My GSD wears a prong collar. I do the turn and pop method. If he really isn't paying attention to me, I pop the leash as I turn and say "heel". He comes back into a proper heel when I do that. Many times, though, he is on to me. He starts to get a little ahead of me, has his nose to the ground, gets a little farther ahead, and I turn. Before I can pop the leash he's right at my leg. He can turn and get into position really fast. But if he doesn't, he gets a pop, hears "heel", and gets praise.

Wendy, in your case, since the dog isn't actually running out and trying to pull you down the street, just give a mild lead correction and tell him to heel (assuming what you want is a formal heel). If your just want him to walk by your side or sightly behind you on a loose lead, you'll need a different command than heel, such as side.

But, if he keeps doing the unwanted behavior, then step up the correction by just turning and running in the opposite direction when he goes past you.

Btw, it sounds as if the nylon choke is working fine for your dog.

 Quote:

Wendy, in your case, since the dog isn't actually running out and trying to pull you down the street, just give a mild lead correction and tell him to heel (assuming what you want is a formal heel). If your just want him to walk by your side or sightly behind you on a loose lead, you'll need a different command than heel, such as side.

But, if he keeps doing the unwanted behavior, then step up the correction by just turning and running in the opposite direction when he goes past you.

Btw, it sounds as if the nylon choke is working fine for your dog.

Thanks for the advice Elaine, i'll put it into effect and see how he does.
I am not looking for a formal heel, just want his body positioned at my side, kind of his front legs lined up with mine, which is the position he keeps at any other time we walk, so I know he understands what I want, i think its just his excitement thats causing his momentary lapse in judgement. But i love him anyway... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have a 4 1/2 month old Doberman pup that pulls me down the road. He's very respectful and obedient in all other ways though. I've been using a prong-collar hooked on both the live-ring and the dead-ring, and using treats to encourage him to stay with me. He self-corrects when he hits the end of the leash. It seems to be working but is there a better way to do this? I'm not a fan of using a prong-collar on a pup this young but he's almost 50 lbs and very strong.

Motivate with treats or toys or praise, teach a "watch me" command, or when he starts to forge ahead abruptly change direction as though you've meant to do it all along without waiting to see if your pup will catch up. You may look like an idiot the first week or so but your dog will soon realize it's got to pay attention or it's going to get run down. Yes, this is way too early for a prong, you should just let him be a pup. Everything should be motivational, fun, exciting, etc. If your pup is really energetic, before you take him for a walk play a quick game in the yard with some motivational obedience mixed in and then go, just to take some of the edge off his energy. Make yourself the most fun and interesting thing in your pup's universe and he'll follow, but you must still let him be a pup. It sounds like you're making him grow up too fast. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Is he a pet or for working purposes?

Hi, thanks! That really helps. I'll try that. I have NO problem AT ALL looking like an idiot;-)I'm not a fan of prong-collars on pups. He does know "watch me" and I use it quite a bit. He's quite energetic. We do LOTS of playing and our walks are usually how we wind down/get potty done before going back inside. This little guy is one ours that I kept as an obedience prospect. I haven't done much with him yet (sit, down, look and come only) because he IS so young, but he's a little sharp so I've been trying to get him out to see a lot. That's actually improved significantly in just the last month or so. My biggest concern has been the possibility of him damaging his neck while he's hauling on the leash or lunging at something (the lunging isn't happening much any more). I can get his attention while he's doing it and get him back to me, but he doesn't have the attention-span yet to stay right with me all the time. My other concern is that his sire is very large, as he's likely to be. I've been worried about him developing the habit of pulling because it has the potential to be a real problem when he's an adult. I think your suggestion will be very helpful though; changing direction should hold his attention, in addition to the food and my goofy voice. Thanks again <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It may be too early for formal obedience, but it's definitely not too early to play learning games with motivational methods. Don't have any formal sessions, try to fit it into playtime or at least have a minute or two of obedience preceded and followed by playtime, and not only will this lay the foundation for learning (especially if you use clickers/markers) but it will also tire out his brain, and once you've got that tired you've got a ragdoll dog. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I read an article awhile back which I've been trying to find but can't and it was about taking very young puppies and through motivation, fun-only means, they managed to teach the pups to go out to a marker for treats. It's very basic, but just right there you've taught them that doing the right thing garners them goodies and they've learned the basics of the send out. They also set a small board on the ground, small enough so the pups don't actually jump over it but visible enough to be an obstacle, and they taught the pups to walk/run over the board rather than around. That teaches the foundation for the jump. When they're young, you don't want to teach them UDX-caliber things but the basics, the foundations, how to learn, those are important. And it's fun fun fun and tires them out!

Have you gotten Leerburg's obedience videos? They're very good and I believe the basic OB one describes when and how to start actual training. I'd also suggest paging through this site, reading everything you can, even if you think it's not valid to your situation. There is something to learn in every article.

Edit: Links to vids! http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm
http://www.leerburg.com/120.htm

He's much less apt to pull when he's tired for sure! A tired pup is a happy me. I do have Leerburg's "puppies 8wks-8months" DVD, and just ordered "Working Puppy". I'll put "Basic Obedience" next in line for sure. The site and DVD's are great; also LOVE their equipment. This pup learns things VERY quickly, which is great; but he could learn the wrong thing very quickly too, so I need to be mindful. I do everything with food that he loves, so he thinks all training is a great time and he gets really excited. I do a lot with him in our horse-arena because he can safely be off-leash in there and it's huge. I was running around calling his name and he was following me around like a little mad-man. He actually JUMPED a cavaletti (a horse-training jump, about 12") so I had to take it out of there (I don't want to tax his little growing body), but he thought it was good times <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />I'll soak up all the reading I can get; I feel like everything is connected where behavior and training is concerned. This is the first one of our pups that I've kept as MY personal house dog, and the first one that I'll compete myself so I really want to get it right. Not to mention I love the little guy <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />Thanks again!