pulling on leash

Question
I have a 21 week old German shepherd. Everytime we go for walks she pulls. what i do is stop, and wait for her to sit or come back to me but she still pulls after that. She doesnt listen to a word i say. She pulls the hardest when we get close the the house and i have to stop several times and wait for her to calm down before we start again.

Answer
Hi Bob,

Are you using a retractable leash? If so, stop and change to a plain leather, nylon or cotton leash. I recommend a 6 foot leash and prefer leather leashes because they soften over time and are most versatile. The nylon leashes can burn your hands if they run through them.

Slip one hand through the handle end of the leash and grasp the leash about 18 inches from the end. Hold both hands at your waist. Alternatively you can wrap the leash around your waist to be hands free. The important thing is that your dog always has a set length of leash between you and her collar so she can learn just how far she can go away from you before the leash gets tight and you stop.

If your dog is doing a lot of pulling I recommend a harness, not to correct her pulling but to prevent trauma to her neck. I personally do not prefer to use even a front-connecting harness to teach a dog not to pull, but if you want to check out some of these, I would recommend either the Freedom Harness or the Sensation.

The other thing you can do is vary your walking path so that you zig-zag. You can also practice walking in circles so that you bump into your dog as you make counter-clockwise circles. This teaches your dog to focus on you.

You may already be doing some of the things in this video, but here is a video of how to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgtqgiAKoQ

Here is another video you may find helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DayHrhoSJZc

You may want to try a head halter like a Gentle Leader, but if you do this follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, or better yet seek the assistance of a professional trained in how to fit the Gentle Leader properly and condition the dog to the Gentle Leader. Here is a video of the Gentle Leader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWFPWj08Bhs

It may take some practice, but with consistency your dog will learn how to walk on a loose leash. Many dogs, when excited pull a little at first. They will settle down as the walk proceeds.

I recommend teaching your dog to walk on the left side - or the right, if you prefer, at first until she learns how to walk on a loose leash. Once she is walking well on a loose leash, you can allow her to walk on both sides of you so long as she is not pulling. Your dog should also be allowed to stop and sniff a bit along the way since dogs need this mental stimulation and this is part of the reason for a walk.

I hope these tips help! Please let me know if you have further questions.

Thanks.

Cindy