Having a problem with Jax - our older GSD

[gritsar]

Quote:
The second one looks exactly what I described as trying. Five minutes tops and he was back to pulling again.

 

[Anianna]

Our GSD pulls when out of her "zone", also. We use the Gentle Leader and training to solve this problem.

The Gentle Leader must fit properly. The loop end rests on the muzzle right below the eyes and the buckle part should fit tightly behind the head. It will sit high on the back of the head. Jax will not like it; at least Kyla doesn't. It doesn't hurt, though, it's just controlling. It works to guide the head and it will diminish pulling, but without proper training, some pulling will still occur.

The best training for pulling takes time, patience, and repetition. First, train Jax to "heel" (if using German commands, it is "fuss", pronounced more like "foos"). Use the Gentle Leader to guide him into position at your left side. It is important that it is the dog that is moving and not you. Position your dog, not yourself. He should sit at your left side whenever you are not moving, so at heal, he should come to your left side and sit. If he responds to the command in the right spot, wonderful. If not, when he reaches the position of heal, gently raise the leash. This will guide the head up, which encourages the dog to sit.

When you begin to move forward, the dog should be at your side, not leading. Some dogs will respond well to a simple pull of the leash when wearing the Gentle Leader, but, in my experience, GSDs need something a little different. There should be a bit of slack between your hand and the dog. If you are holding it tight and there is constant tension on the leash between you and the dog, you are doing it wrong. As long as there is slack and the dog is walking properly at your side, keep walking. When the dog starts to move ahead and the leash becomes at all tight, stop. If the dog is not at your side where he should be, give the heal command and guide him into position (again, remember to position the dog, not yourself). He should be in the proper spot at your left side and sitting before you will go again. Repeat this every time he moves ahead or pulls. It is very important to do this in areas that are unfamiliar or areas where he is known to pull. GSDs tend to associate behaviors with a location (this is how I have to behave in the house but not outside, for example).

It will take time, but if you are persistent, consistent, and patient, it will work. After a few days, you will probably notice the dog paying more attention to you, looking to you more often. This means he's getting the idea and watching for your cues to know where he should be. Also, don't make the mistake of thinking that once he is doing it right he will always do it right. He will probably need regular practice to make sure he stays fresh on the commands.

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
I know you have the very best in mind for this dog as I have watched your posts in anticipation of adopting this dog. I will again submit that you can buy leashes and so forth, but you will make a real difference when you master the timing of correcting the dog on the leash. He should never pull. Any tension that the dog puts on the leash of his own accord should be corrected immediately and every time, every time, no exceptions. A correction is likely only a quick tug on the collar or apparatus of your choice.. The tugs or light jerks will need to be repeated until the dog reacts. Pulling is a sign of the dog taking control.

A prong collar will help if you can improve your timing. I agree it can provide more reaction with less effort.
Hope it helps you and good luck

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Quote:
I know you have the very best in mind for this dog as I have watched your posts in anticipation of adopting this dog. I will again submit that you can buy leashes and so forth, but you will make a real difference when you master the timing of correcting the dog on the leash. He should never pull. Any tension that the dog puts on the leash of his own accord should be corrected immediately and every time, every time, no exceptions. A correction is likely only a quick tug on the collar or apparatus of your choice.. The tugs or light jerks will need to be repeated until the dog reacts. Pulling is a sign of the dog taking control.

A prong collar will help if you can improve your timing. I agree it can provide more reaction with less effort.
Hope it helps you and good luck

My advice is to listen to greathorse.

The key is timing. Corrections should always be pull-and-release and not a steady pull. The steady pull only teaches him to pull back against that steady pressure.

The equipment doesn't really matter. It is a question of skill--yours. Once you train yourself it will be easier to train Jax. Just please do remember that Jax will teach this behavior to Zane unless and until you learn how to correct it. I know you are looking forward to pleasant walks, but those only happen AFTER the dog is trained and at his age, he is not trained yet. He's still at the point that every outing is still a lesson.

Pax.

Rusty

 

[Bluemoon420]

Yep, timing is everything. The easy walk harness I have for sophie works well with timing. As soon as she starts to pull ahead, it will turn her towards me instead. That helps to correct her when she does it. It didn't take her long at all to figure out what I wanted from her. Some use clicker training with it too, but clicker is same thing, timing. If it's off in any way it may not work as well. If that makes sense...

Bluemoon

 

[key west chick]

DD got the Gentle Lead for her Cavalier. Yes, shes a small dog but pulls and chokes herself. It works great. DD just uses a small tug and release and the dog is right by her side again. Its a training "aide", not a fix all, but its working for them. She heels much better now instead of constantly pulling on the leash.

 

[froggie71]

We have a giant Schnauzer/airdale mix who get so excited on walks she also pulls. Tried many things including the gentle leader. She hated it. Granted she didn't pull, but instead spent the entire time trying to get it off. We did try it several times and just ended up not using it. Too frustrating.

 

[Crazyland]

I have used gentle leader for a Great dane who pulled. It was perfect for him.
I have used a prong for a GSD we had years ago. Perfect for him.
In the end just having it on was enough and they never needed correction as they knew we met business on our walks.

If you do get a prong DO NOT BUY FROM A NORMAL PET STORE! Get a quality prong that has rounded ends.

We use fursavers and martingales in training with our dogs we have now. I prefer the martingale and my husband the fursaver. Ruffwear used to have a martingale called the Chain reaction. Sadly they stopped making them.

But that was my favorite. No choking, just the sound.

 

[RAWR]

for Klause i just walked him around the yard till he got the hang of it
Zelda is starting to understand the art of Walk, its cute
for my female WEstie, i had to drag her around till she walked. i hated doing it, but dang-nabit! she wouldnt work with me.
Cotton on the other hand, he was a peice of cake

or cat was too >.>

yes, the cat knows how to walk on a lead

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
You nailed it. As I said before, Jax does well on his walks everywhere, except for when I try to walk him on the farm. He does well on his walks OFF the farm, when he's been placed in the back of one of the jeeps (inside the yard) and ridden somewhere, like to the PD, for a visit. It's only walks on the farm he has trouble with. I don't know if the cows have anything to do with it, since he can't see them when we leave the yard, but he knows they are out there somewhere. He used to ignore them when he was littler, until they started coming up around the yard. So, I know it's that it's not a totally wrong way of being trained, when it's only the one situation he has trouble with.
He's coming along fine in all his other training. Knows alot of commands, some in german, some in english. I spend time each day training him and Kane seperately and they get two play times together each day.
Also, everything I've heard and read says train the dog to the left side, but there's a reason I don't. I have a neurological deficit on my left side. I can be carrying something in my left hand and not feel it's there. It happens at random, but I would not want to be holding a leash when it does happen. It just makes me uncomfortable. So, when I am by myself Jax is on my right side and Kane, who is so far an easy walker and won't take a step without me, is on my left side.