Hey everyone, my puppy’s 7 months old now, and before he got hormonal, we had done some leash training. It wasn’t perfect, but he at least knew not to pull. Now that we’ve moved to the city, with lots of unspayed dogs around, he’s going nuts and completely ignoring the cues. My little terrier mix is pulling me like a husky! 
How can I reinforce loose leash walking? Did I mess up his initial training, or are there better tips for this?
Oh man, I feel you. My pup went through a similar phase. Have you tried a front-clip harness? It helped me a ton!
Channel said:
Oh man, I feel you. My pup went through a similar phase. Have you tried a front-clip harness? It helped me a ton!
Not yet, but I’ve heard about them. Do they really make that big of a difference?
Channel said:
Oh man, I feel you. My pup went through a similar phase. Have you tried a front-clip harness? It helped me a ton!
Yeah, it gives you more control. When they pull, it gently guides them back toward you. Worth a shot for sure!
Have you tried the stop-and-go method? Like, every time they pull, just stop walking until the leash is loose.
Delilah said:
Have you tried the stop-and-go method? Like, every time they pull, just stop walking until the leash is loose.
I tried that before, but it felt like we weren’t going anywhere. Did it work for you?
Delilah said:
Have you tried the stop-and-go method? Like, every time they pull, just stop walking until the leash is loose.
It takes patience, lol. But yeah, over time, they get it. Consistency is key!
Training in less distracting areas might help. Start somewhere quiet and build up to busier places. Also, teaching an attention cue like ‘look at me’ works wonders.
Ginger said:
Training in less distracting areas might help. Start somewhere quiet and build up to busier places. Also, teaching an attention cue like ‘look at me’ works wonders.
Good idea! How do you teach the attention cue? Just treats when they make eye contact?
Ginger said:
Training in less distracting areas might help. Start somewhere quiet and build up to busier places. Also, teaching an attention cue like ‘look at me’ works wonders.
Exactly! Use a command like ‘watch me,’ and reward every time they make eye contact. Keep it simple at first.
Neutering might help with the hormonal craziness. It made my dog a lot calmer around others.
ZACKY said:
Neutering might help with the hormonal craziness. It made my dog a lot calmer around others.
Yeah, I’ve been considering that. How long after neutering did you notice a change?
ZACKY said:
Neutering might help with the hormonal craziness. It made my dog a lot calmer around others.
For me, it was a couple of months before he mellowed out, but every dog is different!
Pre-walk playtime can help burn off energy. I do a quick game of fetch before heading out, and it makes a difference!
Aurelia said:
Pre-walk playtime can help burn off energy. I do a quick game of fetch before heading out, and it makes a difference!
Oh, that’s smart. How long do you play with them before the walk?
Aurelia said:
Pre-walk playtime can help burn off energy. I do a quick game of fetch before heading out, and it makes a difference!
Just 10-15 minutes works for my dog. It helps take the edge off their excitement.