Pulling Weimaraner!

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vimto92

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Hi, I have an eight year old Weimaraner, and he would be an absoloute pleasure to take for walks if he just didn't pull so much! :eek:

I currently walk him in a choker chain, which works sometimes and then othertimes its like he doesn't know what I mean when I use it!

I check and release with the choker chain as I have heard you should. By this I mean when he pulls he gets a short sharp tug to grab his attention and then as soon as he comes to my side the chain is released and slackens.

Do you have any techniques that I can use when taking him out to help stop him pulling. I have tried the stopping and sitting technique, but he just continues to pull as soon as we set off again! Another problem is he only has to walk past a piece of grass and he tries to drag you onto it with him so he can do his business! I don't mind him doing his business but I obviousley do when it is on every piece of grass and when he is physcially straining himself! LOL

Pics of the sexy lad;

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What a stunning lad you have :)

I have a Rottwieler and i use a halti when taking her for walks ( she also used to pull like mad!)- It really works, is cheep to buy and well worth the money ( About £8.00 from petshops)
 
Thank you :)

Oooh! Interesting, have seen them before but are a tad sceptical whether it will work for Max though because once I tried looping the lead around his nose (loosely) in the house to see how he reacted and he absoloutely hated it. I know the pressure doesn't increase untill he pulls and the lead is pulled but even if it was released I think it would drive him crazy. I think it would go the opposite way, and it would be me pulling and him having to follow!:p
 
Yeah, I've been thinking about a harness actually but I read somewhere that they encourage pulling in some cases - anyone else tried harnesses?

I think it is more a respect and manners thing that he needs to improve on.
 
My sisters collies have halti's and they work really well, they did dislike them the first few times but after a week they we're changed dogs and could be walked together calmly on a jointed lead again without you feeling like you ought to be wearing rollerskates for them to pull you along!
 
vimto92 said:
Thank you :)

Oooh! Interesting, have seen them before but are a tad sceptical whether it will work for Max though because once I tried looping the lead around his nose (loosely) in the house to see how he reacted and he absoloutely hated it. I know the pressure doesn't increase untill he pulls and the lead is pulled but even if it was released I think it would drive him crazy. I think it would go the opposite way, and it would be me pulling and him having to follow!:p
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Bonnie was a little aprehensive about wearing a halti to start off with ( tried to get it off with her paws refusing to move etc:rolleyes: ) it didn-t take long for her to get used to it - you just need to persivere. :)
 
My Doberman hated all harnesses and Halti style halters and face halters, he would make his face bleed and throw himself in the road to try and rub it off on the tarmac :-(((

Much much more successful esp with Dobie/Weim strong pulling types was the Mikki training harness. It has loops under the front legs and attaches from these stretchy loops to the bottom of the collar (each side) and at the other end behind the front legs then goes up through a loop in the collar (provided) to a lead joiner.

Basically it converts the forward pull into something which can be controlled upwards by you, and the control is something you can do without pulling like crazy.

for me and a couple of other peeps I know with rescue dogs like mine (mine had 3 weeks residential training and the trainers couldnt do much with him either!) it was the difference between me being able to walk him and only my OH being able to do it with a scaffolders belt on with lead attached to it!:eek:

My dog loved it and was way happier than any of the body or halti types. :):)

You can see it here, I really cant recommend it enough it changed our lives and not exaggerating! And its pretty cheap too..:)
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/pets-and-animals/mikki-walkrite-training-harness/
 
easy leader or gentle leader are like haltis only better (I have read) like a halter, a halti/easy leader controls the head, when its pulled, the head turns and the body has to follow!
have you ever watched DOG BORSTAL they have a great method which i use - walk dog on a long lead,(6-8 ft)in your left hand,holding it at 4 ft with your right hand - when the dog pulls, immediatley slacken the lead and change direction...keep doing this, he will then start to look at you, not knowing when your going to turn around...works everytime, but sometimes takes awhile. Best practised in a open space first instead of a busy street or park where there are directions!! Good luck:D

Lovley dog:)
I like that breed, one of my dogs is terrified of them -silly nit:p
 
Back the Gentle Leader that twigs recommends. I have one and it has been fab. My collie pulls use to pull on a lead inspite the dog training classes I was taking her to, and in the end I had to stop taking her to classes as they said they couldn't help me(not because of here pulling issues though). I opted for a one to one session with someone and she suggested that if I couldn't control her on the collar to get a halti. I went to the pet shop and they had the halti and the gentle leader. They are slightly different and the shop explained that the halti had a tendancy for some dogs to get it off there noses. The gentle leader has a clip under the chin which helps to prevent this.

