dog pulling from behind

Question
Hi

My 3 year old collie has always had issues walking on a loose leach.  He wants to drag behind or dig his feet in.  I have had many trainers try and help, but no luck.  A bit better, but, not really.  I  thought maybe there was an issue with his neck so switched to a harness.  I had him xrayed, had a neuro and an ortho exam with no significant issues.  He is a loving boy who has always been hard to train in many areas.  He seems to be moving forward in all areas but the walk.  I am getting really frustrated which is not helping the matter.  Any help would be appreciate. Thx

Gail

Answer

Hi Gail,

You might try using a head harness on your dog, rather than a neck collar or shoulder harness.

A head harness is often described as being like power steering for dogs. A head head harness is based on the principle that wherever the head goes, the body follows. Like a horse's halter, dog head harness is worn along the jaw and cheek, with one strap encircling the dog's nose and another running behind the back of the head. You hook a leash to a ring to the snout strap under the chin.

It takes a little time for a dog to become accustomed to wearing this new form of collar, but once acclimated the dog is easier to walk. Practice having your dog wear the head harness inside, in very brief sessions, using tasty tidbits to distract and calm your dog. In most cases, the dog will get used to the head collar and eventually become very comfortable with it. The key is taking the time for proper acclimation, and use of the head harness. Never jerk the dog while it's wearing a head harness.

The biggest brands of head harnesses for dogs are Gentle Leader, Canny Collar, and Halti, though there are others. They're all are basically the same. You can read more about using a head harness here:

http://www.dogtrainingcollarsguide.com/gentle-leader-halti-and-other-head-harnes...

http://www.ehow.com/video_2348831_fit-head-halter-dog-youre.html

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti