Hi, I'm new to the forum but have been reading many of the posts here for a couple of weeks.
There is so much bad advice out there (on the internet) and I can't you how thrilled I am to have found this site. I just ordered the puppy video so I won't ask too many questions until I view it.
Our puppy is a bullmastiff mix and she's 14 weeks old. She weighs 25 lbs and is very strong(and mouthy, but we're working on that!). When she is outside she is always on the leash, and it's to the point that she is nearly pulling my arm out of it's socket. Is it too soon for a puppy prong collar, or does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance...

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

Hi, I'm new to the forum but have been reading many of the posts here for a couple of weeks.
There is so much bad advice out there (on the internet) and I can't you how thrilled I am to have found this site. I just ordered the puppy video so I won't ask too many questions until I view it.
Our puppy is a bullmastiff mix and she's 14 weeks old. She weighs 25 lbs and is very strong(and mouthy, but we're working on that!). When she is outside she is always on the leash, and it's to the point that she is nearly pulling my arm out of it's socket. Is it too soon for a puppy prong collar, or does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance...

Hi, Lynne,

This may sound like a silly question, but I'm running into it a lot. The puppy isn't by chance on a halter, is he? You are using a regular flat collar?

Yes, I am using a flat nylon collar...

I use a treat pouch and LOTS of turns....

I treat the dog for looking at me while walking, not in a competition obedience heel position, but with a loose lead and close. When they start to forge ahead and pull, I change direction, not with a jerk on the leash though, just a gentle tug, a here command (ALL kinds of happy in my voice) and a treat when they get there.....or a game of tug.....depends on the dog.

The more fun you make it for your pup to be with you....the more they will not forge ahead because they will not want to miss out on a treat that comes from the most fun thing in the world.

I actually start using a long line (between 15 and 30 feet long) and I let the pup be a pup (focus on one thing is not very long and a semi tired puppy is easier to work with than a full of energy puppy, so i let them run off the initial "Oh yeah, I am free" stuff first.....as I call them back and they come to me I treat and make it really fun for them to be with me, and then I gradually start shortening the line until I have a 4' lead on them.

Ditto to Carol, and also I release the dogs frequently from heel. Even though it's a casual heel (really just not pulling or going ahead of me), I stop and clearly say the release word ("OK" for us) and they can have the length of the line to do whatever they want.

For me, because I want the dogs always to stay beside me when actually walking, I clearly differentiate between that and their release, which I enforce by me standing still when they're released.

Yeah, me too....I forgot that.....all my dogs have a release command.....Good One Connie....

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just a gentle tug, a here command (ALL kinds of happy in my voice) and a treat when they get there.....or a game of tug.....depends on the dog.

Just a personal anecdote which may be of value. For me, casually walking Eich with a degree of civility didn't happen until I introduced the prong. Not to say I couldn't have, but I readily admit that perhaps I just wasn't imaginative or knowledgable enough. The "problem" was that food was/is such a powerful motivator, he couldn't just appreciate a serendipitous treat upon coming to me. He already WAS frantically glued to me. Couldn't get him away if I wanted to. His prey was also something which definitely developed, and I don't think he woulda cared enough at 14 weeks.

In my case, I don't think it really did any harm to just put on the power steering once things got out of hand with his size and strength (around 6 months and 60 pounds).

Having said that, 14 weeks? Not sure how 25 pounds can be pulling your arm out of your socket, but I don't know your condition and situation either. Any particular problem with letting her just explore her world on a flexi-lead for now?

Thanks for your responses. Today I played a game of fetch with her new Orbee (she loves it) and then I walked her and she was much better with the pulling. It definately helps to have the treats by my side as well... She is not an extremely high energy pup, so it really only takes a few minutes of chasing an Orbee to release any pent up energy. I will continue with Carol's suggestions before I resort to a prong collar. Thanks again...

 Quote: steven lepic

Having said that, 14 weeks? Not sure how 25 pounds can be pulling your arm out of your socket, but I don't know your condition and situation either. Any particular problem with letting her just explore her world on a flexi-lead for now?

Your right, 25 pounds is not too much, however, this is a BullMastiff pup and when she/he is 6 months and built like a brick craphouse, it will be even more difficult to teach not to pull.

Better to teach her now. With "velcro" dogs, or dogs that do not want to leave a handler or me, I encourage independence as they are not going to be the ones to pull me to where they want to go.
One dog I worked with was so needy that we actually put food out around the area so that she would venture out to look for it. Took a few times, but once she figured out that she would find her favorite treat if she left me, then she would range away.
She turned out to be a great pet.

14 weeks and pulling is a sign that the dog is going to get worse if it is not dealt with.

Just wanted to say that my pup has greatly improved in the pulling department. My biggest problem (in hindsight) was that I was trying to walk her on a 6' leash, which gave her very little leeway to explore. I got a flexilead and use that for our walks, which are quite informal at this point. She now responds nicely to a 'here girl', knowing that most times if she returns to me a treat will ensue...thanks again for the good suggestions.