I started no lead in the back garden going round and round in circles first with her on the inside of me and then, when that was good, on the outside of me clicking and treating when she was where I wanted her every time. Then I swept further out and around the garden. Next I went backwards and forwards, changing direction in the alley outside my house, on lead and off lead, twice a day just for that. Plus, on the short walk to the fields I'd turn and change our usual direction (which is an exciting ritual for her) until it became unpredictable due to her pulling. I also stop every single time before crossing the road, make her sit (click treat), wait (click treat) then say "walk" and when she lunges in desperation to get to the walk over the road (she did this A LOT) I turn her back to sit and wait again...and again and again and again - she was not getting there until she walked across without pulling my arm off. We took her to the pub via the park Friday before last and she was a right royal pain because OH was there too but I was adamant he'd suffer it if it was going to work! On the way home we didn't put her back on the lead when leaving the park as there were no cars. She walked beautifully falling back into step when asked. Treats all the way, not constant but regular. She hasn't been back on the lead much since but does (pretty much) stay by my side as if on the lead. I put her on when it's busy and do the same original training. It really was a case of going back to basics as if a tiny puppy. I wish I'd been stricter then but I didn't have the patience or energy which I do now - mostly because everything else is now good with her. This was our one issue making walks a total nightmare like you describe. Yesterday we went off lead and there was a man and dog on the other side of the road where we go to walk. She sat when asked to on our side, crossed when told walk, ran straight past the man and dog only excited for me to throw her ball. The man said "blimey, that takes some training!" Proud moment indeed! It's not perfect yet to be honest but she will stay close. I have kittens when we're nearing the road and see a distraction. I'm very scared it will go wrong. I've become the rude woman who doesn't say hi to anyone as all my focus is on Libby ready to grab her collar and put the lead on when necessary. Next test is on lead for a long pavement walk.
It is not one or the other. You can think about it a different way. Think of it like this. You can in some way 'punish' your dog for not being at your side. The normal way to do this is to remove what the dog wants when he moves out of position - this is behind the stop when the dog pulls method of training lead walking. Then the dog has to figure out what to do to avoid that outcome. (Don't get me wrong, you do have to stop if the dog pulls, because otherwise you reward the dog for pulling, but this doesn't mean doing this has to be your main training strategy). What is more effective is to build a huge history of reinforcement for getting it right - being at your side - you want your dog to mainly get it right. You can do this by feeding treats when your dog is walking by your side on lead of course. You can also do it when your dog is walking by your side off lead. There is no need to think you can only reinforce that position with your dog on lead. You should start by training and reinforcing that position. In your kitchen and garden with no lead in sight. If you are stood in your garden with your dog and you say 'heel' (or whatever you cue is) does he move into position by your side? Right away, quickly and with great enthusiasm? If not, he doesn't even know the cue for being at your side. Training this is the only sensible starting point really. If you think of 'lead walking' in these terms - building that huge reinforcement for staying at your side then you can train it any where. In your kitchen, garden, anywhere at all....and you take out of the equation all that horrible miserable pulling stuff that happens when you start by putting a lead on the dog.
yes, I omitted to mention the weeks of doing this up and down the road outside the house. I remember celebrating the moment we got to 30 steps then treat, 30 steps, treat. "Fond" memories.
I didn't mention how much I made being at my side a fun place to be, Julie's post stresses the importance of this and I totally agree this is what really makes it all work, whatever method you use.
