Pulling!

Our 2 Staffies can almost pull us off our feet!! We're only ever going from the car to the beach or field where they're let off so maybe it's their eagerness to get there! They don't pull half as much on the way back when they're exhausted. Does this calm down with age?


Moved post to Training & Behaviour

It might calm down, but it's unlikely.

The only thing you can do is do a bit more training on the lead so that they don't pull.

It calms down with training are you doing anything to help train them out of it?

Yea I agree with Caryll and Janey. It takes quite a bit of repetition and training before you'll see any real difference. Logan was a big puller at a time, the way I dealt with it was as soon as he started to pull I'd stop walking until he calmed then continued walking again. Worked after a fair bit of repetition but he's great now.

Other members have used a different technique by as soon as the dog pulls, turn and walk the other way.

Maybe you could try one of these ways and see if either works for you

Darcy pulls, so were currently stopping when she pulls and waiting for her to stop pulling and relax then carrying on, it's a slow process but were getting there

Some good walks on the lead with some training should do the trick in time. You could always try a canny collar or something similar if you want to get them walking without pulling. It's just comes down to being consistent and patient.

As has been said, unfortunately it won't just stop you have to train them out of it.
Each time you let them pull you are reinforcing that behaviour so as your walking them to the park or wherever they associate the pressure of pulling on their harness or collar with getting where they want to be. It's a slow process but as Mat sad you really need to stop each time they pull or turn and walk the other way.
I've been training Daisy to walk to heal and while she doesn't excatly do that all the time she must be getting used to the loose lead because she isn't pulling as bad, I also found she walks better in a harness than just a collar.
Hope this helps, good luck with it and keep us updated on your progress

Also try taking them out for training walks where you don't actually go anywhere just practicing, that might help.

Agree with the others! It might calm down with their age, but the only way to really control it is with training When I trained Ebony, I kept her close to me with her lead slacked (holding the handle in one hand and a bit of the slacked lead in the other) and every time she started pulling I'd just say "ah, ah" and give her a gentle tug, and if she'd carry on pulling I'd stop then carry on. Now she's brilliant, walks to heal and everything and if she's out walking in front and starts to pull I just have to say "ah, ah" and she'll calm right down since she doesn't want me to stop her walking

Moo was the same with pulling as we have to walk through the town to get to where she can be offlead, and yes she was so excited to get there, even now she will tug, I say nicely which gets her to walk on a loose lead, and walking back is never a problem.

Thank you for all your replies. As I suspected, it's all down to us training them (I was hoping it was something they would grow out of but had a sneaky feeling it wasn't!) Right, starting tomorrow we'll try stopping and starting. Will let you know how it's improving (or not!!) after a couple of days

Keep up with the training - It takes time and patience we are teaching Otis at the moment and he has calmed a lot, not to heal yet but we will get there We are using the stop when pulling, also we show him we have a treat and hold it just above his nose, lead in the right hand, treat in the left and get him to follow the treat and praise when he does it... That seems to work it depends on the dog and what works for you.

It'll take a while for them to get the hang of not pulling, especially when it's out of excitement, but with the training and patience, they'll get there agree with the advice you've been given, to stop when they start pulling.

It does take time and patience but it does improve. Suki hasn't exactly stopped pulling at the begining of walks yet but it is alot better. A no pull harness is also helpfull.

jo garnett wrote:Thank you for all your replies. As I suspected, it's all down to us training them (I was hoping it was something they would grow out of but had a sneaky feeling it wasn't!) Right, starting tomorrow we'll try stopping and starting. Will let you know how it's improving (or not!!) after a couple of days

Good luck, we did this with Rocky, you feel a right ***** at times just standing still in the street waiting for your dog to look at you but it worked a treat. He soon realised that pulling was getting him nowhere. Took about a month but now he is a dream to walk (cats, squirrels and other dogs permitting)

Dogs usualy pull when they have a desire to be at the front .(pack leader) if you decide to start training take a look at cesar milans book dog Whisperer. Doesnt give you much in the way of training techniques but it does give you an insite into the sycoligy of your dog angd will help you understand the reasons behind these things. Fascinating book and 1 i realy enjoyed reading

Well, after only a few days of stopping every time they pull and then starting again when they stop and look at us, the difference is amazing! The last few yards before the field where they're let off, they do start to pull a bit but purely out of 'can't contain themselves' any longer! Going to the beach, their favourite place, on Saturday might be a different matter though They get field runs Monday-Friday, and the beach on Saturday & Sunday - the walk to the beach is down a very, very steep slope which is where our major difficulties lie as it's very slippy and if they pull, one day we're both (the humans!) going to end up on our bums!! Thanks for all the advice - it does seem to be working

Awesome, it def worked with my fella and saved my wee arms from loads of pain

Hope it keeps working

Our two girls pulled we tried harness and rope leads and nothing worked sometimes they would get red eyes and blisters on their paws. We went to pet shop and got them measured up for corrector chain to be used round neck with short lead and got a dog trainer to show us how to use them safely. 2 weeks in they now walk to heal and as a bonus we have trained them to sit at kerbs. At first to get them to sit it was hard we had to pull the chain up and backwards with the command but now after 2 weeks they sit without the chain being pulled. They are safer and we have better control. But please get professional to show you how to do this method. Good luck x

Chloe and Lola are behaving so well now on their leads. If we just stop, they look back at us, and then we set off again and they don't pull. Once they start again, we repeat the whole process and slowly but surely they're stopping pulling at all! (apart from those last few yards from the field or beach - which we forgive them for!!)

Great news

Thanks for the update