how do I stop pulling in the lead

[Liza B]

HI I have a border collie crossed with a staffi. He is 3 years old and a great dog except when I try to take him out for a walk. He got a fright when out on the lead when he was 6 months, fireworks went off very close to him. He is now a quivering wreck whenever he hears a bang or even the clickers you use to train dogs with. We have tried to ignore it as that is what we were told to do, when he gets put on the lead he pulls badly, he is very strong, halti  and harness don't work, even tried a choker but he nearly killed himself. I tried clapping my hands and he stopped pulling and started shaking again, thought I had it sussed as he didn't shake too much. Now he won't even come a walk with me no matter what I do, he won't take treats or anything. He is a very good dog and does as he is told, he would heal when not on the lead and doesn't even chase cats when told not to. Any ideas as I have ran out of things to do especially now he won't come for a walk.

[drgnrdr]

I wish I could really help you but there are so many question I would have to ask, and typing a response on here would be too long, but I can try to give you a website pdf, to let you read. Try..

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/fearful-dog.pdf

if you can not open that pdf page then check out

http://www.ddfl.org/  he sounds serious and some times a certified behaviorist is the only one to help, but you check it out and see if you can use this info.

Good luck

[ilovetaz]

well i am a animal lover and my advice would be to comfort him! Take him for walks in very peacful places and he will soon get used to it!! if not carry him.or take things that he realy likes.

 

Good luck

 

PS my dog is a staff, there very strong arent they!

[happy_face]

Hi Liza B.

First of all I'd love to see a picture of him as I have never heard of a border collie staff cross. I've had border collies and have now got a staff. Interesting combination. I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to help you get him to go walks other than maybe do tiny little walks, like out the front of the house for a couple of minutes and then back in. Slowly build it up.

With the pulling when he's on a lead I saw on the tv thei dog expert saying as owners we should turn around and walk the other way when the dog pulls. Because that stops the dog from pulling you to where he wants to go and eventually it should stop.

Good luck and remember lots and lots of cuddles.

[drgnrdr]

Please...Please...go to the website before you do anything else...and DO NOT COMFORT your dog in moments of his distress...A dog does not hear..."it's alright, it's okay..baby" they hear " that's right I want you to be scared yes I will reward you with my touch for this", if you want to say anything, when something loud happen, it's high toned baby type talk and make it HAPPY, "OH what's so scarrey out here, everything is great.." but check out the website first before you do something more damaging than he already is. I wanted to try and not lecture you on everything done wrong for this poor guy. So I will stop before that, if I can, unless I see more bad advice on here.

[loopey]

to get him used to the clicker and eventually louder noises, give him a treat(something he really loves ie cheese, not his normal food) every time you click(do it at home where he feels safe at first) eventually and very quickly he should think of the clicker as something really good - as above definately do not comfort him it will make things worse, as for the lead when he pulls just stand still do not respond at all and when he stops pulling treat him keep doing this ( you may not get much further than your front gate for the first week) but it does work. Hope I've helped - good luck.

[Snappy]

drgnrdr, you are so right, ignoring fearful behaviour is best. My dog is terrified of fireworks,thunder and the like and she always gets more worked up when someone gives her attention for it. I also know a little terrier who is so neurotic due to her owners over reacting! She was described by the behaviourist she went to see as the most manipulative dog she has ever seen! Such things as yelping when not in pain, shaking at the slightest noise, all because her owner says "oh you poor thing" and gives lots of attention!!

[Monypenny]

There is a training collar called a Canny Collar which is meant to be fantastic, not tried it myself but if you search on Google it might help with the pulling, as to the being frightened I agree with the others, ignore it make something else more interesting, "oh wow whats in this pile of leaves, OMG it's your favourite squeeky toy yippeeee!"