myzeneye Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 ok guys.as some of you know, my dogs a staffy... he's great at most things these days apart from walking on his lead. for me, he's not bad but sometimes he has his moments... but for the wife he's a little get !! i know staff's are understandably a dog which likes to pull and enjoys the feeling of pulling too..but i also understand this can possibly 'be trained out of him... we've tried, harness's, half choke chain collar, halti head collar, normall collar etc etc... the best result of all was from the halti head collar. this, at first stopped him pulling imediatly, but on days when he's being booldy minded he'l just pull anyhoo. if he's out on out normal daily walk/route, he's usualy not bad... but in the woods of on a yomp he gets excited and wont relax, he just pulls and pulls on the lead.... its very frustrating.....also, im not overly keen on the halti for two reasons...one,it rubs his nose...two it looks like a muzzle and gives folk the wrong idea...not good for a dog like benny.... any help/advice is most welcome..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 I'll show my age now, who was the woman, used to be on tv training dogs Anyway back then I had a Doberman, and boy when he pulled you just followed, and he was stubborn as a mule! I tried a choke chain and he'd just keep pulling untill he was gasping to breath. I remember the technique she used, choke collar, and as soon as the dog pulls, you give a quick sharp tug on the lead and say NO in a stearn voice, at the same time you stop walking until the dog releases tension. When I first saw this being done I thought it looked a bit harsh, but though the quick sharp tug you give seems strong, you must instantly release the tightness, so it's more of a shock factor rather than choking the dog for long periods. If he tries to pull again you just repeat the process. Unfortunately if your dog is stubborn like mine was you don't go very far the first few outings, but he'll soon learn if he wants to go for a walk he has to play the game. Within two weeks my dog was totally trained and wouldn't dare pull. I know people don't like choke chains but it worked for me and as I said within two weeks I didn't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 ahhh... ive done that, but the difference being i never made him stop. id just give him a check with the collar and tell him "here" as i pulled him to my side...but continue to walk...ill try this method... thanks. i agree, i dont like to use the choker, and im sure many on here wont agree with it, but he's a strong dog and i dont throttle him with it or anything, just the "check" as you say... any other suggestions are welcome... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varmintator Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hi I have a Staffy, he is 6 years old now. I trained him to the stick (sounds terrible) but I dont beat him. I had problems with him when he was about 1 he would try and bully my wife. The breeder we got him off suggested this . Tap him with a garden cane and he knows to stop then when you take him for a walk. walk with the cane in your hand if he pulls tap him and say heal. after a little bit you dont even tap him just say heal. Now you dont even need to say heal as he is there. worked for us he has been the perfect dog ever since never any trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhiannonBW Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Not tried it, but I did read that walking in the opposite direction whenever they pull can help train them out of it? Might be worth a try if you have the time and don't mind looking a bit absent-minded! Rhiannon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Let us know what methods you use and how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Pretty much the same as above, but you could try letting him get in front and then changing direction without saying anything. Change positively through 90 or 180 degrees, do not break stride and do not make concessions for the direction the dog is going, you take him not the other way round. Within a few minutes he'll be getting sick of being pulled around and will be looking at you/aware of you to see where he's going. Won't work overnight and you will get fed up not getting very far, but it will work if used consistently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 some excellent advice..i will give it a go and let you know how we get on.... thanks guys... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Not tried it, but I did read that walking in the opposite direction whenever they pull can help train them out of it? Might be worth a try if you have the time and don't mind looking a bit absent-minded! Rhiannon Yoy are on the money here - best method by miles. Missed out a few bits though: 1. Only EVER say heel once 2. MUST HAVE SLACK in the lead when you turn, so when you turn and walk the other way it REALLY jerks them. This is acheived by having the dog walking on the left hand side, holding the lead half way with your left hand, and holding the lead at the proper place with your right hand (ie. the lead crosses in front of your body from right to left). Feels a bit weird at first but boy when you drop that left hand (to create slack) and turn - the dog WILL know about it. 3. The trick is to be totally consistent; if he goes *SLIGHTLY* beyond where you want him then turn immediately. If he does it again straight after you turn around, turn again. Essentially you are TRYING to **** the dog off and let him know that you are in control not him. Boomstick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Yoy are on the money here - best method by miles. Missed out a few bits though: 1. Only EVER say heel once 2. MUST HAVE SLACK in the lead when you turn, so when you turn and walk the other way it REALLY jerks them. This is acheived by having the dog walking on the left hand side, holding the lead half way with your left hand, and holding the lead at the proper place with your right hand (ie. the lead crosses in front of your body from right to left). Feels a bit weird at first but boy when you drop that left hand (to create slack) and turn - the dog WILL know about it. 3. The trick is to be totally consistent; if he goes *SLIGHTLY* beyond where you want him then turn immediately. If he does it again straight after you turn around, turn again. Essentially you are TRYING to **** the dog off and let him know that you are in control not him. Boomstick i have been trying to do this. my dog seams to know when im about to turn and just hops back to place. i might try giving him a concrete block to pull around as by the time i have done the 90s and 180's i on the floor from being dizzy. we are getting there but it has been 4mths so far. hes 6mths now. the woman was Barbara woodhouse if i remember rightly...SITTTTT......followed by slapping your self in the face.lmao. