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How can i walk my huge dogs?

We just adopted 2 newfoundland/great p./lab mixes that are 2 years old and have not been trained to walk on a leash. they are big dogs between 80-100 pounds and are stubborn, fast, and horrible strong. we have tried gentle leads but their noses are too short so they can pull them off or chew through them real fast if your not paying enought attention. any ideas, besides something like shock collers, that could help us be able to walk them?


Asked by Member 979272 on Apr 2nd 2010 Tagged walks, largedogs in Leash Walking
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Guest

I recommend martingale collars for ALL dogs, but they're especially useful for theses super big, strong pullers. It essentially acts as a "choke chain" but without all the the things that make a choke chain so dangerous. Make sure to invest in a high quality one with a chain loop (not a fabric one), because the cheaper ones have a habit of loosening every time your dog pulls and that defeats the purpose. Loop the leash around your waist - It's a lot harder to pull you around when the leash is anchored to your entire body and not just your arm. Walk, and as soon as the leash begins to tighten (when they're pulling) turn around on a dime and go the other way.

And please, PLEASE, don't listen to the people I know are going to come in here and try to convince you that choke chains and prong collars are acceptable to use, even on big dogs. Your dogs deserve better.


Member 968710 answered on 4/2/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 2 Report this answer


Aster

A properly adjusted Halti should stay on and make a big difference. I have had good luck with them with Labs that have the same shape head and a Nuef. But much of it is about good technique and not the collar. Only the very best trained dogs came be walked more than one at a time.

Easier dogs will give up their pulling with a few good snaps of the leash combined with a stern "Bad dog!". But you don't want to use any more force than you need. One gentle technique I like is to just stop when he pulls. He wants to go. If you move forward when the leash is slack, and stop when he pulls, he should quickly figure out the only way to get to go, is not to pull. This is about teaching him not to pull, not getting somewhere. The man that taught it to me said "If in a half hour you haven't made it out to the front walk, fine, you have taught him a lesson. Pulling the dog backwards is a good technique too.


Aster answered on 4/2/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Wyatt

Check out www.cesarsway.com to learn how to "Master the Walk." A couple collars to check out to help are the Illusion Collar (can find it on cesarsway.com) and a Gentle Leader (keeps them from pulling). Good luck!


Wyatt answered on 4/2/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Zackintosh CJ

I'm not going to tell you chokes/prongs are cruel, if they work for the dog and its being used properly, fine.
You could try learning how to use one properly (I'd recommend a prong, not a choker, prongs are safer IMO) and don't think of it as a quick fix. That could help.
I don't think you should use a head collar though, they can cause injuries, especially if the dog is a bad puller, I think a training collar would be safer in this situation.
Find a good trainer to help you, or try posting in the behavior and training forums here on Dogster.


Zackintosh CJ answered on 4/2/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Brutus

I personally do not think that any type of choke collar, including the martingale collars, is safe. I understand that the martingale collars are safer and don't choke as much as the original chain choke collar, but a nice harness is better. I use the "Easy Walk" harness and let me tell you, it is the best harness I have ever used. It's easy to put on your dog. The Easy Walk is not like a regular harness. The leash attaches to the metal loop which is on the dog's chest, instead of back. When the dog yanks, the dog will get gently pulled back. We reccomend this harness to anyone with dog leash troubles. Hope you look in to getting one of these!


Brutus answered on 4/2/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Hector

You might consider obedience classes as well. This will teach them to walk with you on any lead, without all the hassle. This will take alot of the strain and muscle work out of trying to handle these guys.

With such large breeds and two of them at that, you and your dogs would benefit from basic training classes.

This will get them use to being near other dogs without going crazy. It will also teach them follow your commands.

It's just another option, but it may work for you, and it is relatively inexpensive. Just be sure the trainer is reputable and no force training is involved. Only positive encouragements should be used.

Good luck


Hector answered on 4/2/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 1 Report this answer


Star

There is a nose pinch halter that fits around their snout that controls them when they try to pull away from you. I used it on my beagle for a year , and she's a therapy dog now, and responds to hand signals. It sounds cruel, but really doesn't hurt the dog except their feelings. It worked for her, and she flunked out of Obedience School before I tried it.


Star answered on 4/3/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Dieta

I guarantee that the Sensation Harness will work.
I actually ran into a guy who owns and breeds Newfies and he has his own dog training center.
He I thought was talking a sales pitch but they do work we bought one for our almost 90 lb shelter dog that is as big as a mastiff breed as yours is. She is a plower and a mass of muscles. This harness is working for her. He was using the leash with his thumb the other day she walked perfectly on it and it is not inhumane like the shock collar and some of the head collars that most strong dogs break. here is there site, measure your dog very good before buying.
I have the black and purple one. p.s you don't leave them on. They are only for walking
www.softouchconcepts.com


Dieta answered on 4/3/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Lilly (RIP)

Please don't put choke collars on them! They are horrible horrible things. Maybe try exercising them a lot (Agility courses, lots of fetch and running around in a park ect.) So they're more worn down? That might get them to stop pulling a little bit. Maybe try a different kind of halter?


Lilly (RIP) answered on 4/6/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

I have a maremma and I had the same problems when walking him because he is just so strong. You shouldnt be having any trouble with the gentle leaders, If they are worn correctlty. My suspicion is you havnt tightened them enough. or you bought a size too big. first make sure you fit the head collar so that the strap over the nose fits snug just under the eyes at the top of the nose, without slipping. you can make sure of it by just pulling it a bit to test, and it shouldnt be loose behind the neck. You can buy a clip also that attaches to the collar and the halti so if he did actually manage to slip out he cant run away as you still have him by the collar. if that doesnt work and it should. i also have a sporn halti harness which is worn like a regular harness but when he pulls it pulls up under his armpits to he has to stop pulling, this worked a treat on my dog also. hope that helps.


Member 980087 answered on 4/7/10. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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