• Probably changes from dog to dog but I had some results training an Akita who pulls using a combination of methods.

    Constantly get them back to heel, try to never walk anywhere with them in front of you.

    Let them smell the thing or pee on the thing for as much time as they want, don't pull them away from anything they're interested in.

    Anticipate where they might want to go next and direct them there, probably the least important part but it starts to give them the idea you're in control. I found leading them along hedgerows is easier than through the middle of open spaces where there is less to interest them.

    If they're fixated on another dog or object in the near distance you should get them facing you with full attention and get them calm before carrying on.

    Most important is keeping them at heel, short lead and when they get ahead you stop and get them back behind you. You need to anticipate which side of you they want to be on next all the time. A lot of people just let the dog out in front of them pulling side to side because it seems easier. What's actually happening is the dog now thinks he needs to do that for you to know where you are going.

    For what it's worth, snapping the lead is not a very effective technique with big dogs who have massive amounts of fur around the neck, I found it's not a very productive technique anyway.

    After a week or 2 he started to enjoy it because you're walking together he has fully explored his environment and trusts you to let him go where he wants and he's not just dragging a human around on a rope.

About

Avatar for bobble @bobble started