Posted on 07/26/2025 11:52:07 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Rockwell as a Puppy. He's much bigger now at 85 lbs.
Rocky is an aggressive mix who likes to walk on a leash and/or a no-pull harness but he still pulls - well - aggressively. I'm asking the very wise and knowledgeable FReeper community what he needs. Is there a no-pull harness that really works? I'm told a choke collar is not good, so I haven't tried that.
I dread the day when an unleashed dog appears as Rockwell will not tolerate any encounter and will react with force. I carry Pepper Spray for such a possibility and am even considering carrying something else. If you know what I mean.
What is the best option?
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My first recommendation is to get a prong collar in addition to your flat collar. The prong is for amplifying communication, not punishment, but they have been known to pop loose. Hence, you will need a leash with dual clips, one for the prong and one for the flat collar backup. There is an Amish flavor that is excellent.
You can buy those at Leerburg.com. There you will find EXCELLENT training videos, many by Michael Ellis, whom I recommend highly. Please take in his video on his philosophy of dog training.
Been there. Done that. Rockwell had a no good day that day.
Unless or until you get this resolved, tie him to your body so he can’t really do some serious harm.
Good for you!!
We truly thought we had a itty bitty dog when we got him. We were fooled.
I'm considering this....
I once had a 170 pound Great Dane female who pulled a lot.
I got a “Gentle Leader” which corrected the problem. This leader has a collar and a strap that fits over the nose. When the dog pulls, the leash pulls the head down which stops the pulling very quickly.
The first time I used this, she stopped pulling within 50 yards. After a couple of weeks, when I wanted to put the collar on, she would stick her nose out to help putting it on.
Fairly inexpensive, under $20 at amazon.
Have you considered a muzzle?
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I am now. Thanks.
This is the best solution I have read. It works wonders when used correctly.
The problem is that the owner needs as much training as the pup. Sometimes ego gets in the way.
I also recommend that when people get exasperated, impatient or angry, it is time to stop.
This is probably too far-fetched and potentially dangerous. But was unbelievable to see.
My son and his wife had a large puppy, some mix of lab and pit.
The dog eventually could be mostly controlled when walking. But when our little granddaughter was about 4 and had the leash, he would trot slowly along side of her, never pulling or running.
This
Control his head, you control the dog
As others have suggested, obedience training. The classes are affordable and you learn how to continue the training at home (which is continuous until learned).
The trainer’s main jog is to understand the dog’s personality and then train the dog owner.
jog = job. /typo
He’s the alpha in this relationship. Get a choke chain and find a private stretch of sidewalk, yard that allows you to walk and train the dog. Hold the leash and dog as close as you can to your body and walk him on the stretch of land. At some point, turn to your right and if need be, pull the dog around using your left hip. Do this for about a half hour and surprising him when you turn. You don’t want him using a landmark as his trigger so its important that the turns are random. What you’re teaching him is he needs to pay attention to you and what you’re doing. Do it for several days and then add stops where you stop, he sits and not in front of you but to your left side. If he’s food motivated, this is pretty easy. Break the sit by saying heel so he knows the alpha is ready to move.
Once you’re done after a couple weeks, test with some friends dogs before taking into public but if its done right,you’ll no longer need the choke chain when you take him in public.
So cute!
My daughter has four dogs. Two Corgis. a :Labradoodle and a large mixed breed. Every day she takes them to the dog park where they can run around, sometimes with other dogs. Only one that she sometimes puts on a leash is the Labradoodle who runs away from the group and once took four hours to find,
If you have a dog park, that might at least partly solve your problem. Local rules are all different.
I’ve recommended it to several and it’s worked for all.
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