Hi everyone!
Romeo is getting SO big and very strong.
I have been walking him daily since he was a pup and for the past two weeks he's just been nuts on walks. I Have a few issues I'd like to address now before it's too in depth..

1 - If anyone walks near us, within a visiable distance, even across the street he starts barking and backing up. Correct me if I'm wrong. Instead of fighting him on this I've instead, made him sit, I loosely hold his leash with no tension and make him sit calmly as the person walks by.. is that an effective approach? He doesn't fight me on it and sits there with no pulling, but his ears are perked together and his eyes do not for one moment leave the person, unless I give him no lead and make him continue forward. Is there another way to correct this behavior? Would this be considered aggresive?

2 - The pulling *ME*... it's driving me absolutely insane. I follow the rule of becoming the leader and making him follow me which usually works.. but he tends to ignore me completely and sniff the ground, jump around in circles... in other words he is just nuts when walking. I've tried a choke collar with no success - he'd rather fall over from no air than stop pulling, I've been told harnesses are not appropiate because they're made for the purpose of pulling (which makes sense)... what about Cesar's Illusion Collar? http://cesarmillan.securesites.net/icollar.php
Has anyone heard anything about it? I do not look forward to walking Romeo anymore because it feels like I'm constantly trying to keep him under control which is tiring.

Last question - can anyone suggest a trustworthy trainer or effective classes within the Rochester NY area? I Realize that I *Need* to learn how to properly train Romeo.. I do not want an out of control GSD. And let me tell you - I'm doing something really wrong because he is just wacko most of the time.

I've successfully housebroke him, crate trained him.. he listens perfectly to me in OUR home - but as soon as we're out of our home and in public it's as though I don't exist to him. Any input, advice or direction would be much appreciated. Thank you. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

have you tried a prong collar? a choke collar is the wrong tool, so unless you've tried a prong collar, you haven't really tried yet. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

ed has a great article on this site about how to select, fit, and use a prong collar. use the search function, you'll find lots of discussions about it too.

+1 on a good prong collar. I like Cesar's ideas and all but that collar looks like a total t.v. gimmic.

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+1 on a good prong collar........

The Illusion Collar is a type of DD collar, IMO. A prong is exactly what is needed for pulling.

Mike Arnold's post is also exactly what is needed.

JMO!

I also agree that a prong collar would be a great idea. Please check out Mr. Frawley's article on properly fitting them. My 6 month old will often pause when she sees people walking and she shows some interest in them. I confidently walk on, giving her a quick leash pop to refocus her attention on me and the command heel (should note that she knows this command properly). This seems to take care of the problem and I notice that her focus leaves me less and less.

-Melissa

I've had great success with the prong collar. I trained my dog to walk correctly on the leash for about two months with the prong and now he walks fine with a regular flat buckle, leather collar. It's very important to condition your dog to any collar before administering leash corrections. Ed explaines it in his Basic Dog Obedience DVD.

I was looking at the article in regards to a prong collar today on Ed's site and I'm considering purchasing his B.O DvD & a prong collar this payday. Before I use a prong collar though, I need to educate myself on how to properly use one... any suggestions on where I can seek out this input? I've never used one before and I certainly don't want to hurt Romeo.
Thanks again for the postive and useful input. =0)

First, I'd recommend getting either a Herm Sprenger or Titan brand prong collar. You want a good quality collar and those are the best.

You want the collar to be high on the dog's neck behind the ears. It should fit very snugly so that you can just fit your little finger between the dog's neck and the prongs. You make the collar larger or smaller by adding or removing prongs. For a GSD you'll probably want a medium.

To correct with a prong or choke collar you want to pop the lead. Basically this is a loose lead, tight lead, loose lead movement. But do try and find someone who can show you this in person. And, btw, it definitely won't be a PetsMart-type trainer or sales person unless you're lucky and find the exception.

As far as pulling goes, there's something you can do now no matter what type collar he's wearing. When he starts to go past you, quickly turn and run in the opposite direction. If he's paying attention and turns and goes with you, praise him. But, as is more likely, he's not paying attention then he will hit the end of the lead and give himself a firm correction. If he yelps, don't worry, he's not hurt just surprised. At that point he'll probably turn and come back to you. When he does, praise him. It may take a few times and if he's especially stubborn <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> you may spend a few walks going back and forth in front of someone's house (yours if you're lucky <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. If that happens, just hold your head up, smile and be happy that you and your dog are able to provide the neighbors with such wonderful entertainment.

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As far as pulling goes, there's something you can do now no matter what type collar he's wearing. When he starts to go past you, quickly turn and run in the opposite direction. If he's paying attention and turns and goes with you, praise him. But, as is more likely, he's not paying attention then he will hit the end of the lead and give himself a firm correction. If he yelps, don't worry, he's not hurt just surprised. At that point he'll probably turn and come back to you. When he does, praise him. It may take a few times and if he's especially stubborn <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> you may spend a few walks going back and forth in front of someone's house (yours if you're lucky <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. If that happens, just hold your head up, smile and be happy that you and your dog are able to provide the neighbors with such wonderful entertainment.

Ok, not to highjack Amanda's thread, but i just have a quick question about the above.
First off, I use a nylon choke collar (don't anyone jump on me for it, I am using the collar correctly, it's not a chain link one and it sits properly on him and I use it the way it was intended, with a small light pop just to let him know he's out of line)When I first start on our walk with Tucker, because he is a bit excited he pulls, a little and i mean very little. He's not straining on the lead, or pulling me in any way, my arm is loose at my side and probably to an onlooker he looks great, but I know its not. The collar is not at it's loosest and there is very little slack in the lead. Its almost like he walks a bit faster, when he feels the collar tighten a little he slows, but then just can't help himself and does it again. So I would like to start trying the above mentioned solution before I go to a prong collar. My question is should I correct him as I start to turn, not a pop because I know he will already get a slight correction when I turn the opposite way, but should I be saying no at some point, or should I just turn and not say a word?
I have been trying this method, and to be honest as soon as I turn and start heading in the opposit direction he goes into a perfect heel, head right by my knee, collar loose, lead loose. I praise him but the second we turn back around and he knows we're going in the direction of the park, it starts again. Maybe he's just not getting it. I don't expect perfection, but I would like him to heel without having the lead on all the time (in secure areas)and I know its not possible right now when we first start out. One last note, after we're at the park and heading home...perfect heel again.
I am stumped <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />