dog training

kyle: What are some leash training tips for a pit bull? My 16-month-old female pitbull has trouble with pulling on a leash. I don't want to use a choke chain because i'm afraid she'd hurt herself. What are some tips that might help me train her to walk on a loose leash? Photo Credit: audreyjm529/Flickr CC Answers and Views: Answer by Greg Brock A choker chain does help, I know you don't want to hurt her, but a choker when you walk and she gets ahead just pull on the chain, not hard like choke her, just a quick pull to make her back up a bit, the leash that is easy to this is the ones that have that button, I am currently training my puppy and it works very well Answer by HELLO Well, when I got a new puppy, we went to like training classes, and the instructor said he would stay by our side, as long as we had a treat. he also suggested frankfurters, which did work for a while, however, my dog was gaining a lot of weight, and I stank where ever I went, so we stopped going to the classes. However, what I've learned and read is: When he strains on the leash, stop immediately. Don't yank him back over to you with the leash, just call him back over to you and praise him when he comes. Never ever keep walking when your puppy is pulling on the leash, this only rewards his behavior and reinforces the habit. Your puppy has to learn that when he pulls on the leash, he gets nowhere. If he wants to continue, he has to be by your side on a loose leash. This also applies if your puppy sits down when you are walking. Do not pull him forward towards, just call him over and reward him when he arrives. Then carry on walking again with your puppy by your side:) good luck!:D Answer by Rosalie Get her a Gentle Leader. It comes with an instructional video on how to use it. Gentle Leader Comfortable and Painless Collar to Enjoy The Walk My friend with the huge pit bull refuge recommends a Gentle Leader with Pit Bulls, as it does not put you in competition with their ability to pull- it gives you control of their head, and therefore the direction in which they go. It's more of a psychological tool, rather than just tug-of-war. Get yourself a nice leather leash to go with it - and whenever I start a dog on a Gentle Leader, I always get a martingale no-clip collar to go on as well, just as a backup in case the Gentle Leader is not yet correctly adjusted. You don't want to have that slip off, and not have your dog still on a leash! Once you both get the hang of it, you won't need it - but just as a backup. And NEVER attach the leash to her flat collar with her ID tags, or she could be out running around naked...I always practice in a fenced-in area for safety. A loose PB, even a friendly one, is at risk... How to Leash Train Mini Schnauzer who is Afraid of Leashes? Who is to Blame for a Dog Fight if my Dog is on a Leash? How do I get my 7-week-old puppy to walk on his leash? Answer by I Am Girl Use a gentle leader. I got one for my own dog and it did improve our walks. Also, treats are your new best friend! Keep the leash short and take a few steps and reward (click and reward if using a clicker, which i recommend). The main thing is to let her correct herself, meaning, if she goes behind you and on your right when she should be on your left, guide her back around with a treat and not by pulling her with the leash. If she pulls you do not move. She is wanting to go and you are wanting her by your side so put the two together, If she is by your side, you move. I also recommend the book 'dog training for dummies' and maybe attending a class. Answer by dorothy s Get a leash that is about 15" long, this will keep you on your toes if she tries to pull. When you are walking her and she pulls, tell her to sit every time that she pulls. You could alternate this with an about turn and get her to walk in the opposite direction with you. This might convey to her that pulling stops her getting to her destination where she is allowed off-leash. Your dog is obviously keen to get to the place where you let off the leash and run free. If you have a car, take her to the place where she is allowed to run free. Release her and play with her, then when she is tired do leash training. Know better? Give your own answer to this question!