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 guys, i could have cried tonight... benny had the best walk he's ever had.... even better then with the halti thing on.... o.k, i called him and picked up his lead....made him sit. when i went to put it on, he piddled a little. so i took the lead off pointed to the pee and made its clear with my body language we wernt going out any longer. you could see the dissapointment on his face... done it again... same thing... so again... lead came off... third time he sat still, no excited pee dribble... lead on calmly, good boy and made for the door.... great. we got outside and he charged off as usual... i tried the cutting him off at 90's and 180's till he was confused, didnt know which way we were goiing next etc.... the i sat him down. said come on and walk off down the street.... HE SATYED AT MY HEEL !!!!!!!!! after literally a few mins of doing it !!!!!!!!!!! he did pick up the pace, but every time he did, i told him HEEL... when he did, he got the good lad good lad muttered.... he behaved impecabley. the one differance i noticed was when i said heel, i refrained from dragging him back on the lead to my side, i just relied on the verbal comand... AND HE DID IT !!! you could see him alter his pace to stay along side..... i thought it may have been a fluke or because he was a bit poorly today after throwing up a whole pine cone !!! so when i got in at around 1am this morning, i took him out again just to check..... he was fine again.... cant wait till tomorrow to check him out..... hope he keeps it up... i knew all along its was somthing i was doing rather then him..... cheers guys, i really hope this works ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 same again today... not as good for the wife, but much better.... makes it sound like we've never tried telling him to heel before ? believe me, we have... it just seems much different after giving him the 90-180 treatment... perhaps the halti collar has helped too with letting him know where we want him when walking, it worked but wasnt nice... hope he keeps it up, if he susses this he'l be a total pleasure to have around instead of a bloody nuscance.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Try bribing him with mice pies pal - the extra weight should slow him down....... After all, it's worked for you Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Try bribing him with mice pies pal - the extra weight should slow him down....... After all, it's worked for you Don almost cried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundowner Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 (edited) I think we have a little bit of a dominance issue here. Reason I say that is, I have a neighbour with a staffy too, only about a year old. He pulls her all over the road, I spent 5 mins with her, I didn't touch or lead the dog once, and she could not believe it, he didn't pull at all ! After 10 mins I asked her to "pretend" to put her hand into her pocket (she wore a skirt at the time) and he just walked heel with a little slack in lead. She only needed the heel command and to use it only once plus a good tug on the lead ( I still prefer the ordinary loop ones !) as well as thinking her attitude towards the staffy ( nothing like ....." come here my little poochy wooh) I think I got a good looking admirer now ( hopefully ) Edited March 12, 2009 by Sundowner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Try bribing him with mice pies pal - the extra weight should slow him down....... After all, it's worked for you Don MICE PIES !!! you told us they were MINCE pies... i did wonder why you abstained whilst we were all tucking in ? id put it down to you still being able to squeeze into children's size clothing and you being so tight fisted as to not want to risk fianlly makeing the move into "grown up " clothes after all these years... mind you don, they do say at your age you start shrinking mate..... witht he exception of your nuts which will soon bee the size of a space hopper..... imagine that....jimmy cranky with space hopper balls,clad in apg weilding a 20 bore... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 anyway..... im still quicker than you... you sciatic girl....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 anyway..... im still quicker than you... you sciatic girl....... This from a guy that thinks that the only way to go lamping is out of a vehicle. "You wanna walk that far. Oh my God...." Perhaps he don't want to wear out his new wellies Big girl's bloussie Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 ive never once complained when carrying ALL your gear...even with my robotic hydraulic leg hip and knee... because i know your old and fragile mate... in fact if you give me your bipod and a swiveling lamp rig ill mount it onto your zimma frame for you mate...that'll make lamping a little easier for you ol'pal... for the record, i hate lamping out of a car. a quad on the other hand would be a treat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 They all sound like good methods, its just showing the dog YOU make the decisions not them! You decided where your going and when and you go first because your the pack leader! Its great to see a well trained dog out, there a real joy and a credit to the owner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.