Need advice for walking my dog on a leash

by Amy

Recently, walking my 14 month old Coton de Tulear has become a daily struggle. Beau just goes at 100 miles an hour pulling on the leash and it scares me because he'll struggle so hard that I'm afraid he's going to choke from pulling his collar so hard.

He was fine when he was a puppy and I'm not sure what changed, but even the neighbors are a little afraid when they see a dog moving quickly toward them (even though there's not an aggressive bone in his body and he only weights 9 pounds).

It's embarrassing that this little dog is pulling me all over the neighborhood.

I'd appreciate any advice to help me teach Beau how to walk nicely on his leash and follow me for a change.

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May 09, 2012
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Walking the dog
by: Vicky & Jonah (Az)

I want to say I to have had dogs all my life & have worked both in Px. Field & Obedience & agility. I have also have had terrier & herding breeds. A Coton is very smart & does not need tough love. A dog is a dog but positive reinforcement is the key to a Coton. A Joel Silverman who use to do "Good Dog U" which can be found on the web for free is a good ex. of training methods for Cotons.

Their is a pet supply place called Ryanspet.com. where u can look at supplys. If u go to collars & click on fur savers their is a "Check choke" that is humane yet will still cause the hair around the neck to mat if u want to go that way. But if u go to harnesses their is a "Costal Comfort Soft Nylon Harness", or "Lil Pals Soft Mesh Harness" which so far of the ones I have tried mats the less.

The best way to teach a dog not to pull as before change direction or just stop every time they pull & practice with lots of walks. Cotons luv the outside & luv to walk. With a Coton breed u get more from them when u give a command u have a smile on ur face which is up beat when the command comes out. All dogs go thru the leash pulling phase. All of a sudden it will just go away with practice.

May 08, 2012
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Remember a Coton is still a dog
by: Anonymous

I own a Corgi and am waiting for my Coton to be born. I've had different breeds of dogs all my life therefore I am going to say something along the lines of Cesear Milan. A dog is a dog whether it is big or small. Please take obedience classes or hire a trainer (a good one) to train you on how to be with your dog. What Gale said, I have done with all of my dogs. Even though my Corgi is going on 8 years old he still needs those refresher courses to remind him I am the "alpha bitch". By heart I am a soft person, when it comes to my dog, I must step up and be the leader.

For example, I have a friend and we walk often with her two Shitzu boys. I've known these dogs since they were pups. I would walk two then add my dog at the same time. She would walk one at a time before I even helped out. When we all walk together "the boys" as I call them walk her, they pull on the leash/lead and she even has a harness on one of them and I can hear them choking. They determine where she will walk. If they want to go a block further they will refuse to turn the corner to continue walking with me and my dog. However, when I grab the leash they both know I am in charge. I can walk all three on one side of me on a short leash and without pulling. Remember, you are the boss no matter how cute, fuzzy, darling, sweet, cuddly your Coton is! And, man, are they ever CUTE!

I find a show collar works nice too. Keep your dog at your side using a 4' or 6' leash. The show collar is like a choke collar only softer and once the dog knows that if he pulls it tightens, when he stops pulling it releases.If you think of it when your dog gets groomed they often put the dog into a show type harness to prevent them from moving around or jumping off the table, therefore they are familiar with collar in a way. Watch a dog show and you will see what I mean; that the collar is up more under the neck which controls the dogs head and movement for a very short minute until they feel the pressure release. I hope these ideas help.

Last thought, and this takes time and patience is start walking. Once your dog starts to pull, stop. When it stops start walking again. If it starts pulling, stop. Repeat for a bit, then I would say go into Gale's bit of then turning every few feet or blocks OR you could take the squeaky toy and when your dog starts pulling, squeak the toy saying come. Reward. Then start again. The dog will learn a few things there - when to come, I can't go to far ahead, is she going to call me again - I better be ready in case she does.

I wish all of you wonderful success in your upcoming walks. :)

May 08, 2012
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Walking
by: Vicky & Jonah (Az)

Also besides the great advice below Gale refers to sometimes by just stopping & calling ur pup back to ur side then start walking again. Now u may have to stop numerous times & when I say numerous every time their is an attempt to pull stop. Use the leash & say come bring them to u gently back to ur side & start again.

This sometimes works better w/certain dogs when the changing direction method seems to be going no where. Remember the more the dog attempts the behavior it means it is going away & they are making the last attempts to keep it. Just like kids. (-:

May 08, 2012
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leash walking
by: Anonymous

Take off the collar and replace it with a proper haarness.

May 08, 2012
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Walking with a harness
by: Anonymous

Our Tully (now 8 montrhs old) has always strained to walk ahead of us when we use his collar. Then we tried a normal harness and that didn't help. A friend recommended a harness called EZ-Walk. The lead comes off in front, near his chest. I thought it was a strange arrangement, but it works! It has made an enormous difference, and keeps him closer to us when we walk.

Apr 16, 2012
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Beau
by: Vicky & Jonah (Az)

Jonah now 4 did the same thing at that age. We walked all the time then 1 day he started barking & looking like he wanted to tear the dogs apart. Now he would not have but it was embarrassing.