As twigs says the head turns and the body has to follow.

I noticed an instant difference and the pulling stopped straight away.

If you get one they recommend that you put it on a take the dog for a walk straight away. Don't let them paw it with there feet. Floss did try to drag her nose along the ground but i recomend a few tasty treats in your pocket.

If you are walking on the lead you could take some treats and if the dog looks up at you, reward. Don't get in the habit of dog pulling, you get back at your side and treat though. Cos dog will learn that pulling is rewarding.
 
a harness worked for my puller and didn't encourage him to pull. another lazy way of having a more peaceful walk is using a flexi lead, i.e. let him walk ahead to his hearts content! not a very good training technique though :p
 
Wow! He is stunning!!:D
Harnesses and special pulling leads are great. But go back to basics first and tech him how to walk properly on the lead so when he pulls give him a sharp tug at the bottom of the lead near his collar and add a command. Make sure you have his attention when you are doing this so that he will pay attention to it. Try to keep him next to you so on a short lead.:D
Sorry, once you get me going about dogs there is no stopping me!!!:rolleyes:
Hope i helped.
xxxxx
 
Ill vote for the halti - years ago we got to the point of considering selling our dog as with two young kids the only time we could walk him was with the kids in the buggy - he nearly had us in the road a few times and definately had me in tears out of frustration!
He hated the halti initially but after 6 months wearing that, he got the idea and since then he has been fabulous - dont even need a lead most of the time.
I have heard of dogs who rubbed themselves sore etc but as long as you check the fit and introduce it gradually you should be fine.

P.S. gorgeous doggie :D
 
I use harnesses on my dogs. I like the Ezydog ones, as they're crash tested and can be safely used as a car harness as well (no room in the boot for a crate when we take the wheelchair out), but they can be quite rough on their skin, so I've put a fleecy "girth sleeve" on them :D.

Personally, I dislike leads on collars, particularly choke chains. We often care so much and pay a good deal of money to sort out our horses' backs, but a dog pulling on a lead, or being pulled by the lead (which tends to be the style of walking we see around here :rolleyes: ) can do so much damage to a dog's neck and back, which can then go on to trigger behavioural issues.

Halti headcollars can work well for pulling dogs as well - the biggest issue I had using one was people often thought my dog (a young Border Collie) was muzzled and therefore dangerous :confused:
 
twigs said:
have you ever watched DOG BORSTAL they have a great method which i use - walk dog on a long lead,(6-8 ft)in your left hand,holding it at 4 ft with your right hand - when the dog pulls, immediatley slacken the lead and change direction...keep doing this, he will then start to look at you, not knowing when your going to turn around...works everytime, but sometimes takes awhile. Best practised in a open space first instead of a busy street or park where there are directions!! Good luck:D
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest the same thing - every time they use it the dog has got the idea within 24 hours so long as the handler is consistent. Seems like a very easy method as well (as well as being free), so might be worth a try even if you do go for a halter or suchlike as well?
 
I use a halti on Blackie a neighbour's dog and it doesn't help she still pulls and she hates it when you put it on her as well. She is a Border Collie x Kelpie
 
I'd get a dogmatic head collar for him : http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/

I have a labrador who used to pull SO MUCH on walks. I tried a body collar thing which didnt work because it was his head which was dragging me everywhere to sniff things!

Then i tried a halti which he didn't like, it didn't fit the shape of his face and would slide in his eyes and make them watery (it wasn't too big, just bad design)

So i got him a dogmatic head collar. they're more expensive but a much better desgn. my dog doesn't mind wearing it at all and it's stopped the pulling.
 
Dont a harness they only encourage the dog to pull because there is no preasure put anywhere nto stop him pulling.
Not that keen on halti's because they only pull the head to the side without the correct preasure and can be easily slipped.
The best thing is a slip lead, but the lead needs to be brought right up under the ears and under the chin, some slip leads can a keeper than then slides down the lead and keeps it in place behind the ears.
Gencon leads also work well with gundogs http://www.gencon-allin1.co.uk/ they combine the slip lead,keeper and halta style all in one.
But there r only temperary fixes, the dog is pulling because he is taking control, he needs to remember that YOU are leader, he is pulling you because he is leading you!
DO NOT give in, do not worry if you dont get outside the front door, the walk starts before the lead goes on, if he gets all exchited and jumps out then do not put the lead on until he is calm, any probs please pm, I am a dog walker/behavoiurist
 
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