How long in general has it taken each of you to get pup used to walking "nicely" .
I have recieved lots of good advice re; pulling but nothing seems to make any diffrence . He is so good with everything else we are teaching/training him.
He went through a phase of choking himself when walking - it sounded really bad but this has now lessened although we cannot get him to stop pulling .
He is a Staffy aged 18 weeks almost and getting quite strong already ( for his size) .
Lel

I would hope to have them reasonably okay by about 6 months, if I've got a biddable pup and I've put in the effort! :)

Is it just a matter of keeping at it and determination .
I know alot of Staffys do like to pull - just wandered at what age you all generally had a nicely walking dog
Lel

lel - it is dependant on so many variations not least the dog itself. The main thing is grit and determination from yourself along with consistency.

You must never let your dog pull you unless you are at times going to let it be OK - in which case you have little chance of sorting him out. Each time he pulls walk backwards pulling him with you, or stop , change direction, walk n front of him etc etc. Don't forget to give lots of praise and treats when he's walking nicely. Some find holding a tasty treat - cheese, sausage - in the left hand helps - keeps their interest at your side.

Does he get very excited before getting out of the house? If so - don't even go out of the house until he has calmed down - if he pulls out of the door bring him straight back in. Only go forward when he is behaving as you want. It might take an age but he will get the message eventually.

Pam n the boys

Thanks Pam
no, he doesnt get excited before going out for his walk . He is pretty calm- its just that once outside its like he has to get "there" straight away.
We have tried walking him on the lead in the garden , thinking that maybe it was all the excitement of the outside world but nothing seems to make any difference.We have tried the things you suggested too . When we stop he just sits down and waits until we are ready to go again and then with the first step he is away again !!!
Lel

I had similar with my first Elkhound. I was certainly srtong enough with a 20kg dog to make her stay with me using brute force, but what is the fun in that :D

What I di was everytinme she pulled I did a left about turn. that is turned across the front of her heading back the way we had come.

As soon as she started pulling in the new direction, the same thing. In the end I spent half an hour walking the same 10 yards, but she stopped pulling, and off we went again for about a 100 yards. she then decoided to pull again, this time only had to do the about turn twice, and she carried on walking nicely, with just occasionally me stopping doing an left about turn to remind her what happens.

You do feel foolish, but if they never get to pull they won't do it.

If you need to get from a to b I would get a Gentle leader headcollar. The design worksfine on Staffs,a dn staff crosses.

Hi Lel,

My munster pup is 14 weeks old he was pulling a lot up until very very recently. He was fine in the garden on the lead but sooo different outside. Holding a treat didn't work for me - he was far more interested in being outside.
I did the same as Brainless - kept changing direction and not moving on until he was doing it right. He's so much better now but I can't praise him I'm afraid, as soon as I say 'Good boy' or whatever he sees that as an indication to yank forward and pull my arm out of my socket :) . So I see it that his reward is that we are moving forward and not walking backwards :)

Zoe P x

Zoe
that is exactly what Gus is like with regard to praising . His trainer said to stop etc if he pulls and to praise if we get a few "nice" steps from him - but as soon as we do he's away thinking thats his cue
:)
Lel

My Charlie is a five month old 30lb Border collie, he too pulls dreadfully when he's 'heeling'. I have just bought a Halti head collar for him in the hope that this will resolve our problem, but I see that nobody's mentioned this solution here. What do you all think???
Karrie

Head collars are great for giving you control, and not allowing the habit of pulling, but only training will teach the pup what it is that is required.

As we hope to show pup in the future I think we really need to crack the walking on a loose lead rather than using a halti or suchlike
Lel