Will Not Stop Pulling!

Hi,

We are having a right battle with my 9 month old. We have tried all of the training techniques under the sun to train him to stop pulling on his lead. He is big for his age (22kg and 20") and I feel like I am struggling to manage him. He pulls regardless of the situation. Even when he has been to the beach and is tired he still has to lead the way. Not only that, but he has a terrible habit of stopping all of a sudden to sniff or even suddenly stopping and going back a few paces to sniff something he's missed. He's incredibly friendly and can't walk past people or dogs without trying to go and see them so it's not that I'm concerned because he is aggressive. It's so embarrassing because people are most likely looking at us and thinking he's out of control and i'm not able to hold him back. If he sees a dog up ahead he pulls so hard till we get there. We have tried a harness but that was terrible so we switched back to a collar and he pulls so much that he makes himself sick. I have been looking online at the harnesses where the lead attaches to the front chest area or the face leads. Does anyone have any experience of these as we really have tried everything and i'm going to have to try one of these next.

Have you tried the 'last resort'...

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t3292-check-chains-how-to-use-them

Failing that, the front attachments are supposed to be quite good because they turn the dog's weight against itself.

Monte can be like that and I use head collars for him and Frosty. Makes a world of difference and while not completely stopping it, does cut it down by 80% or so. I use Haltis since the Gentle Leader brand wasn't quite a hearty (I did have those for quite a while as well).

When I was training Bacon to walk with me I used a harness called the "EZ Walk Harness". It worked very well. The way it works is that every time the dog tries to pull it gets redirected back to you. Eventually they figure out that pulling gets them nowhere. After a month of using this harness he figured it out and I was able to get him a less restrictive harness. I would recommend it.

My 2 pull like steam engines and I can't stop them. I use Ezydog Convert harnesses which help a bit, in that they can't pull quite as much. With just a collar on Lola nearly chokes herself.

Halti is good and slows them but unfortunately training is the only way forward

We used a halti with Rocky which was quite effective, but as said the only way is by training really. Have you tried stopping and walking in the opposite direction when he pulls. ?

Staffys are actually great "working" dogs. Many even train them for pulling weights, and if you have not seen how much weight the can pull you should check it out its amazing. However obv. this is not what you want while you are on a walk. The BEST lead for a dog that wants to pull is a lead that attaches to the chest, and train train train. It is not like you put on the harness and boom its fixed, it will take some time. However Staffys are very intelligent and will learn quickly that if they pull with the new harness they will trip themselves or end up turning. I would try a harness that attaches the lead to the chest first, and just keep trying. Good Luck !

Hi, Oz is the same but i must say after 12 months he is starting to get a bit better. I use a Dogmatic headclooar and a short lead if we are walking on the roads, mainly its becasue he hates other dogs and if we have a situtaion where a dog springs out as us, i have more control over him. if however we are going to the park then i use a long lead and an ezydog chest harness so he can have a good run around. Walking to the park me and OH have been training him so he doesnt pull. its a hard slog but persitence really is the key, good luck

Thanks everyone. We have been training him since we got him, all methods and nothing is working. He just isn't bothered if we stop until he loosens the lead, turn and walk the other way, you name it, he couldn't care less. I'm going to try and get one of the harnesses that clip on at the chest and go from there.

I use the ezy dog harrness on my two coller and leads made them sick from pulling head holti was rubbing their face so harness it is

Haltis do work and the non pull harness is good http://www.amazon.co.uk/COA-NON-PULL-HARNESS-BLACK-Medium/dp/B0062ME8WG/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1383155744&sr=1-1&keywords=non+pull+harness. I find it better for Lola than her ezydog as it is soft under her front legs

sounds like a complete lack of respect from your dog. I have a ten month old staffy and I know they can be very stubborn (not so much as my shih Tzu tho!) I would suggest a half check collar, they are a humane substitute of a choke collor. But its the training that will make any difference at all
Walk him like a pack walks. At the moment he is sure he is alpha when on the walks and you need to reposition yourself in the pack. Keep dragging him back behind you and when he gets too excited make him sit, push on his hindquarters if he won't respond to you. Make him sit as people pass, as you cross the roads and when you talk to other dog owners and he should learn not to get too excited.
So long as you are more dominant in your dog you dog will listen to you. Hope I helped

I use a halti for Biscuit too! Find it works wonders, and gives me much more control of her. Please don't drag your dog around or push on his hind quarters, this will only cause handling fears in your dog. Much better to train him in obedience with clear boundaries and positive reinforcement when earnt

I have tried several things and what works for Densil is a body harness (perfect fit - which is really sturdy) a double ended lead and a head halti. I attach one end of the lead to the harness and the other to the halti. gives me far more control if he does pull and it has made a difference.

Pushing on hindquarters is not painful if you push in the right place with the right pressure. It's how u get yours to respond with a sit command when it is not responding to vocals. Somewhere along the line you have to be firm or a dog won't understand your authority. I have no handling fears from my dog but I do have a gentle pooch on the end of my lead. Holding a lead in the same place whilst stepping foreward so a dog from a centimeter in front of you is now by your side is hardly abuse.
I would defiantly recommend using a shorter lead so you have closer control and a harness would help and make sure you don't hurt your dogs neck.

I have the same problem. There are some months when it is worse than others. I will take the Teach-your-dog-not-to-pull challenge with you, Vicki29. I am going to start with easy dog harness. I have used a normal harness which works but I want him to walk sensibly with a collar on. My dog is also very strong.

Thanks everyone. I got him a one of the face lead things but that was driving him to the point of insanity and also he is currently under the vets for an itchy sore face so I can't use that. I have now bought a Ancol Happy At Heel harness where it fastens on the front/side. I tried one on him in a pet shop and he seemed quite good on it. I'm waiting for ours to be delivered as they didn't have a new one his size in the shop. There's some excellent advice here guys, thanks very much. I'm liking the make him sit when talking to people because if they happen to have a dog he's practically doing back flips to play with it!

Success at last!!!! The ancol happy at heel no pull harness is a miracle worker. From the moment I put it on him he's a different dog. I can even walk with my hands in my pockets. Can't recommend it enough. We went out with a friend today and even they couldn't believe the change. Absolutely fabulous!  

Brilliant,glad it worked for you!

Very pleased to read that you found something that worked, well done.