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Serious dog training help! Pulling on Leash?

Question by Jessica: Serious dog training help! Pulling on Leash?
I have a male beagle/lab mix who is 1 year old, and I have recently took him to the vet(On Friday to be exact)…and it didn’t go so well.

He gets very excited when he sees other dogs. He started pulling really hard on the leash and barking and yelping when he couldn’t get near them. People actually thought that my dog was aggressive because of the pulling. My dog isn’t aggressive, but he does have problems with self control on the leash. I know that it’s all my fault because I haven’t been consistent with the leash training, and I’m the one to blame :( . I just get so frustrated because he pulls so hard that hes actually choking himself. I’ve recently bought the gentle leader, but I want to train him self control and leash manners, but I just don’t know what to do? It was very embarrassing going to the vet because all the other dogs there were very calm. He doesn’t bite, jump, or have any other problem…it’s just the pulling! I would like to be able to walk my dog without him turning my hand purple from all the pulling.

By the way, I was wondering if you guys can give me any ideas on some games that can help my dog let out all his energy. I walk him for an hour , but it doesn’t seem to be enough. Any ideas?

Thank you !
I can’t take him swimming…..hes afraid of the water. :(

Best answer:

Answer by kiwi008
its called a gentle lead. they have them at petsmart. does your dog like to swim.. and try to find agility classes that help my pup out alot.

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Why Dogs Need Martingale Collars

This post could have also been titled: How Michelle Fell on Her Bum Today.

I recently bought a Martingale collar from ClassicHound.com to use on Riley’s walks.  (The full product review will be coming soon!)

I’ve been using the very pretty collar for a couple of weeks now on our walks.  Basically a martingale collar slightly tightens when your dog pulls on their leash.  It is NOT a choke collar–so it does not tighten all the way a choke collar does.greyhound2

A martingale collar is essential for people who own dogs with necks bigger than their head (like Greyhounds).  Greyhounds can slip right out of a regular collar anytime they feel like it because…well, they’ve got freakishly skinny heads.  Today I learned that the Martingale collar must also be essential for dogs named Riley the Catahoula.

Today we were out just for a quick minute–Riley had rung her potty bell, and needed to go pee.  I was a little frustrated about this because I was in the middle of work.  Instead of putting on the Martingale collar I just took her out quickly with her regular collar and leash.

We crossed the street to pee in her favorite spot.  Before we could even begin to sniff, an old blue van passed by.  Riley, being a crazy herding dog, looked as if she wanted to chase the van.  So I pulled her aside, told her “leave it” and made her sit until it passed.ups-truck

I did not see, however, that just behind the van was the UPS TRUCK.  Good god, no!  Not a UPS truck!  Riley dreams of chasing UPS trucks every single night.

Riley, of course, knew all along that the UPS truck was within her sights.  She struggled and struggled.  I pulled her back from the road onto a neighbor’s yard.  She struggled and struggled.

Finally (for the first time ever) she managed to slip out of her regular collar!  To keep her from attacking and/or herding the UPS truck, I had to hang onto her with all my might.

I did all of this in a long skirt and a pair of boots with very high heals (2 inches).  Needless to say I had to resort to body-slamming Riley onto the ground to keep her contained.  (I may have tripped on top of her.)

Did I mention we were in a neighbor’s yard?

Once the UPS TRUCK had passed, Riley sat and stayed like the most obedient dog ever.  I put her collar back on, tightened it, stood up and shook myself off.

Just as I did this, the old blue van drove back up to us, pulled over and the man driving asked, “Are you alright Miss?”

I said, with as much self-respect as possible given the circumstances, “Yes, of course, I am fine.”

The guy explained, “I saw you in my rear view mirror and it looked like that dog was attacking you.”

“No.  She just likes to chase UPS Trucks,” I said, as if it somehow explained why I had been lying flat on the ground.

He looked curiously at Riley and then said, before driving away, “Better than firetrucks!”

I think UPS Trucks are much worse.  They come by every day.

Needless to say, I am no longer taking her out without the Martingale collar.

Riley’s Comment:

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Riley wearing her Martingale collar

Today has been very fun and exciting as usual.  My mommy and I went outside and we saw a wonderful, big brown animal that makes a roaring noise.  A man wearing an ugly brown suit rides on top of the animal.  At least once a week he comes to our door.  When he does this I scare him as best as I can.  I might look handsome and friendly but I can be a frightening dog when I want to.  This man does not belong at our doorstep! Anyway, today I saw him riding the big brown animal and I almost caught them!  But then my mommy wanted to wrestle with me.  That was very fun too.

