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Leash Pulling/Straining

J

Jennifer McCaslin

New member
Hi. I'm new here to this forum. I have a Blenheim English toy/Cavalier cross named Patches and a brown Cavalier named Charlie (both boys.)
Charlie pulls and strains when I walk him. He pulls wildly. I tried no pull harnesses, easy walk harnesses, a wonder walker body halter. I've tried lots of no pull devices that don't work. They just bunch up sideways and pinch his arm pits and they don't stop the pulling. I've tried treats for walking him, but as soon as I run out of treats he goes right back to pulling. I tried stopping and it doesn't work because he stops and as soon as I take a single step forward he lunges. I tried a regular collar and he kept right on pulling. Everyone told me to get a pinch collar but I don't want to hurt his neck. I've been using a Puppia and a Roman Style harness. What should I do?
 
Hi and welcome. :)

You are right to avoid a pinch collar -- they are inhumane and on this breed, with its risks of syringomyelia, an owner never ever wants to place any extra strain on the neck.

Usually the best solution is indeed something like an easywalk or a Sense-ation harness, correctly fitted. usually dogs just cannot pull against these as it simply turns them backwards.

However in your situation I think you need some focused work with a rewards based trainer, and would recommend finding a CCPDT triner near you (you can search by location here: http://www.ccpdt.org/). It looks like you are in the Seattle/Tacoma area, and Washington state trainers are listed here:

http://www.ccpdt.org/index.php?option=com_certificants&task=directory&state=WA

The reason I'd go with CCPDT is it is a guaranteed level of certification of well-understood and proven positive method training which does not ever hurt a dog or risk creating greater problems by introducing fear or pain into the training experience.

Many certified trainers will have special smaller-sized classes specifically targeting good leach walking. For example Dog Training Ireland over here in Dublin, run these regularly. Or they will also come do one on one work.

It is important to address this as a pulling dog can hurt itself, sometimes seriously, but also as you must know only too well, makes one of the great pleasures of woning a dog -- walks -- a misery for the owner!!

Probably what is needed is a mix of the right harness and training that works to keep the desired behaviour while also reducing and then eliminating food treats as part of the process. That can be harder for owners to do on their own, as opposed to when working with a great trainer.
 
I use a pinch on my dogs. I have never had any problems. I much prefer the pinch collar to a choke or head harness. I believe choke collars are dangerous and can cause trachea damage on the dog. And I think the head collars, like gentle leader, can cause neck injuries. You must teach your dog how to walk on a leash in the yard before you use a pinch. It is only a training tool and must be used for walks or training sessions, never leave it on the dog. Never yank or pull the dog with a pinch collar, it is self correcting. When the dog pulls forward the collar constricts and gives the correction. If you are afraid the collar will hurt you can purchase the rubber tips. Also, use rewards (praise or treats) for your dog when he is walking correctly. I recommend having a trainer help you. You should be able to phase out the pinch collar if you train correctly.
 
Welcome to my world!!!!! I have tried everything....currently I am using an easy walk harness (I have to fitted be a GOOD trainer). The first 2-3 mins of every walk he pulls/freaks out like he's never been outside before. Then I guess the harness starts bugging him cause he gives a couple whole body shakes, then I have him sit and wait. Then walking is fine with a loose leash, he still zig zags in front of my with his "I'm so happy" little way. I walk slowly and anticipate this, otherwise he would end up tripping me I think. If I tell him to leave it or walk he does without problems, he's even alright passing other adults and dogs BUT NOT CHILDREN. If he sees a kid or hears kids playing he will pull like a crazy dog. I manage him off to the side and have him sit and wait until the kids pass. I chalk it up to his personality.
 
Pinch/prong collars are not much different from chokes in causing tracheal and other soft tissue damage, in numerous studies. I think anyone using any collar that tightens on the neck of this breed, especially one with multiple prongs, is misguided, and this is echoed by many, many vets and specialists, and would hope anyone using them might reconsider. With an estimated 70% (at least) of cavaliers ultimately ending up with SM (going on a research group of over 550 MRId cavaliera), and neurologists stating they feel there are possible connections in worsening a syrinx , or causing a pre syrinx to go to a syrinx by using a regular collar, much less a choke, pinch, prong -- this has to be a serious welfare issue for every cavalier and owner. All the vets I work with -- across 5 practices -- do not advocate using anything but a harness with all small breeds due to the risk of tracheal damage and collapse so that on its own would to me be utterly persuasive.

:(
 
 
Thank you for responding to me so quickly. Your answer makes the most sense. I'll have to get help from a Certified Professional. It's not the forward pulling that bothers me so much, it's the sideways pulling when they want to veer off the trail in favor of a squirrel or a rabbit.

On a side note. I do go out of my way to give them lots of exercise. I've been to small/shy area dog parks, run them on the fenced in basketball court, and I walk a lot on trails and through wetlands and parks, plus the neighborhood sidewalks and they love car rides and walks in the city. I take them to the beach and go out with them all the time. I don't walk alone, but with all the exercise the pups are getting I think they are getting plenty. I'm just glad they are healthy enough to have so much energy.
 
They sound like they get some great daily exercise! How old is Charlie?
 
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