We have a 15 week old labradoodle. every time we go for a walk he pulls on the lead. We try the instantly stop routine but this resultsd in him leaping about,yelping and trying to bite the lead. how do we respond to this behaviour??

ignore it until he is calm and repeat.

I have also found turning sharply around and walking in the opposite direction, up and down the same few yards of pavement gets the message across too, that no progress is made if they pull, slightly less frustration for the pup than the 'I'm a tree' approach.

For the occasions when you can't devote the time to being consistent about puling never getting pup what it wants (to get there faster it thinks), then a head-collar/halter is a good management devise, though they often dislike ti and some gentle training is needed to get them to accept it.

At 15 weeks he won't need much walking (5 mins per month of life) but he's probably still very excited about the world.  It's much more about socialisation at this stage rather than walking for exercise so it's just as easy to just sit with him and watch the world go by.  If he knows you are only walking to the lampost or to the gate and back, or to a bench he'll be a bit less frantic about moving forward.

Practise lead walking in your own garden, a couple of trips up and down with him following a treat in your hand will all help him to adjust to his collar and lead and to walking calmly.  If he flings himself about just pause a moment then tempt him back into position at your side then forward again. Have you started puppy classes yet?  These are great at showing you how to train your puppy.  Have a look at the APDT website for classes in your area.

A great book that covers similar ground in The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell - ideal for experienced and novice puppy owners alike and full of commonsense exercises

http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/letsgoforawalktogether.pdf
http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/strolling_on_lead.doc

How much lead training have you done? has it been done quietly at home with some treats and lots of praise?  Did you then move on to somewhere with slightly more distractions, but still lots of praise and treats?  Or did you just clip the lead on and expect your pup to behave perfectly?????  I hope the former, in which case, move back to less distractions and more praise and treats.. if the latter, suggest you start at the beginning and quietly train your pup at home to walk nicely on a lead - without recourse to sharp pulls, tugs or at this stage halters etc... just a loose lead, some treats and your voice quietly praising when he does well :-)

Mmhh i have a 3month old Presa Canario and the first time i put her on lead she kept trying to bite it and was scared but i took her for a walk 2 times and she got use to it so maybe take it outside more and will behave better :)

I have a GBGV pup who does the same thing, the tree thing does work eventually just some puppies seem to pick it up quicker than others. What I have learnt recently is that they might pick up a few things really quickly (for us it was sit and recall) but other things take a lot of time and patience. Only now at 19 weeks are we seeing a more relaxed walk and even then it isnt everytime we go out. The I am a tree approach does work just hang on in there. It's true they are puppies and everything is exciting. Another thing that seemed to influence her walking was she was teething early and still is, when her jaw hurts and she is pawing it her walks are very difficult. Might be similar with yours? Keep going and expose your pup to lots of things that also helps the novelty of another dog approaching or kids or whatever wear off a bit. Best of Luck!

We are having a similar problem and am trying the turn in the other direction with treats at the moment.
I am not taking her for a walk on a lead yet more training  her to walk nicely first. Short excerise is done with 15/20 mins running loose in the fields. I cant cope with taking apulling bouncing dog for a walk yet and am worried that if I get fed up an allow her to do the wrong thing for ease we will be in a worse mess.
You are not alone

As I mostly walk my gang altogether I have for the last 2 1/2 years been using 'Dajan' head collars .  It's like having power steering.

I had already bought one for the puppy who at nearly 5 months has started pulling when walked with the others, so for the last 3 days she has been wearing hers.

They are not a replacement for training but they are a great tool for managing walks so they are not uncomfortable and frustrating for the owner.

Sadly often because the walks with a puylling dog are a pain the owner starts to do less walking and it becomes a vicious cycle.

I really do find it great to have five of the 6 on headcollars and when people say "cor you've got your hands full" I laughingly say ti's all good with 'Power steering', and it is so good to know I can keep control without huge effort, with just one hand when we spot a cat or Fox on our nightly route marches.

