

I'm glad, and it won't be the last one you buy  I had a collection.  Enjoy your walks.

[kobesdad]

As newbie cocker dad too I totally feel for you.  I tried multiple harnesses I have quite a collection now and the only one that made any difference was the petsafe easy walk harness just search on Amazon. 

[Bevjparkes]

We also found that the easy walk harness did the trick. Murphy is 9 now and we’ve never changed from that one.

[Lobo do Mar]

Hi
All of the above with Salty
Collar he chokes himself
Got a Perfect Fit Harness which is doing him less damage but he pulls like a train with lead attached to back ring and with his Halti lead attached both ends to back and chest rings, it worked for a bit, but ended up like trying o calm a wild stallion with reigns
So I put him on an extendable 5 m lead so he could have a bit of freedom, when I decided. Worked ok but late last year he ran to the end of it behind me without me noticing and I have have been in the Docs / osteopaths for whiplash and buggered facet joints (on the positive side I got some Valium and Tramadol tho)

Well, I have now finally been well enough  to take him out again on walks (rather than just letting him run round he garden) and I tried something new, which seems to have made a big improvement, so I thought I'd share:

I pass the clip at the end of the 5m extendible lead through the back harness ring, over his shoulder and attach it to the front chest loop of his Perfect Fit harness, so the 'tape' type 5m lead just runs through the back ring, but fixes to his chest ring

He now doesnt pull anywhere near as much, but can sniff around if I let him

It doesnt ' hobble him' or make his shoulder / leg all caught up as it does when I have the two-ended lead to the front and back hoops

Famous last words I know .....


and I can keep away from the Doctors

[rubyduby]

Sometimes a quick burn out helps, let the dog have a good run around , and then try to train them when they are less exuberant, I know your pain I have had 7 Cockers over 45 years and still have one that pulls, they just want to explore and sniff, what they are bred for....

[russ-g]

Sometimes a quick burn out helps, let the dog have a good run around , and then try to train them when they are less exuberant, I know your pain I have had 7 Cockers over 45 years and still have one that pulls, they just want to explore and sniff, what they are bred for....

Good advice. Stanley always walks better on the lead on the way back when he's less excited and has had a good run around.

He's 10 months now and walks are still a daily battle. I try not to expect too much and try to stay relaxed, which works sometimes! Other times I want to swing him around my head .

[bizzylizzy]

]Other times I want to swing him around my head


  Wheeeee! Do it again Dad, do it again.....!!

[Jaysmumagain]

ssshh  we have a wonderful enclosed dog play area, it has benches to sit and a really secure gate.  Directions and whereabout are a secret

We were told about it while out walking and went to take a look....Harry has a typical cocker mad half hour and it is just safe and secure for an off lead bonkers 30 mins or so.  Fully funded and maintained in the country park by the council.

By the time I set back to car park I have one slightly jaded Harry....gets home has a long drink then starts of the  Harry Hooligan trickster

[neilk]

I just took 5 month old boy to an empty car park and started dropping the lead, turning around and walking off whenever he did his usual pulling or running to anything on the ground. 

He kept on picking the lead up and following me around.  Id pick the lead up again and then he was off again acting daft.

Did this quite a lot  then after a while i put the lead back on and he was trotting along doing a perfect heel.  I thought i cracked it.

Then as soon as were back on the street, off he was again rushing to nearest chewing gum on the floor etc.

Not sure what to do next, he pulls on a slip lead so i cant use that, probably my bad technique.  He can do perfect heel at home for some.grub and is very good off the lead.

He's also.acting daft, rolling round in his super high energy way  when he meets other dogs and I'm having to keep him away from them.

He's from a fch line, is very high energy and was a very confident pup etc.  Hope i can sort this out.

[Mudmagnets]

Have you got a secure dog walking field anywhere close,  where you pay to hire the field for maybe an hour at a time for either just a run around and fun, or for recall or whatever training you want to do ) then you know he is in no danger?

[Jaysmumagain]

NeilK

Treats in your pocket are a must.  Plus I agree with a secure dog park, something never heard of years ago, but we have several council run ones and also several private ones that you can hire at a cost - or sometimes they have a dog be friending time for younger dogs etc, worth a look at.

Your boys seems a typical high energy cocker - hope you manage to find somewhere for him the run and get rid of some of the energy.

[vixen]

I now walk my two dogs together on slip leads.  They are 2 and  3 years old.  I don’t mind if they don’t walk to heel as long as they don’t pull.  Maisie walks nicely by my side but Ned just ‘has’ to walk ahead so he can sniff any potential wee spots 
If I am walking where there are lots of people and I want them to walk close to me, I just make figure of eight leads from their slip leads.  This works really really well for my two.  I can manage both dogs with the lightest of touches and absolutely no pulling.
As you have a slip lead already, you could try this.  Your dog may not like it at first but will get used to it.  I only ever use the lead on the nose occasionally but it really works brilliantly for my two.
If you haven’t tried it, there are lots of videos showing how to make a figure of eight from a slip lead. 
Both of my dogs are from FTCH lines too.