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FergusG May 2017 4:27pm, 19 May 2017 1,319 posts	0 FergusG I didn't even try a halti-collar (head collar) on Stella, as my previous Labrador just wouldn't wear one without spending the whole walk trying to scrape the thing off (the pavement, walls and my knee were all attempted). I do know some people find them useful though. I'm lucky that Stella was smart enough to learn from a pup that if she pulls, I'll stop. You're starting with Rory when he's already a fairly big strong lad however, so a halti-collar might well give you short-term respite and help with the longer-term training too.
LazyDaisy May 2017 5:47pm, 19 May 2017 18,472 posts	0 LazyDaisy Fergus has it right, in that even as a slightly older dog Rory will learn that pull=stop. It can be immensely frusrating as you have to stop every few yards until they get the message! The other thing to try is, with a slip lead, (like these: gundog-solutions.co.uk ) have it right up behind his ears. If he pulls on such a lead when it's round his neck he'll just strangle himself but it won't stop him pulling. If it's up behind his ears, he won't hurt himself but it does make it uncomfortable to pull. The stop and wait plan is best though I think.
Rosehip May 2017 6:44pm, 19 May 2017 8,818 posts	0 Rosehip You have a Springer, they do tend to pull like trains! Ralph sits and howls with a head collar, so that never worked, gun dog style slip as LD suggests might be best option. I get on okay with the easy walker anti pull, which attaches across chest, but there's a knack to holding lead high. Ralph doesn't pull once we turn for home, only on the way out and when somewhere new
halfpint May 2017 6:55pm, 19 May 2017 23,166 posts	0 halfpint Pull=stop is what we are trying. Mostly it is required for going to the park with the ball. He literally drags us the entire way. He pulls to try and get to people and dogs but we stop and try get him to the side anyway. Re: Loose lead, perseverance will pay off. We were very selective about where we tried it out and about. Quiet sections with nothing exciting to pull towards. We're still working on generalising but there are places he associates with walking to heel. He is mostly fairly good.
BaronessBL May 2017 8:06pm, 19 May 2017 6,574 posts	0 BaronessBL Some good advice here - I am sure D2 will have some too as I think Indi was a bit of puller for a while
D2 May 2017 9:19pm, 19 May 2017 9,741 posts	0 D2 hi, yep he pulls! I had a beautifully behaved obedient dog who would walk by my side on a loose lead until one day it all went t*ts up when he realised he was stronger than me. Against every thing I wanted or believed in I tried several contraptions mainly body based restraint or head based restraint. I believe that it depends on your own dog (maybe a breed thing) as to what works but there is usually one that will work for you. I have ended up with a Dogmatic which is a life saver and I can now go anywhere and he is back to respecting me again ..... and cant pull. I had tried a harness but he just pulled against that, with the Dogmatic it seems to make him docile !!!! It is very kind and doesn't bend his neck; he doesn't care for it much and does rub his face sometimes but I am in charge and that makes us both happy.
D2 May 2017 9:20pm, 19 May 2017 9,742 posts	0 D2 I'm an only person tonight as Indi is in kennels while I host the wedding this weekend, its very weird!!
Sharkie May 2017 9:36pm, 19 May 2017 11,525 posts	0 Sharkie Jess walks side by side quite beautifully now (unless she sees/smells the sea.....) but like Indi was just too strong for me and became a terrible puller for a while. We resorted to a front loading very simple sort of harness thing (basically two thin straps that fasten under her ribs - but it works really well, the lead attaches on her chest - there are no head straps. She's so well behaved off lead these days Raffo rarely bothers with the harness - he just attaches the lead to her normal collar when ness. I still use it in case of CAT. She could definitely pull me over if she got 'really' annoyed....
Mazlin May 2017 10:12pm, 19 May 2017 2,985 posts	0 Mazlin I knew you would all know! Thank you. We are trying pull=stop too, but he's so focused on the birds or rabbits or whatever I don't think he actually registers most of the time that I'm even still there so I'm not sure the connection is happening yet. Think we will try a headcollar and if he really hates it we'll just stop. Sharkie, how does the front attaching harness work if your dog tries to run in front of you? Does it pull them sideways?
Derby Tup May 2017 10:23pm, 19 May 2017 22,872 posts	0 Derby Tup Our Tussock is running his first marathon on Sunday (the Excalibur trail in Wales). He's sausage loading tomorrow but doesn't know yet (he's currently lay with his head on my chest snoring like a baby)