Will go to headcollars it things dont improve but atm want to persevere as we are mybe a good idea for the op if he feels it is time to change what he is doing. Havnt tried dajan but will have a look as I need a new one for my gsd thats less fiddly than the canny collar as I lost my dogmatic grrr

I agree with Brainless, changing direction frequently may help to make it less frustrating and more enjoyable for him. If he isn't sure where you are going, he should, despite himself, begin to focus on you and where you are going, which is what you want. However, DAB is also right, at 15 weeks he really is a baby and you have to be patient and understand that walking nicely on the lead does not happen overnight but needs to be built up over time. Are you going to puppy classes? Make sure it is one that uses kind methods only.

Try a mikki walk right training harness. I use all the time and love them!! Sell them to clients at group and they love them too!!

But firstly, as someone has posted, have you tried geting the pup into position at your side at home before you go out? I teach a "Touch" command to my hand and use that toguide pups back into position at your side by getting them to follow the hand. Stops all the tugging and helps with jumping up at people on the street too! But it's done at home off lead to begin with and then on lead in the living room or kitchen then back garden. I use the turnabout as well but I lower my hand to my ankle to prevent tugging on tender puppy necks. Stand still until dog looks at you, back into position and move on.

Of all the things I teach leadwork is the worst, as it needs lots of patience and there is no quick fix and it's something we all need. Try driving the pup somewhere then teaching leadwork after the walk as I believe that's a common mistake trying to teach a pup who's in high spirits to slow down!! That's like trying to get me not to rush getting ready to snowboard!! Never gonna happen!!! I live for it!! Can't wait for it!! Would do it everyday!! Kinda how your pup feels at being out!! Get outta my way there's a whole world to explore!! So drain uppy first then try, works for me and a harness for the days you don't have time.

> Try a mikki walk right training harness. I use all the time and love them!! Sell them to clients at group and they love them too!!
>
>

Just a warning with any of the harnesses that tighten under the armpits.

If the dog is to be shown it can really put their front out.  Someone I knew used one for a time with a bitch and I was horrified to see what it did to her front movement (wnet very wide).  After they got rid of it and a few months her movement was back to normal.

So heres a question.. Im a dog walker and have just started walking a pup (about 13 wks) her owner seems rather clueless to put it politly and I have tried to talk to her about training etc but she seemed to take my speaking of training as an offer rather than advice as to how SHE could do it... is there ANYTHING I can do in my half an hour per day with this pup that will make an impact on her pulling on walks? I have tried changing direction, she jerks herself around on the end of the lead and starts running again immediatly just in whatever direction I turn! I am worried about her snapping the cheap little thing (what I think is a cat collar) she has on.. or at the very least choking herself!? Any advice?

> Im a dog walker and have just started walking a pup (about 13 wks)

I might be misunderstanding your role but I'd say it's way too soon to be properly walking a puppy of this age.  It should still be about socialisation not exercise and the owner should be training in short sessions in the garden to acclimatise this pup to a collar and lead.  It sounds as if she may be leaving it all up to you.

I'd suggest to the owner a good training book, a new collar and lead, and lots of practise in the garden (on and off lead) with very tasty treats.  Do not be tempted to take over the training with this pup but point it's owner to a good local class and possibly print off some advice sheets regarding exercise and socialisation for them if you think they'll read it.

If the pup is left home alone and you are going in to break up the day then your time might best be spent in short training sessions and play time for a while yet. 

I am not doing the full half an hour out walking just a little trip to the park at the bottom of the road to play with another pup then back home to play and eat her lunch, Im using the 5minute rule so just little walks to get her used to traffic noise, kids, people and other dogs etc.
I also started working with her on her puppy lead in the garden when I first started visiting before she could go out but it seems like everything I do is undone by the owners complete lack of knowledge! I have tried a couple of times to speak to her about puppy classes etc but she said she tried one but they were full so shes given up looking!? Will deffo recomend "puppies for dummies" (or the equivelent that doesnt come across condesending???) and hope to heaven that helps but I am quite worried for this pups future! :S

So would I be . Are there any apdt classes in your area that she hasnt looked hopefully one of these will be around that she can go to even if its not immediately. I agree lots of short training sessions at home that are fun.
My 17 week old has just come back from the first 10 minute walk on lead where she is beginning to show our training is working only about 4 or 5 times did I have to stop and be a tree lol
The other walks we do are 15 - 20 mins in the fields once a day
Seems like the owner needs alot of training

> Will deffo recomend "puppies for dummies"

I can recommend The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell - it's an excellent book for experienced and novice puppy owners alike.

