GSD 6 months old...how do i stop......

[jaynedoc]

Hi

......him pulling when we come across another dog.

He is so strong now. walks fine off lead and and he is mainly walked off lead in open fields...on the lead I think he is really good for his age will walk without pulling no probs there...

when we meet other dogs I have left him off lead and he just loves to run over and play....
he will come to call after 30 seconds or so as I walk away...he isao being whistle trained now.

but generally if a see another dog coming I will pop him on the lead...my problem is he really pulls very hard to get to the other dog.

have tried the C milan bit of putting him on the side away from the dog and using a short lead walk confidently but he is too strong for me and I and up nealry on the floor, have to use my whole body weight against him...I have tried sitting him down as a dog approaches and waiting for it to pass...this works better but is not ideal as we spend ages standing still andnot actually walking.

as soon as wea re passed the dog he still looks back at him but will continue to walk calmly with me...I can even let him off lead again and he will stay with me not run back after the dog it is purely going up to and passing which is the problem.... he seems fixed on the dog...i've tried touching him , calling him, shouting him, piece of cheese in hand ...every distraction technique I can think of but he remains locked on until passing.

he is walked in a normal leather collar and I use my horses leadrope as a lead as I can get a good grip on it.

any one come across this problem before and what can I do to stop it..

I am planning on taking him to GSD training classes in the new year but I feel that this is something I should be able to deal with.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Hi there.

Personally I would switch leather collar to a large link brass choke chain or something thinner, the right way round

or a half-check if you prefer, and attached to a leather lead, or a leather slip lead, while you get this sorted - with a broad leather collar he will be able to use his weight against you.

Meanwhile, at home, introduce a 'watch' command, build it up slowly, hold a treat at head level to start off to get his attention up there - always praise up - so the longer he keeps his eyes on you, the bigger the reward (cheese, play with a ball, whatever he likes best) and then slowly introduce this when out on walks, first without distraction, then with distraction and in conjuction with the check chain.

Keep him on your left.
Once his ears go up, once he has 'locked on' to the other dog as you say, before he has even started or had a chance to pull, give him a quick pop on the neck and a 'NO'.
It isn't a tug of war, he needs to know the different between a slack lead and a check on the neck.
Once he has looked back at you, which he should do 'what was that?!' praise and reward him.

The idea is when he looks at you and gives you his attention, he is rewarded, when he zones out, he gets checked.

Sitting the dog down while another dog passes can lead to a 'mexican standoff' and increase frustration, so I try to avoid things like that. Like a nappy horse, I think 'forward, forward, forward' - make it very upbeat and keep yourself animated, that will act as a distraction.

You could also try a headcollar but I don't like them personally.

Please do take him to those GSD training classes, you and he will both love it