my 6mo male pup has 2 speeds on walks... pulling or not moving at all. My trainer keeps suggesting an easy walk harness but this would only help with the pulling part... his main problem is putting on the breaks.. especially if he sees another dog or hears something. I lure him with treats which works but am I going to have to do this for forever? I had a German shepherd before this who was very pleasant to walk so this is new to me.
You don't need a harness to correct the pulling, and I'm astonished your "trainer" would suggest it. You need to train him to walk on a loose lead. It's not something that comes naturally to them. They naturally want to walk at the pace that is most comfortable to them - don't we all? Here's an article: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/walking-your-labrador-on-a-loose-lead/ It sounds like he's stopping when he's unsure of things. Give him time to sit and process what's going on. As he gets older, he'll learn that these things are normal and won't worry about them the same way. Everything is all still pretty new. If you do need to get him moving, a lure is fine - or train a hand target, which is what I use with my puppy. No, you won't have to do this forever. Just try to remember, it's his walk, not yours, so let him go at the pace he wants - as much as is reasonable.
