
I use harnesses on all my dogs when walking them because several have come with damaged necks and can't be walked on collars. I also use the same harnesses for attaching to seatbelts when the are in the car.
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From your description of how you train, I'm sure that the actual training is why you have nice loose leash walking on the equipment that you prefer (not so much the equipment itself.) I also suspect you wouldn't really try walking a dog without a good understanding of LLW along with a group of other dogs, and expect him to be successful. I also prefer harnesses to collars, for training, because I think it's harder to accidently "correct" the dog, and dogs are less anxious and more comfortable without constriction on their neck (and also more comfortable without something putting pressure on the bridge of their nose (head halter). I also use a leash pretty much to keep the dog from leaving, instead of as an active training tool.Mattie wrote:Thanks, that is probably why I was puzzled when you sand equipment dependent, I don't use equipment to control my dogs. If I have a dog that pulls, I do some loose lease training first before taking them all out. By the time I have finished with the training session my dog no longer pulls, probably because he is too tired by this time.![]()
I use harnesses on all my dogs when walking them because several have come with damaged necks and can't be walked on collars. I also use the same harnesses for attaching to seatbelts when the are in the car.
I wanted to come into the conversation to say I totally agree with this. I got a Sporn for my dog and thought it was the solution to get him to stop pulling. But it wasn't until I did Mattie's LLW method on this thread that my dog ACTUALLY STOPPED pulling. On the Sporn I was able to pull him back if he got to the end of the leash, but it didn't stop him from pulling because I still let him get in front of me. That was what I discovered to be the key - and it seems like a no-brainer but I think that people generally think that the tools are what help stop the pulling when it's actually the training that does it. I have an easywalk harness on my dog now because he still has about 5% of the fear issues that he had when I first started working with him, so I use the harness to manage when I am not able to spot the cat before he does (when it's dark out or he saw it under a car), etc.Pawzk9 wrote: But I have come across a lot of people who are less interested in teaching their dog not to pull than they are in coming across a magic tool to keep their dog from pulling. Most dogs show some improvement witih slightly more "controlling" equipment and their people think the problem is solved. But if you (general you) don't also give the dog real training so they understand how to stay with you instead of being held in place, the new tool (unless it's terribly aversive) loses its novelty, and the dog eventually ignores that too. Then you have to look for something even more controlling.
shelby wrote:I've been trying to do the thing where you turn around when he starts to pull but instead of following me he lays down and refuses to move. I can't even lure him with treats(he's not very food motivated anyway). What should I do when he does that? Is there another method that might work better for him?
spydre wrote:Okay, color me confused, but what is the difference between loose leash walking, and walking to a heel?
Can you explain this bit for me. I do not quite get what you mean, thanksMattie wrote:I also have a 6ft lead which I attach to the harness, with the dog on my left I hold the loop in the lead in my right hand, my left hand holds the lead nearer my dog but which lets them me on a loose lead, the lead between my hands is loose as well.
Hopefully this will help:globe wrote:Can you explain this bit for me. I do not quite get what you mean, thanksMattie wrote:I also have a 6ft lead which I attach to the harness, with the dog on my left I hold the loop in the lead in my right hand, my left hand holds the lead nearer my dog but which lets them me on a loose lead, the lead between my hands is loose as well.
I thought this was what was meant but there was talk of using two leads and this started to confuse me a touch. thanks for the explanation.Noobs wrote:Have the dog on your left. Hold the leash loop (the opposite end) with your right so that the leash crosses in front of you. Hold the middle of the leash with your left.
So it should look like this:
dog ------ left hand ---- you ---- right hand (with the dotted lines being the leash)
Did that help?