I posted recently about my dog Rosie and how difficult I was finding it to walk her with a pram/new baby and another little one. I walk her regularly and have been trying to train her a year and a half. I'm at my whits end though. Tonight she nearly ripped the pram over jumping about and I was in tears trying to keep her under control. She's ten times worse with a head collar I've persevered for months with it but she literally knocked me off my feet trying to get it off still all this time later. I've been to training glasses and patiently walk the streets with a clicker etc etc. I just want to be able to walk her but I'm starting to think i just simply have a bouncy dig that I simply can'tcontrol safely. She's no bother otherwise - great in the house and good recall. But lead walking has me reduced to tears sweating buckets trying to control her a pram and two kids. It's a nightmare and today is the first time I just collapsed in a heap and thought I cant do this anymore I want her to go after going through this almost everyday for over a year and a half. Not sure what I'm after just at my whits end! And my dog is at risk of being packed off to anyone who will have her....
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Wow, you sound so down. I'm really sorry about that because it sounds like your dog is delightful other than the pulling. You have a lot on your plate with her and your young family. I don't have any experience, but have you considered or tried one of the harnesses that turns the dog when she tries to pull? Or is there anyone you can have walk with you to help you out, giving you an extra pair of hands so you can concentrate on either the kids or training the dog? It sounds like she needs a lot more training and proofing with the pram to learn to walk nicely, but I can understand you just don't have the necessary number of arms (and probably energy) to deal with this by yourself.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Thankyou for listening and replying I'm just having a day when I feel like I'm banging my head on a brick wall! She has made loads of progress in every area but she is just nuts on a walk. I haven't got anyone who can help me - my husband just thinks we should get rid of her as she is hard work. I love the stupid smelly mutt and have invested soooo much time in her but sometimes, like today, I wonder if he's right..... I must look like a lunatic walking along - in fact people often say...my you've got your hands full....! The harnesses help a bit but she's so strong - way stronger than me....I'm a 5ft weakling....!
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice How much time do you have to train her without trying to do it while pushing a pram? I think, if my dog is anything to go by, it will probably take upwards of 6 months, and at least 3 lead walks a day concentrating on nothing else, to overcome a pulling habit using positive methods. Other dogs might be easier, or other people more experienced, but that's what it took with my dog and me as a novice. If you don't have that kind of time, or just can't face it, then you need to look at some mechanical assistance that your dog finds acceptable. Or, get someone to help you - a paid dog walker or so on...
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice As I said I've been training her a year and a half, well even longer really. I have no time without the pram - tbh she's even worse without it! She is great with everything else I've trained her to do but lead walking.....nightmare.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Have you tried a front fastening harness? My friend has one for her dog, Zaba, and it's fabulous - the difference between that and a collar is enormous.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Harnesses , head collars etc dont work IMHO it has took us about 10 months and Jake is still not perfect but is about 98% their But one thing Jake is almost not is a dog who likes been on a lead he much prefers been off lead not only to hunt but also to meet and greet other friendly dogs otherwise he becomes stressed or did but not so much after almost a year with us You clearly have a very lively dog when out and sounds very like how Jake was and trying to control a dog and your kids is clearly a very big challenge , Rosie needs your full focus in order to for her to become a well behaved on-lead dog . Personally i think you need to consider all available options which you think may work and give them a go but it may be that if you cant give rosie your full attention then look very carefully for someone who can . Jake came to us as an 18 month rescue and was like a wild dog when out on walks and people crossed the road to avoid our unruly lunging non aggressive dog had severe separation anxiety and was not a dog most people would want to own so i now how you must feel but now he is almost a model dog .