Every night I dream about the big brown animal and the man in the brown suit who rides him.  It is like a nightmare.  I just run and run but never catch up to them. Oh well, I guess I am not supposed to ever catch him.


photos by Justin at Doglirious, zyphbear, and Classic Hounds.

Dog Backpack Review

We’ve considered trying a dog backpack with Riley for a while but just weren’t convinced the rewards would equal the relatively high cost of a quality backpack.  Well this review turned out to be the perfect opportunity for us to try several dog backpacks on Miss Riley (our lovely model and review pooch).

Riley Wearing her New Dog Backpack

Riley Wearing her New Dog Backpack

Backpack Benefits

Dog trainers say backpacks change a dog’s mentally. This is because your pooch becomes more focused on the job at hand (walking, and carrying the load), better behaved, and even receives more strenuous exercise.  This is especially true for working breeds who need a job.

Well, let me begin by saying that backpacks really work!  Everything we heard about “giving your dog a job” is true. We simply loaded the pack– two cans of baked beans, poop bags, and car keys–strapped it onto Riley’s back and then hit the road.

But after reviewing several models, we highly encourage you to find the correct backpack for your specific pup, as it’s important to find a pack that fits well and provides the utility you need.

The Contestants

For this comparison, we purchased three backpacks from REI.com, one of our all-time favorite outdoor gear stores. With Riley tipping the scales at 50 pounds, we ordered all 3 backpacks in size medium.

1. Adventure Dog Backpack by REI

The REI Adventure Pack is stunning in it style and appearance. We actually bought the orange/yellow backpack which looked beautiful on Riley.

rei-pack-new-side rei-pack-new-top rei-pack-new-underside rei-pack-right rei-pack-top rei-pack-left rei-pack-buckles REI Adventure Dog Backpack rei-pack-riley-laying-down-top

Pros
Out of all the packs, the REI Adventure Pack was the easiest to get on and off.  As you can see in the pictures, the buckles are accessible and snap together very easily. Overall the pack is light and portable.  Additionally, the underside of the pack contains meshing, which allows for continuous airflow on hot days.  The pack also features three body straps, two deep pockets on each side, a snug form-fit, and a metal D-ring to attach your leash for ultimate control of your pooch.

Cons
First of all, the front strap fits around the dog’s neck.  This immediately struck us as awkward, since this placement could potentially place too much pressure around Riley’s lower neck. And even though a piece of mesh fabric protects the dog’s skin from being pinched inside a closing buckle, this same mesh material isn’t quite large enough to serve is full purpose. If your pup has medium/long hair then beware of this pack as their locks may get caught in the snaps. One other downside to this pack is how its straps got looser as Riley walked around. In fact, on one of our walks to the dog park, I had to stop once to re-adjust the pack…this is not an easy feat for a dog who’s impatience (and excitement) about a dog park in the distance keeps her body bouncing around. Also, the pack has no reflectors, so beware of traffic when walking your dog during the twilight hours.

Conclusion
This pack works well for shorter neighborhood walks, but we don’t recommend it for camping, hiking, or carrying heavier loads. With its light weight and mesh ventilation, this dog back pack should work great in warmer climates. And even though we had a few gripes, we do recommend the REI Adventure Dog Backpack for its comfort, durability, and easy on/off qualities.

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Riley’s Review
“I really have to concentrate hard with this thing on my back.  But I really don’t like how it slips around when the straps get loose, so I try to walk straight and get it right. I’d say this pack thingy is comfy—except for those darn cans of beans I have carry around as weights!  But I ‘m glad to work.  Best of all when we get home I get treats super fast because it only takes 2 seconds to get this thing off me.  And, of course, I look beautiful in my yellow/orange pack.  It shows off the different colors of my coat.”

Prices
Small $40.00, Medium $45.00, Large $50.00

Doglirious Rating (out of 5)
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2. RUFFWEAR Approach Pack

Similar to the REI pack, the RUFFWEAR Approach Pack also has three body straps. However, unlike the REI backpack, the front strap on this RUFFWEAR pack fit more like a harness. As you can see in the picture, you’ll have to lift your dog’s paw in order to get the backpack on and off. This is a bit more time consuming but does provide for a better fit with greater support.