Thanks guys this is helpful I will try to get her researching this stuff... not sure about classes as when I got my own girl I booked in as soon as I knew I was getting her so got a place in a fantastic one... I fear this little mite may have been an impulse purchase and she is woefully unprepaired, but I am trying my best for the pups sake so she won't go toooo badly wrong I hope!

I've used mikki's for years and never hada problem. They are not the answer and are only to be used whilst training. And dog that is pulling that hard into a harness it contorts it's body alignment out probably had growth issues developing anyway. and it's more likely to be caused by boosting protein content of food rather than harnesses. Never in well over 10 years of working at vets as a nurse did any dog ever come in with health issues caused by correctly fitted equipment, ill fitted saw a plenty but not on correctly selected and fitted equipment.

I've used Mikki Walk-Rite too (I can't remember if I said this on this thread or another!) and if used correctly they are fitted for short periods during a walk, not worn for the entire walk, and over a period of a few months only. 

They are a training aid, not a permanent solution so in most cases shouldn't affect movement.  My pigeon lunging mongrel wasn't destined for the show ring but this harness worked really well, and surprisingly quickly.  He was an older rescue dog though and I'm in favour of teaching puppies not to pull rather than having to correct a problem later.

One tip that I read on Champdogs a few years ago is to use Primula cheese spread (in a toothpaste type tube) to keep the dog at your side, rather than keep dropping biscuits in your dogs chops.  Great for the shorter dog I'd think.  I wonder if they still stock it in tubes?

> Never in well over 10 years of working at vets as a nurse did any dog ever come in with health issues caused by correctly fitted equipment,

I never mentioned health issues I said the dog started moving wide in front which corrected after a few weeks not using the harness.

The bitcxh in question had been re-homed with an expereinced Obedeince trainer who has mobility issues and was used purely for control on walks as she ahd an establisehd pulling habit.

It wouldn't be a health issue or maybe even noticed by a Pet owner but would impact on a dogs movement enough to handicap it against others in the ring when judging movement.  My breed are supposed to 'single track' not move like a Staff or Bull terrier.

> One tip that I read on Champdogs a few years ago is to use Primula cheese spread (in a toothpaste type tube) to keep the dog at your side, rather than keep dropping biscuits in your dogs chops.  Great for the shorter dog I'd think.  I wonder if they still stock it in tubes?

Yes they do - it's usually on the top shelf in the refridgerated cheese section. I thought I'd try some with my dog, but he was scared of the tube.

take him out each day for a training lesson on a half check collar and a extending training lead. Extend the lead put it into a loop holding in your right hand with the dog on your left.
Start of walking the moment he pulls ahead of you turn to your right releasing the loop in the lead but holding onto the handle carry on walking (I say 'come') as he has to run upto you to heel as he does put the lead back into a loop ..if he runs past you which he probably will.. again turn and release the loop in the lead walk a little bit faster so he as to catch up again once he goes ahead of you turn ...this does look a bit mad to anyone watching although it should be obvious you are training your dog.... after a while he will begin to watch you rather than pulling ahead to get out on 'his walk' as he will be wondering what you are going to do next ..sometimes it can take a few days and you dont get any further than the end of your road but it works and has done on all my dogs ..you have to be persistent and dont cave... good luck.

I have had dogs stay with me and been told you will have to take them out one at time as they pull  in fact had pulled her over..I think ..not on your nelly.. a bit of training and they walked fine together when the owners returned.