Pulling me like a rag doll

Ella has always been a bad puller, however, it mostly happens when she wants to greet someone, which is pretty much everyone she sees. I have been working with her on the leash and use a soft nylon collar. This was not going as well as I would like and its seems as tho the snow has made things a bit more complicated. I use to be very grounded before it snowed 25 inches over here. When she pulled I simply told her no and walked in the opposite direct of where she was pulling towards. Today when we were working on leash training she pulled so hard that I fell on my butt in a huge pile of snow. I laughed at myself and decided to buy Ella a harness to see if I would have more control over her, and a dry butt would be nice too. I got the Kong quick harness because it was the only one at the store with padding and it looked pretty well made. It was really easy to put on her but I don't exactly know how it should fit. It's snug around her chest area but a little loose around her neck. I've never used anything but collars before, so I could use as much help and advice on how to use and properly fit a 6 month old pup in this crazy contraption. Thanks so much!
 

wrknnwf

Active member
Boy, I hate to say this, but unless a harness is specifically designed to prevent pulling, it's probably going to make things worse. That's why harnesses are used to pull carts, sleds, etc. The dog can throw his whole body into it instead of pulling just with his neck. Makes pulling much more efficient.

But "no pull" harnesses are designed differently and usually throw the dog off balance when they pull. Normally, the leash is connected on the chest strap, not the back of the neck. When the dog pulls, you sidestep, throwing them off.

The only example I can think of right now is the Easy Walk Harness, which is what I use. I know there are others. There are also head halters that are effective, but more care needs to be taken so you don't jerk your dog's neck. I have used Gentle Leaders effectively when walking two dogs. Both the harness and the halter are made by the same company, which used to be called Premier, but I think they changed their name. You can google and find both products online.
 
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shellyk

New member
I use the easy walk harness. It is affordable and deceptively simple. There is really very little to the harness but the mechanics of it work great! It's also adjustable and will last your growing puppy for a while.
 

lmfoltyn

New member
We use the gentle leader on Belle...she is awful and getting low and busting loose on us and running where she wants to go...so the gentle leader works wonderful on her.
 
So I just got the easy walk harness. It's very easy to use and Ella is responding pretty well thus far. The neighbors were laughing at me getting pulled around yesterday and tried to convince me to try a shock collar to stop the pulling. I don't know anything about them except that I don't believe in negative reinforcement. I watched the neighbors use one on a small breed 4 month old puppy and she yelped out in pain. I would rather put the time in training her on daily walks and look into hiring a professional trainer.
 
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wrknnwf

Active member
OK! Now that you have a no pull harness, here's what you can do. Keep her on your left side when you walk. She doesn't have to be in heel position, but she does need to stay on the left of you. She can be a few steps ahead as long as she isn't pulling. The reason she needs to stay on one side is that the leash, being hooked in the front, will always be in a position for you to correct her. It's much harder to control her if she wanders back and forth in front of you.

Try to prevent her getting a leg over the leash. That happens occasionally. You can take up the leash slack as needed to help prevent it. If she gets a leg over the leash, it makes it easier for her to pull, so watch for that happening and fix it right then.

Every time she pulls, stop in your tracks. Do not move or speak to her until she turns and comes back to you. Then praise the heck out of her (make the praise worthwhile) and give her a tiny treat so she learns that staying near you is rewarding. Then start walking again. If she pulls, repeat the process. It will take many, many stops and starts before she gets it, but it will happen. Practice this every time you walk, not just when she sees something. At first, it might take 20 minutes to go a relatively short distance, but remember, this is the training phase and you have to stick it out until she learns. The more you work at it, the faster she will learn.

When it looks like she is beginning to get it (after she turns and comes back several times for her reward), you can add a command (like "by me") if she starts to get to far away or puts pressure on the leash. Remember though that this is not formal heeling and in no way should you expect or ask her to stay exactly by your side. You should teach her to heel eventually as it comes in very handy in crowds or tight spaces, etc. but should only be used for a couple of minutes worth of walking. It takes a lot of concentration to heel even for a very short time.

Most of all, pay attention to her while you're walking so you can anticipate any problems. If she looks like she may bolt and run, step to your right. That will unbalance her and make it hard for her to dig in and pull you off your feet.

It may seem awkward at first and you will probably make some mistakes. Don't let that stop you from trying. Just start over from the beginning.

Hope this helps!

PS. I feel sorry for that little pup with the shock collar. I wish the owners would put one around their own necks (not arms) and hand the remote to someone who will randomly zap them without warning or any instruction.
 
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This is beyond helpful! I can't wait to start working on these techniques on our morning walk. I let her wear the harness around the house tonight to get her use to it and she doesn't mind it at all. I have it fit so I can get two fingers underneath but it is snug enough to where it visibly pushes down her coat. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
 
We have only gone on four walks with the new harness and I'm starting to see some improvement. Not just with Ella, but me too. I'm more focused on Ella's body language, and if I anticipate a pull I can easily redirect her. One thing I'm not sure of is if the harness should move in the front or do I need to tighten it. If I walk her to my left and redirect her with my right arm on the leash should the harness shift a bit? Overall, it's soooooo much better than the Kong harness. Thanks again!
 

wrknnwf

Active member
It should slide back and forth and tighten when there's pressure on it. You do want to make sure it fits right. Go here for fitting instructions.
 
Having great success with the no pull harness. We went on a 45min walk today in heavy traffic with lots of distractions and no pulling at all. I learned one other trick with Ella, if I tie the clicker on my jacket and keep treats in my hand, I can click and treat when I expect her to pull and it redirects her focus. I have to say that I got some very simple advice on this site that has made our walks so much more successful and enjoyable, which was to pay closely attention to Ella when walking and to anticipate her reactions. I know this sounds simple and obvious, but now I leave the cell phone and toddler at home, and just focus on Ella. It has made a very big difference.
 

wrknnwf

Active member
I'm so happy it's worked for you! But really, it's YOU that makes it work. You're doing a wonderful job!
 
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