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Hi Fiona , I truly wish I could help you as you sound absolutely in despair and at rock bottom . Labs are strong dogs, as you know and I am worried that without a solution , there could be a dreadful accident as you try to control Rosie , your pram and your toddler . Thing is , dogs do pick up on our stress and behave accordingly , they also feel out stress down the lead as it tightens , I want to tell you to try and relax, but I`m not going to be patronising and say it, because you sound like you cant go on . It must also be hard if your husband wants Rosie to go , you are the one spending all the time with her and so of course, you love her to bits . If it isn't possible to take her to training classes alone, or train and walk her alone , then maybe you should consider other options , please keep in touch with us x
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice I would definitely try a front fastening harness if you haven't already. My sister-in-law has a smallish spitz type dog who is lovely but boy she could pull a sled if asked! My nephews could all walk her in a front fastening harness as it just turned her around if she pulled. You may also like to attach her to a lead on your waist rather than a lead you have to hold leaving you both hands for your buggy. I truly sympathize as I walk my dog with a buggy and its not easy!!! Best of luck
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Naya in the training part of the forum mentions using a k9 bridle. I had a look and it works differently to the halti . I'm sorry but I have no idea how to put in links, either to the relevant thread or the item itself. Dogs who pull on the lead are a nightmare. I know because I have one. I don't though have any prams to push as well. At the moment I use a normal walking harness on Cassie, it doesn't stop the pulling, but it does stop her from damaging her neck. I am in the early stages of using a walking belt. You attach the lead to the belt and it leaves your hands free. This would allow you to safely park the pram and not have to worry about the dog escaping, you then have an "extra" hand to try and bring her under some control. I don't know whether that may be a temporary solution. The walking belt I got is the SASS walking belt. Sorry not a link.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice I do have a great deal of sympathy for you and this dilemma, I went through this with previous dog but he was a Border Collie and although he was strong, not nearly the same as a Lab. It looks to me that you have three options, 1) Do some no-pull lead training without the pram and toddler, either by yourself or with the help of some l Kind of trainer 2) Find some kind of mechanical device (ie harness or whatever) that will work 3) Hire a dog walker to take her out on walks, although if you say she is worse without the pram this might not work, either. For me I used a halti on my dog, it stopped him pulling as hard and it was easy to control him. He didn't like it, but he tolerated it, and it enabled me to walk him with kids and strollers in tow without worrying about any of us getting injured. I hope you are able to come to some kind of solution for this. But in the end, you have to do what works best for you and the dog. Having you stressing about this while on your walks certainly is counterproductive, as Barb says, but easier said than done, for sure. Hugs to you, keep us posted as to how you get on.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice You've done the right thing coming here and letting off a bit of steam ......bless you it's must be really draining.I can see you've had some good supportive advice already . I've had a puller ( I had one again yesterday we do relapse at times of big excitement) I put it right through training and using a front fastening harness ....it was a lot of time and effort.I can tell from how you've described your circumstances that you won't have a lot of free time so for a successful outcome I think you are going to have to have a look at recruiting some outside help to support you......A Trainer could be a really valuable investment if it's a possibility x
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Here is Ternaya's thread about pulling a and the K9 bridle http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=8654.msg122214#msg122214 X
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice Hi there, I totally sympathise. I have young ish children and Meg who is a 9 month old steam train of a puller. I quickly realised that you cant train a dog/pup and be a attentive Mum at the same time. I try to mainly walk Meg off the lead with the boys and do all the lead work alone. I certainly could not contemplate having her and a buggy. I use a halti if I have to walk them together. She is not really fond of it but stops her pulling. It sounds like although she is driving you demented she is still within normal lab behaviour. Could you go to obedience classes ? I go at 815 every Wednesday night. The kids are sorted and we get some much needed 1:1 time to connect and train with empathetic dog owners. Each week someone is having another issues and it makes you feel much better sharing the same issues and seeking helpful solutions. Also locally we have a wonderful trainer who does a full day "Runners and pullers course". My brother went with his GSP who is a runner. He said it was really worth while (and he is a critical Yorkshire man) and he got some great ideas and practice. It was not costly. Maybe you have something locally. I hope you find a solution soon as she does sound a wonderful family dog in every other way . Emma.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice You've already had some good advice. So I hope this little trick might be of use to you. Like you I am on the small side. My husband has placed a very strong rubber band halfway along the loop of the lead to make it smaller. I just slip my wrist through it so I still have my actual hand free so I can still use it. It doesn't sound like much but having your hand free for simple things like turning a key or blowing a nose is a great improvement. The loop is sufficiently small that it is a snug fit round my wrist and Molly cannot pull it off my hand. Sorry I can't send you a pic but having computer woes. I hope you manage to sort this out. I know exactly what you mean about working soo long and soo hard, it really is time for your efforts to be rewarded.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice maybe if you put where you live there might be someone on here who could meet up and help i have had exactly the same problem and like you i am only 5ft i got milly when she was 5months and she pulled like a horse on the lead i found the gentle leader helped a lot she did not like it but did walk much better i know this does not help you but as someone said dogs do pick up on your sress i found it got better after letting her have very long off lead walks then trying the lead walks i hope you can find some help
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice I would second the Gentle Leader. I am currently using one for 13 month old Molly. It doesn't replace training, but for those moments when they sniff something or catch sight of something it does give you more control. How about a one to one with a trainer? They can see what your specific problems are and give you the benefit of their experience and knowledge. I know it seems like spend, spend, spend but I found a couple of one to ones much more useful than a whole seris of classes and much the same price.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice I can understand that you're at the end of your tether. Walks must be very stressful. Is there more of a role here for your husband? Can you do a combined, whole family walk when he is home?
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice I know it's been suggested by others but I would be very wary of attaching the lead to your body or wrapping it around your wrist. If your dog suddenly hares off after something and the lead is attached to you, you can get very badly injured. Personally I would never attach a large dog to me in that way unless he is very well trained, and even then I would be very nervous about it.
Re: End of tether....anyone any advice i agree about attaching the lead to you it would be very dangerous as labs are extremly strong and you are 5ft as i am so i would not try that i have been knocked over by my dog twice and it is not nice
