Hello All,
I'm new here, and nice to meet you all!
I'll try to make this short... I have two Aussies (3 and 4 months old)-I know, two pups at once NOT ideal, BUT we've been following Leerburg information and so far it's going pretty well EXCEPT for leash training. The girls both pull like sled dogs! It's horrible and I'm not exaggerating. My problem is, I've torn a ligament in my shoulder and therefore walking the girls is very painful when they pull like they do. I have martingale collars on them, and while it has helped some-they are still pulling like crazy. I would normally never put a pinch collar on a dog this young (however I DO use them for training when a dog is older), but in light of the situation with my shoulder, would a 2mm pinch collar be proper to use on them for walking? I hope I'm not looked down upon for asking this, but my shoulder is killing me and my girls MUST have their exercise daily.
Thanks for your advice - I appreciate it!
JW.

Just wanted to add that they have a TON of hair (very full coats already) and they aren't small dogs. The 3 month old weighs 32# and the 4 month old weighs 30#.

Hi Janine,

Welcome to the forum.

A few questions...

Are you walking these gals at the same time?

How have you tried training them up to this point to walk on lead?

Hello Barbara, and thank you! :-)
Yes, I walk them both separately and together, and they still pull when walked on a leash either way. When I go to the barn-I walk them together as I take them both with me.
I have been working on basic obedience skills with them, they know sit, down, and stay (short) thus far. We're working currently on 'wait'. They are learning 'easy', and it does help somewhat but when they get excited (barn cats) it goes in one ear and out the other. Leash training in the house is going pretty well, they won't pull but there is not the outside stimulus (ie: things to chase/herd). In the house, when working on leash training I use a small treat, and tell the 'watch me' to keep their attention on me. We change directions frequently and they are starting to sit when I stop. It's just outdoors that they get REALLY excited and pull like crazy. I certainly wouldn't say they are trained to 'heel' yet, but they don't pull either. Also, they are very well socialized, I'm a dog groomer and I take them to work with me so it's not like they never get out and 'see new things'! THANKS for the advice! :-)

Hi Janine. As you're finding out, it's certainly a challenge raising two young pups at the same time! I'm not going to give you any training advice because there are a lot of nice folks here more qualified than I am, but I'm sure you'll get the help you're asking for.

Welcome to the board. Aussies are great dogs, very intelligent, versatile and fun to be around!

Give this vid a look, Janine.

Welcome to the board.

He'll be back in a moment and give you the vid link... hehehehe.

Are they tall enough that you can "bait" them to your side with something irresistable when they get distracted? I'm not a trainer and there are many here who are more qualified than I am, but it's something that worked well for me with my aussie.

*facepalm*
Here you are!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjAghoeFiXE

 Quote: janine white

I hope I'm not looked down upon for asking this, but my shoulder is killing me and my girls MUST have their exercise daily.

I would not look down on anyone who uses a prong - I understand what you mean about exercise - they need it NOW, not after they learn to heel (don't want them in a formal heel anyway), and they need it WHILE you're working with markers on nice loose leash walking.
I took the easy way out, simply because nothing irks me more than a small dog pulling at the end of a leash (of which there are so many!) I put on the prong collar one day when Mitzi was 5 mo. old and - voila! - she simply stopped pulling and that was that.
Walking nicely in the neighborhood is the only thing I use the prong collar for. She understands now that when we go for nature hikes and she is in a harness and flexileash that she is free to "roam" and the not pulling thing has carried over to that type of walking all on it's own.