Hi, I posted on here a few months ago about my dog Zeus but have forgotten my log in details so have had to make a new account. He's just turned 1 and was bought as a full Staffordshire Bull terrier,it's quite clear he is a cross breed now though as he is very big! My problem is walking him, he pulls, a lot and is very reactive to people and dogs while I am out with him. I've tried various harnesses but none have made any difference to how much he pulls. It's now at the stage where I actually dread walking him because he's so strong. It takes everything I've got to keep hold of him when there's another dog in sight,even to the extent where he's actually pulled me over. He doesn't appear to be behaving in an aggressive way when he sees other dogs but to be honest I can't really tell? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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How do I stop my dog from pulling and being so reactive?
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This behaviour is mostly caused by the dog being anxious. Anxiety is increased the more we tighten the lead so it is a vicious circle. He pulls, you pull him back, this makes him anxious and so he tries to get away and pulls some more.
You could try a Dogalter or Dogmatic head collar. These are very useful for dogs that pull. It will take a bit of training to help him get used to wearing it.
Only by removing him form the situation will you be able to train him. The best place to start is at home with him learning to sit and stay so that at least he can do that when you are out with him. Then move to quiet places where you can teach him to walk calmly and reward him for doing it. Move gradually to more challenging areas and be prepared to go back to the quiet area if it is too much for him.
By far the best solution is to find a good trainer who is a member of the APDT. They will come out to the house and help you with his training. You could book weekly or monthly sessions to help you make progress with him.
You could try a Dogalter or Dogmatic head collar. These are very useful for dogs that pull. It will take a bit of training to help him get used to wearing it.
Only by removing him form the situation will you be able to train him. The best place to start is at home with him learning to sit and stay so that at least he can do that when you are out with him. Then move to quiet places where you can teach him to walk calmly and reward him for doing it. Move gradually to more challenging areas and be prepared to go back to the quiet area if it is too much for him.
By far the best solution is to find a good trainer who is a member of the APDT. They will come out to the house and help you with his training. You could book weekly or monthly sessions to help you make progress with him.
Hi, thanks for your reply. I've got a head collar for him but he literally goes nuts when I try to put it on him I also tried the non pull harness which had little affect too. He's very strong and me only being 4ft 11 doesn't help much either. He can follow basic commands like sit, wait and stay, he's just incredibly boisterous and at his absolute worst when he sees another dog. I blame myself to be honest because I didn't socialise him with other dogs when he was younger and now I feel like I've left it too late to try and socialise him now. I don't know anyone with a dog that would be willing to let me try putting Zeus with their dog either, the majority of people with or without dogs actually cross over the street when I'm out walking him.
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Training a dog to wear a halter takes time and patience. A chap in our village was pulled over in the middle of the road by his Labrador. We had been telling him for months and months that he needed to be fitted with a headcollar. "But he doesn't like it" was all he would say. After he got out of hospital it took another incident of the dog pulling him over for him to knuckle down and teach the dog to wear it.
Choose a day when your patience is high. Choose a time when your dog is calm (not when you are about to go out). Produce the headcollar and some food and let him eat the food through the head collar. Don't strap it on yet, just let him put his nose through and get the food. Repeat this several times through the day until he accepts the headcollar around his face. Gradually persuade him to have the headcollar done up for a few seconds while he has treats. Keep everything light and happy. Try to prevent his feet reaching the headcollar. Once he starts wearing it to go out for walks he will make the association of Headcollar means walks.
At first you may need two leads, one on his collar and one on his headcollar until he settles into wearing it.
In some cases the headcollar has a dramatically calming effect on a dog. It is like they are sedated. It certainly has had that effect on the Labrador mentioned above. From being a total nightmare and menace for the old gentleman to walk he has turned into a calm and relaxed dog that walks by his side at a very sedate pace.
Another thing to check is whether your dog's diet is affecting his behaviour. Some foods are like rocket fuel. Take a look at the website All About Dog Food.
Zeus has also reached his juvenile delinquent stage
It is at this age that many dogs end up in recue because of their behaviour. It takes an incredible amount of patience to get through this period. It helps if you have a strong bond with him and this is achieved in the home environment by training and playing with him.
If he wasn't well socialised as a pup then you are playing catch up now. It may take years to teach him to be around other dogs and stay calm. Remember that it is fear that is driving his behaviour so no amount of discipline is going to help. He needs exposure to other dogs from a safe distance so that he learns they are no threat. This may need repeating hundreds of times before you can move a little closer and repeat the exposure all over again. Feed him and play with him while he senses that the other dog is in the area so that he feels happy. If he won't eat or play then he is too close.
Some ADPT trainers run classes for dogs like Zeus. They may be called rehabilitation or similar. They are small and usually help outside to help the dog cope. The trainer can watch each handler and dog to check that they are handling the dog in a way that is helping rather than hindering his progress. Do think about contacting one in your area.
Choose a day when your patience is high. Choose a time when your dog is calm (not when you are about to go out). Produce the headcollar and some food and let him eat the food through the head collar. Don't strap it on yet, just let him put his nose through and get the food. Repeat this several times through the day until he accepts the headcollar around his face. Gradually persuade him to have the headcollar done up for a few seconds while he has treats. Keep everything light and happy. Try to prevent his feet reaching the headcollar. Once he starts wearing it to go out for walks he will make the association of Headcollar means walks.
At first you may need two leads, one on his collar and one on his headcollar until he settles into wearing it.
In some cases the headcollar has a dramatically calming effect on a dog. It is like they are sedated. It certainly has had that effect on the Labrador mentioned above. From being a total nightmare and menace for the old gentleman to walk he has turned into a calm and relaxed dog that walks by his side at a very sedate pace.
Another thing to check is whether your dog's diet is affecting his behaviour. Some foods are like rocket fuel. Take a look at the website All About Dog Food.
Zeus has also reached his juvenile delinquent stage
It is at this age that many dogs end up in recue because of their behaviour. It takes an incredible amount of patience to get through this period. It helps if you have a strong bond with him and this is achieved in the home environment by training and playing with him.If he wasn't well socialised as a pup then you are playing catch up now. It may take years to teach him to be around other dogs and stay calm. Remember that it is fear that is driving his behaviour so no amount of discipline is going to help. He needs exposure to other dogs from a safe distance so that he learns they are no threat. This may need repeating hundreds of times before you can move a little closer and repeat the exposure all over again. Feed him and play with him while he senses that the other dog is in the area so that he feels happy. If he won't eat or play then he is too close.
Some ADPT trainers run classes for dogs like Zeus. They may be called rehabilitation or similar. They are small and usually help outside to help the dog cope. The trainer can watch each handler and dog to check that they are handling the dog in a way that is helping rather than hindering his progress. Do think about contacting one in your area.
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Hi just a quick message, Facebook have a page called RDuk, its a support group for people with reactive dogs it offers support, from members going through exact things you are dealing with with, admin are run by trainers, they have files in place which can help with training your dog, no negitivity on this site, no forced training, nobody judged, they may also have folk in your area who can help. Take a look. Good Luck. X
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