Hi there! I am new to the site and a new lab owner (also first time dog owner). My lab is a 15 week male, yellow American Lab. We are in puppy training and he pulls really hard during class to get to the other dogs and keeps choking himself. He doesn't pull much at home during training, not the same distractions. He doesn't have his last shot so I can't take him out to train him yet away from home (last shots happening in a week). I would love to hear if someone has input on how I can train him to stop pulling during class. He's a huge distraction to the other pups, none of them pull nearly as much as he does.
Hi and welcome. First if your pupoy is pulling on his lead have him on a harness not a flat collar so at least he's not choking himself and causing potential damage to his throat/neck. U'm not clear as to whether yoyr puppy is pulling when you are taking part in diffeent activities or whether it is when you are sitting and he should be settling quietly. In either situation he needs more space between him and the other dogs. I use barriers in classes to help dogs/puppies to relax and calm - if they can't see another dog/puppy they can't pull towards them . Also to help your pup to settle in a training environment have a stuffed kong handy (or a couple ) and a comfy mat or blanket for him to lay on. To get him to settle sit on a chair and the just clamp the lead under your foot, with just enough slack so that he can sit up or stand up, so that he can't pull towards anyone and then just ignore him. He will probably wriggle and squirm and complain but just ignore him and he will settle - some take longer than others to get the idea but they all do. When he settles there is no need to treat him as that can encourage him to move and break the settle. You can practice this at home anytime you want him to settle as a settle is one of the most important behaviours you can train and can be used in any environment.
Thank you! I will do that. I hold his leash but I'm probably leaving too much slack. I'll ask bring a toy next time. The classroom isn't that big, it's at petsmart. He only does this when the trainer is working with the other dogs. I've tried a harness but he keeps getting his jaw stuck in them trying to bite them.
My puppy Red did this at every training class to get into the room. She wasn't so bad when we were in there although our first session was a nightmare and my arms hurt!!! I always had her on a harness but then got a Perfect Fit one and a double ended Halti lead. Attached lead to front and top D rings. Won't say it stopped her pulling into class but at least I felt I had better control and she was not hurting herself.
Oh gosh! This has been our major problem with Coco (age 3!). He is now managing to walk better among dogs. We have him in a harness to protect his neck, and we have practiced, practiced, practiced at training. He is getting used to seeing other dogs now. I have worked so hard on getting his attention on me (OH does the handling in class, and it has half transferred to him too). We do "Look At That" when we get a chance outside. I play lots of games with him which get him looking to me.
We were taught 'settle' at each class and took a blanket and a frozen kong to each session. Every time they had done an activity, they were asked to 'settle' and given their kong. One of the best things I was taught.
Basically I did exactly as @Jojo83 describes. I sat on a chair and put her mat on the floor by me and placed her kong on it. I did put my foot on her lead as sometimes she would get distracted by the other puppies coming in - initially she was very distracted but each week she got used to the routine and learnt to settle a bit more each time. My puppy was the only Labrador in the two puppy courses we did and initially she was the worst to settle but by the end I was proud of her even though I never 'cracked' getting her into or out of the building without her pulling . That's still a work in progress when we go somewhere as she gets so excited.
@NewLabMommy You can start teaching the settle at home whenever you like, in fact the sooner the better . I teach my clients to go and nakeca cup if tea/coffee, pick up a good book or magazine, find a comfy chair and sit down. Place the dog's lead securely under your foot with enough slack so that they can sit upright and stand and then just ignore the dog includingcaytempys at biting the lead, rolling around, crying, barking etc. Most dogs learn very quickly that they are not getting any attention so decide to give in and relax. Over a period of training sessions you will be able to add a cue to 'settle' and before you know it you haveca dog thatvwill settle when you go out to pubs and cafés
