Hi!
I'm a newbie and had intended to add to a previous thread but didn't appear possible so here goes........

Pawla, your previous advice worked a treat! Just acquired a v strong 6 yr old rottie/gsd x who is used to pulling prev. owners (she's had 3 homes) along roads. I tried your suggestion of walking v close to walls whilst dog on my left and after a few unsuccessfull attempts to zip to my right she soon accepted that it was simply not poss. to get past my blocking left leg. Ok, so I had to barge thru many unclipped hedges but what's a few scratches and a face full of cobwebs ha ha!!

I combined this method with a prev. mentioned "stop and proceed when focused on me", when crossing roads etc. and am v proud of my new girlie for the progress she has made on road walking and long lead play time till I can get her off lead. (I've only had her 2 days)

She screams like a banshee when lead and coller is attached for walkies, but no panic, and I have lovely neighbours! Quite seriously, that is why I wanted to avoid potentially fiddly bits of kit and identify a solution that enabled her to work things out for herself. She is a very sweet dog.  

To be continued - any advice would be much appreciated.

Regards

kathy and "Bea" 
  

Firstly, have a look at every aspect of her life: is there any big stress there?  She's had 3 homes - why?  Does she have any issues?

I see so, so many dogs that pull like trains purely out of stress - it's not bad behaviour, it's not poor training, they are simply worried and want to get where they are going or check everything out NOW so can't even think about walking nicely.  That's the case even if they aren't a nervoius wreck ;-)  After only 2 days she may well still be very stressed out by changing homes again - the pulling will likely settle down a bit by itself as she settles in.

That said, then I recommend the 300 peck method of leash training.  Easy to do, fun, and very effective, and explained perfectly here:

http://www.pawsitivelydogs.co.uk/300peck.pdf

thankyou for this Nikita - one for my toolkit.

I am very lucky indeed as my new girlie has no serious behavioural issues identified thus far. Whilst clearly v. fond of her, and certainly not cruel, her previous owner certainly had his own "issues" and ensuing chaotic lifestyle - I believe it is likely that she has simply been passed on when prev. owners' circumstances have changed.

I appreciate what you say about pulling being a sign of stress. She is keen to get home and keen to get back to her car which is quite understandable.

I am sure you are right in saying that she will sort herself out - she is an observer and not in the least bit reactive or jumpy (unless bunnies or squirrels are involved!!) I guess she's seen it all before and obviously not gone to pieces or she wouldn't have made it to now?

(She is loving a bit of comfort and is presently snuggled on 2 x double folded double duvets which makes a fabulous dog bed! ahhhhh..)

Regards

kathy