I did not have the problem of him pulling since I had already basically used the exact info below to curb the pulling. I did use a harness when he was young thou since he was great at slipping out of the collar.

I started taking him to the dog park as much as possible. We still took our walks around where I live but within a month the agressiveness of barking at other dogs as we passed other walkers went away. Good luck.

Apr 15, 2012
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My dog did that as well - he will grow out of it hopefully
by: Anonymous

I love reading these blogs because they always are just what my coton does too. Wall-E would do the same thing on his leash and pull me and scare away people and other dogs too just like you describe! He really was just so excited to see them! It was embarassing and it probably took a year or two to get him to not do that. We even took him to a dog training school and it didn't help. We gave up on the canine good citizen test because he did everything perfect until they brought out a big dog. Then it is all over and he fails! He is three now and he still walks ahead of us and usually likes to walk as fast as he can until he is tired out, but he is a very good dog socially on walks now. We have conceded to not worrying about him being in front anymore, but the other thing he still hasn't gotten over is that he will never go on a walk with anyone other than me or my husband so our kids can't walk him. We have always used a harness as well - good advice.

Apr 15, 2012
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walking the dog
by: Iris Miller

I also had a trainer teach me how to walk my dog. First, the leash needs to be short to keep your dog close to you, to follow you, not lead. Walk upright looking straight ahead, not at your dog( the dog will think you are looking to them for directions). The dog needs to learn the commands :heel and sit. If he starts to pull, stop walking hold the leash straight up and tell him to sit..The dog will burn up energy sitting, just like walking.Then say lets go, turn in another direction, walk a short distance and turn again. slow your speed and hold the leash behind your waist, he will follow close and to the side of you.
ps I had Tuffy on a harness the first few months, and the trainer had me use the collar for training, said it is more effective.
I am considering going back to a harness for him because he goes nuts whn the next door neighbor dog barks and Tuffy will lurch and run to the end of his leash and yank his neck. He has hurt his neck and throat a couple of times.

Apr 15, 2012
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LEASH TRAINING
by: SHERRY/COTTON

We were told by the breeder when we bought Cotton that we should always use a harness (not a collar) when she was walked because of their neck bones being so fragile. We have always done that as I hate to see any dog big or little straining and coughing while being walked. I know most people do train their dogs to walk beside them and probably a collar would be fine as they get older. I let Cotton have the full run of her retractable leash as long as their are no golf carts or other walkers close. This gives her a little feeling of freedom and also tires her out quicker. We have a decent walking path close to us so it works really well to be able to do that. i would really recommend a harness, you just never know when a dog might bolt and be yanked back causing some vocal damage. good luck to you. Let us know how things work out.

Apr 15, 2012
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Eerie posting this concern
by: Katherine

This is just too weird. I just came back in the house from a "walk" with Murphy. We were both panting! I told my husband that this is ridiculous, he pulls so much that I have to run. Not enjoyable at all! Then I sit down & check my mail and there is your post! I have already decided that we're switching to his harness for walks & I may try Gale's technique as well. The neighbors need something new to talk about anyway! LOL I'd be interested to hear any other suggestions as well.

Apr 15, 2012
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Beau
by: Sevi

There is a high chance that he has smelled a bitch being in heat in your neighborhood and that he follows her smell around.
I have a female coton and when she is in heat, the males dogs of the neighborhood act that way.

Hope he goes back to normal leash walking soon.
Good luck!

Apr 15, 2012
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Leash walking technique
by: Gale

I learned a great technique from Secrets to Dog Training that really worked for Luc recently. When we moved to our new house he had to be re-trained on leash walking. I guess the new surroundings were too much for his senses and he forgot everything he knew. Here's what I did and it worked very quickly (it might take longer if it's your first time teaching this and not just re-teaching like with Luc).

Have your dog sit and then put on his leash (use a 6 foot leash to keep him close to you; not a retractable).
Now you're going to show your dog that he has to follow your lead so you are going to walk about 5 to 10 feet and then change directions. You do this over and over for about 10 or 15 minutes. Just keep constantly changing directions as you walk.
It's amazing how fast they realize that they have to look to you for guidance because they have no idea which direction they will be going next.
It's best to start this in a wide open space without a lot of distractions from traffic, or other people and animals. You could even do this in your living room or just your driveway at first.
Try to do this at different times and different places so he can't anticipate where you're going.

This worked after one time for Luc but I did it for several days just to reinforce the training. I'm sure the new neighbors thought I was nuts if they saw us. But, now as soon as I put the leash on, Luc looks up at me as if to say "where are we going today"? No more of him walking me :)

I agree that a harness might be a good option for Beau if you're concerned that he might harm himself. The above technique will work with a collar or a harness.

Good Luck and let us know how he does.

Apr 15, 2012
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Pet Harness
by: Heloisa

Amy, have you tried a pet harness instead of a collar?
I use it to walk my Cotons and, even if they try to pull me and run, it's easier to stop them without fear that they'll choke. I find harnesses more suitable and safe to wear on little dogs like ours...

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