springer walkies

[gutfish]

i've got a springer spaniel, he's about 6 months old and when i take him for walks he drags me around. i've got a choker and i do pull on it... but he doesnt seem to care. he seems to drag more on the way back to the house....

ANY SUGGESTIONS COS IT'S DRIVIN ME MAD!!

[Lindy66]

Having had springers in the past they do need a lot of walking they have boundless energy.

Think your dog is just being the normal puppy self, out to explore and cant wait to do so so the rush and pull like mad.

Think if its driving you mad may suggest puppy classes they can help.

[gutfish]

ok. thanks.

do u think he'll grow out of it then... or will he take it into adulthood?

[pugwash52]

When I had a Springer I had the same trouble, but found that using a HALTI instead of an ordinary collar helped a lot. I've just googled and see that they are still selling them many years later, so they must be successful. Hope it helps, but dog training classes would help as well. I don't think he will grow out of it without help from you, and you'll soon be able to have pleasant walks, I hope.

[zara 4]

The only thing that worked with my dog pulling is that if i had something in my hand hanging down in front of her nose like a stick or something similar she stopped pulling cos she didn't like it hanging there right in front of her nose.Does that make sense?

[Eels]

Haltis or Canny Collars are much, much better, kinder and more effective than choke chains. All choke chains do are bruise the dog's throat - they don't actually teach them anything, they're very rough and I once saw a dog that had died as a result of hanging itself on one.

Try using one of the above collars - they really do work.

[Solarjunkie]

If you're "rewarding" him by walking forward while he's pulling, he's going to think it works. So, every time he pulls, turn round and retrace your steps a couple of steps. As soon as the lead is slack, start walking in the right direction again.

It looks very funny, three steps forward and two steps back, but if you keep it up for a while (about a month) you should lick it.

To summarise, reward the good behaviour (not pulling) by giving him what he wants - to move forward.

Bad behaviour (pulling) does not give the reward.

I showed a friend this trick, and the dog was walking better within five minutes.

[drgnrdr]

All collars are tools, get a training class that way you can see how it is done and use the tools the right way and someone is there to help you tweak it to your specific dog.

[clair3934]

make sure you have the check coller on properly its difficult to explain much easyer to show but I'll have a go, when you put the coller on the bit that you can pull through and that you clip the lead on to should be over the back of the neckif you get it wron you just stars to choke your dog because the coller is not releasing, then put the coller up to the top of the neck so that it is right up under the head, when you go out for walks make sure the coller is there the reason for this is the neck of a dog is very strong they don't seem bothered by the fact that they are nearly being choked by the coller but they do take note of it when it is around the top of the neck. Start with a lose lead if he starts to pull then give a small tug on the lead and bring him back to you using your command heal or close whatever you use, you can also try turning around and changing directions so that he is never sure where he is going and so has to stay back and watch you it worked wonders with my dog I tried haltis and they didnt work at all which is why we went with a full check coller my dog is now 18mnths and he dosn't pull at all any more and can be walked on a normal coller but some dogs never seem to grow out of it. good luck hope this helps :-)

[surfbabe]

i got a thing for called a halti as we have a bull mastiff an she pull like mad i couldnt live without the halti, it took a while for her to get used to it but its worth it. its similar to a horse harness that goes round their mouth an clips behind their neck. you clip the lead under the chin and every time the dog pulls their head moves sideways. hope this of some help. they are about �6 or �7

[cazz_mm]

I have to agree with what several people have already said - get a halti! I really hate choke chains, they are cruel and unneccesary. we had a riding crop when our old collie was a pup - not to hit her with i might stress! we used it in conjunction with a halti and hit the floor about a foot infront of her with it when she started to pull. she very quickly learnt not to pull and it also settled her when she jumped around with the halti on.

it is also useful to teach your dog the heel command whilst in your house or garden (off the lead) and use it whilst on the lead on walks.

Hope this helps - please get rid of the choke chain!! xx