Approach Pack - New - Side View Approach Pack - New - Top View Approach Pack - New - Inside Lining Approach Pack - Right View Approach Pack - Left View Approach Pack - Back View Approach Pack - Front Harness View Approach Pack - Side Padding View

Pros
The overall fit of the backpack is stellar. The harness design, coupled with plush padding throughout, takes pressure off the neck. This allowed Riley a wider range of movement in her legs and also allowed her to jog and even lay down while wearing the backpack. This pack features two D-rings: one metal and one fabric, which provides more options for you with attaching the leash.  Reflectors run down the entire length of either side for ultimate visibility during nighttime city jaunts. Unlike the REI Adventure Pack, the padding surrounding the buckles on the RUFFWEAR pack is spectacular. If you have a hairy or fluffy dog, you can rest assured that you won’t easily buckle your pup’s fur in the clips. Additionally, this same padding protects your dog’s skin by distributing heavier weight loads across a wider body area. The Approach Pack’s straps remained firmly in place while Riley walked, and each strap is enclosed in soft padding, which increases doggy comfort on those longer hikes and camping trips.

Cons
The sizes are strange. For example, RUFFWEAR makes the Approach pack in XXS, XS, S, M, and L. Since Riley was a medium in the other packs, we bought a medium Approach pack as well…big mistake. It was too big. In fact, a 50-pound dog is actually between sizes, so we went back to the store and tried a Small on for size; that was much snugger and more supportive. On the downside, it’s pockets were smaller than the Medium. Also, as described above, putting on (and taking off) the harness is more time consuming, and it is a bit difficult to adjust the straps—although once you adjust them, they won’t slip or come loose during the walks.

Conclusion
We love this pack! Even though it’s the most expensive pack in our review, it’s by far the best of the bunch. The RUFFWEAR Approach Pack is one of our favorites, and the company’s reputation is built upon solid design, comfort, and durability. There’s even a higher-level RUFFWEAR backpack that we’re looking at for hardcore biking, hiking, and camping trips.  Oh, and remember, these backpacks run large, so you may want to get a size smaller than other brands. In fact, we’re going to return our medium pack and get Riley a small.

approach-pack-riley-headshot

Riley’s Review
“I’m ready to take this puppy (is that what humans call a “pun”?) hiking, running, to the lake…everywhere!  This RUFFWEAR Approach Pack makes me the most stylish pooch on the trial. Oh, and I know I’ll be able to carry my weight without the straps digging into my sides with all of this padding. So now, I can concentrate really hard while I work and carry tons of heavy stuff. The best part is I can still jump around with this backpack on, and I can comfortably do my business while out on my walk—the bag doesn’t get in the way at all.  I even carry my own dog poop bags (empty ones of course).  I can’t say that I love getting in and out of this thing, but my parents always give me lots of treats when they do—which by the way, is the very best way to get your pup to enjoy the backpack experience. Overall, this backpack makes me feel so important. After all, I really love working for my food and water. I bet your dog does too. Ruffwear!  Ruffwear! “

Prices
Small $65.99, Medium $76.99, Large $76.99

Doglirious Rating (out of 5)
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3. Granite Gear Ruff Rider Backpack

The Granite Gear Ruff Rider immediately struck us as an inferior backpack. A quick visual inspection revealed its two body straps (compared to the three straps on our other reviewed packs) and no neck support.

granite-gear-new-side granite gear dog backpack granite-gear-left granite-gear-laying-left granite-gear-right granite-gear-front granite-gear-buckle

Pros
The underside of the backpack is lined with soft fleece, and it sports a couple of huge pockets and reflectors.

Cons
We just can’t get over the two straps!  And if that wasn’t bad enough, only one of the straps buckles; the other just tightens (no buckle). The first time we put it on Riley, we thought maybe it was defective…”Is this thing missing strap?” Granite Gear should have spent more time designing this pack. For the price, it isn’t the most expensive model out there, but it isn’t the cheapest either. In fact, it’s in the same price range as the REI Adventure Pack in this same review. I wouldn’t suggest putting much weight inside of this backpack.

Conclusion
We don’t recommend this dog backpack. Not only isn’t it sufficient for carrying heavy loads, but for the price, you’d do way better with the REI Adventure Pack. This Granite Gear dog backpack *might* work for smaller dogs, but again, for the price, just go with REI’s brand. We’ll give this dog backpack a single star just for the fleece lining and reflectors.

