i have 2 labradors aged 4 and 6. the older lab (who has been fixed) walks loose lead and always has, he listens to me and is very obedient. the younger lad ( still entire) pulls so hard on lead he lunges, pulls off his collar sniffs everything and even pulled me and the other lab into a thorn bush one day. ive been doing the stop if lead goes tight method and waiting for him to come back before i let him move on. i feel like giving up. Its like as soon has he gets the lead on im not important and he forgets about me. i now cant even get his attention to look back at me. im thinking of getting him neutered soon because he does have other problems too like mounting the older lab all the time licking wee and poo and roaming to other dogs. i cant take him on his own because he has separation anxiety when leaving the other dog so im trying to deal with that too. if anyone has any tips or advise i would really really appreciate it because im losing heart in taking them for walks its that painful.
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday Hi. Do you walk him on a normal collar or on a head collar or harness? I had to use a head collar for my girl as she was a big puller. It took several weeks to be able to go back to the harness with no pulling. Even now, in new locations, I use the head collar as she is too excitable. Might be worth considering?
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday There is an article here on management tactics while training your dog to walk on a loose lead (the recommended tool to try is a front fastening harness, but you still have to work to keep these effective http://www.thelabradorsite.com/my-dog-pulls/ And training resources here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/walking-your-labrador-on-a-loose-lead/
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday I have two Labradors and use headcollars because they can be reactive towards strangers approaching us. Headcollars can be a bit of a contentious subject and they have to be carefully introduced to the dog but they do greatly reduce a dogs strength. http://liziangel.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/head-collars.html This is a link to an article written by Lizi Angel a dog behaviour psychologist. It discusses the different types of headcollar, what she'd recommend and the best way to use a headcollar so the dog continues to learn to walk to heel on a loose lead and collar but you have the extra security of the headcollar should it be needed.
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday thankyou for the replies.i use a normal padded collar at the minute. ive tried the halti type head collar but it rubbed his fur off and he was really distressed. ive got a harness but he pulls worse on that because i think hes very strong in the shoulders. Its good to know that other people have gone through this too. i might try the front fastening harness and see if i can hold him on that at least i wont worry has much about his neck. i would just love to be able to walk down streets with the dogs on a loose lead instead of having to let them off at the nearest field ( which is 3 mins away) or 1 minute when he is pulling me along lol.. im going to keep working on stopping when lead goes tight but ive only managed 1 or 2 steps so far. thank you again for the advice xx
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday Do try a front fastening harness, but you do have to train on it - if you don't, it won't work. It helps, but it doesn't solve the problem on its own. You need a training plan to train loose lead. It takes a while, particularly if your dog has pulled for a long time. But the sooner you start, the sooner the problem will be solved. Lots of us have been through it, it's a long process, but it does work. You really do need to train in quietly, on his own, without another dog there though. Have a look at the training section on the main site. Please do let us know if we can help with any advice about the training. Like I say, loads of us have been there and have the "my Labrador pulls" T-shirt....
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday ive just looked into the harness and im getting the one that leads from the front. i will be keeping up with training loose lead, i will win even if it takes months lol.. its just frustrating that my other dog walks perfect on lead and ive taught the puller exactly the same way but it hasnt worked. oh well i suppose they are like kids arnt they, no two are alike and they all have different ways of learning, AND pushing our buttons to see how much they can get away with. will let you know how i get on, thankyou ;D
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday [quote author=leanneellison link=topic=10248.msg150712#msg150712 date=1426806125] i will win even if it takes months [/quote] It will take months. I think one thing that people underestimate is how long it takes, and so being unprepared give up or are not consistent enough for long enough. In Turid Rugass' book "help, my dog pulls" (well worth a read) she gives some data on this: 196 dogs were walked up and down the same road (not all at the same time), for 30 days and the stop for pulling technique was used. On average a dog pulled 70 times on day one, and one time on day 30 - but on day 15 they were still pulling more than 30 times. And that was ONE road. Given that you have to proof walking nicely, and that includes on new roads and in new areas, then passing by people, dogs, skate boards etc. the technique is going to take a loooooong time. This data helped me with proofing Charlie's lead walking - it made me realise how much time and effort I needed to put in. It took months. And months..
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday Interesting data, Julie. It does make you realise there's no quick solution and that you're not a failure (and nor is your dog) when they don't get it immediately. Leanne, I have two puppies of the same age (7 months). They have been trained the same, but are very different; so don't measure you younger dog's progress by what your older dog did. One of mine, Shadow, walks beautifully on a loose lead I'd say 95% of the time. Willow is more aroused by her environment and so is more likely to pull towards things, so I'd put her at about 70%. When they're together, though, these percentages go way down. Sometimes there seems to be a competition about who's in front, sometimes it's simply that they can't concentrate the same with their sibling there. Shadow remains better than Willow, but still not as good as when alone with me. So, I don't take them out together on-lead unless I absolutely have to, or if I'm working specifically on their on-lead-together walking. It has come on, but I believe the biggest reason for this is the work I have done individually with them. I think it's imperative to get your younger dog in a training scenario without the other dog, so you can focus entirely on him. This may mean sorting out the separation issues first, but that's a very important thing to do, too. You can't have your dogs over-reliant on one another, or they won't be able to cope if they need separating, such as for medical attention, for convalescence or when one of them passes away.
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday hi snowbunny thats what worries me the most ( the separation) we want to get the younger one harvey neutered but have to sort the separation anxiety first. thats become a bit of an issue lately so ive been taking harvey in the garden and leaving bailey inside and vive versa for 5 minutes a time. that causes him to bark at the door and window wildly believe it or not, even with me in the garden with him. a little bit of it is he his scared of missing anything and bailey having treats without him lol.. im going to extend to 10 mins and so on when he is ok with the 5 and then venture out the front door. i dont know how its got so bad.
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday This may be no help whatsoever, but when Willow was spayed, we sent Shadow to live with a friend for two weeks so we could keep Willow calmer. There was another dog there, a friendly Labrador called Alfie, who is one of their mates, and I visited him every day for meal times and for walks. It was a really good separator, because Shadow was in a completely different environment getting lots of attention, and Willow was busy convalescing here and getting lots of cuddles. I think it did them both the world of good and there was no issue with either of them pining for the other. So, if there's somewhere you could send your younger dog for even an hour, where he's going to be given lots of attention by a friend while you focus on your other dog, that might really help? Worth a try if there's somewhere suitable, anyway?
Re: have 2 labs and one of them pulls so bad that i ache everyday i wish there was somebody to have him thats would be a good idea. oh well will just have to keep being patient. At this rate he will be ready to be spayed next year lol.. i think the separation issue and the pulling problem have to be sorted before i can get him neutered. Like everyone says it could take months. hes worth the effort though they are both gorgeous boys. xx thanks fiona its good getting other peoples points of views on things xxx
