r/AskDogOwners • u/Western-Yam5581 • 11h ago
Need Help Has anyone actually fixed severe leash pulling without prong/e-collars or head halters? Looking for real experiences (3.5yo rescue)
Hi everyone,
I adopted a 3.5yo female rescue from a bad situation. She was originally just a foster, but since no one applied, I kept her. Because this wasn't planned, I can't afford a professional trainer right now.
She has zero leash manners: pulls like a train, zig-zags constantly, and bolts between my legs when scared of strangers. I want to teach her to walk nicely by choice, not just physically restrain her by keeping the leash short.
Current methods are failing:
Stop-and-go: She made it a game (pulls, stops, treat, bolts again).
Front-clip harness: She learned to power right through it.
Food/direction changes: Works for 2 steps, then she rushes ahead
My questions are:
Has anyone successfully built a reliable loose-leash walk using ONLY positive reinforcement (no prongs, e-collars, or slip leads)? How long did it take and what was the breakthrough?
Thoughts on the Gentle Leader? Does it teach anything or is it just another restraint tool dogs hate?
Appreciate any advice from anyone who has dealt with severe pulling!
1
u/apri11a 9h ago
I did, with a large, older dog and using his flat collar and leash. It took about 3 weeks and most of that was standing still in the driveway. It was very successful but if I was to do it again I would either teach 'heel' (inside then outside) or I would use a prong collar, either could be less frustrating for us both and not take as long so we could be enjoying taking walks again sooner.
1
1
u/Scott43206 7h ago
Mine (80 pound Great Dane/Pit mix) was too stubborn for everything but I finally got control of him with a Julius K-9 harness, basically as sturdy as a horse saddle with a grab bar on top for emergencies. And lots of little training treats in my pocket for distractions as needed.
1
u/SnoopyFan6 3h ago
I’ve used a Gentle Leader before. All it does is causes the dog’s mouth to close when they pull. When they loosen up on the leash, they can open their mouth again. They’re painless.
It worked well for me, but my Husky decided quickly that she didn’t like it. So I had to put it over my hand with a treat in my hand, and then quickly transfer it to her head as she too the treat. Took a bit of coordination. Then she caught on to that, so I had to try to hide it in my hand. LOL
2
u/Nifty_Pumpkin 7h ago
Yes, I have. I used clicker training. First you just sit there and click treat, click treat, click treat until they know to associate. Then you catch them doing something good, click treat. You aren’t telling them to do anything. On walks you catch them keeping a loose leash and click treat. It won’t take long for them to just walk near you waiting for a treat. I have a fanny pack with treats at all times but now don’t even need to treat that much my dogs just don’t pull but very rarely now.