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Riley’s Review
“Well, I am not sure what that thing was—maybe a shirt with big pockets?  I never got to carry my heavy cans of beans around town while wearing it, so I was kind of bored. And for some reason Mommy wasn’t comfortable putting stuff inside these great big pockets.  Oh well, I can’t complain. It was kind of comfortable with the soft…fleece…I think it’s called.”

Prices
Small $50.00, Medium $55.00, Large $60.00

Doglirious Rating (out of 5)
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Adventures in Pulling

When we brought Riley home from the Humane Society over a year ago, she didn’t know how to sit, lay or stay. Actually, teaching her those commands (along with a whole bag of tricks) proved to be quite easy. But, most worrisome at the time was her inability to walk properly on a leash.

In fact, when we first got her, Riley would often walk me around neighborhood, dragging me into the street  and into other people’s yards. I’m a small person so maybe this was an easy task. But one time, she even dragged Justin (who is 6 feet tall) around the park and eventually onto his bottom…

Clearly, no one had ever taught Riley to walk properly.

Adventures in Pulling Photo

Riley in Autumn wearing her Gentle Leader

The Gentle Leader

So the first thing we did was to buy a Gentle Leader, which is a training lead that allows for greater control of an unruly pooch. But even with the training lead, I had to remain highly alert as the Gentle Leader didn’t always keep Riley from chasing squirrels, bicyclists and runners. Recognizing the dangers of Riley trying to chase after cars in the street, we immediately sought professional dog training.

One trainer suggested that patience and encouragement would help her to walk properly. And every time she pulled on the leash, we were instructed to stop walking; this lack of forward movement is actually a punishment to the dog. And then when Riley loosened up and relaxed, we’d continue walking. With this method, Riley was to associated calm, relaxed energy with a reward–moving forward. It would also teach her that pulling on the leash would bring on a negative consequence–standing still.

This technique was very frustrating for Riley because she has to stop all the time.  But its also frustrating to me (because we have to stop all the time!). With Riley pulling so often, we’d have to stop and wait every few steps…and just wait. Our trainer also taught us how to use treats to keep Riley focused while walking. Riley absolutely adores treats; she is truly food motivated. So, with a treat in hand, whenever I said “heal”, she’d walk perfectly beside me, waiting of course for the yummy reward. But without the treat in my hand, Ms. Riley would be off  to the races.

Another trainer suggested the method of being the calm, assertive leader, a la Cesar Milan. The trainer suggested using a slip lead and slightly (but quickly) jerking the lead whenever Riley was out line. This method is much harsher, and I wasn’t always comfortable with it. Nonetheless, that method did quickly teach Riley to not run towards cars. And with our situation at the time, that was perhaps the highest training priority on our minds.

Problem Solved?

So, how exactly did we teach Riley to walk on the leash? Well, actually we combined both methods and then added a large dose of patience. Slowly but surely,  Riley learned how to walk on her leash like a good Catahoula. Eventually we got rid of the gentle leader, stopped using the slip lead, and transitioned into just your standard collar…and for a while, she was doing pretty well.

Until recently.

Because now, it’s return of the crazy dog. She’s pulling me through the neighborhood and lunging every time a UPS truck passes by. Why UPS trucks? I have no clue. Maybe they look like a big brown dog to her.

Time for Something New

So, I’m using this blog as a journal to chronicle our attempts to get Riley walking like the once-walkable dog I know she can be again. To begin, I’m purchasing a Martingale Collar from Classic Hound. It’s a beautifully fashioned accessory yet functional in that it should help with Riley’s pulling. And I’ve also decided to retry the patience, encouragement, discipline strategy once again. I’ll continue adding to this post over the next few weeks and will let you know how it goes.

Riley’s Comment

Riley Pulling Photo

Walks?! I looooove walks. That’s cuz I get to go wherever I want, whenever I want. I used to be very good and mellow on the leash, but now I like to use my walk time to sniff for cats and chase those big brown delivery trucks…I LOVE those trucks! Other than that, I try to protect my mom cuz she needs a guard and I am very good at my job. But I don’t know why she doesn’t like me to bark. Somebody’s got to do it! Maybe she’ll see things my way soon enough and join me in the fun. We could even chase the truck down the street! Wooohooo!