If I might add an idea also. Try walking only in your own yard or even in the house for a while. That's what I did with Molly. It gives the pup time to build up confidence and learn without distraction before being taken out into the world in general. I also used the method Jennifer mentions earlier in this thread. If the pup pulls just stop until they get back in place then reward.

Molly was easy to leash train so I never even considered anything but a flat collar but I had a GSD once who was a world champion puller. I was 180 lbs, 17 years old and active in several sports including swimming, motocross and martial arts and Lady could pull me off my feet. Once she broke one of those wire chains (the type where one link goes through another link and wraps back around itself). She pulled so hard the wire just unwrapped and that was on a choke collar. Wish they'd had prong collars back then.

 Quote: Chris McMahon

I am also a strong advocate of the prong collar but to me this situation sounds more like a puppy training issue. I would back up and use treats or whatever reward you use to keep at your side on the way out and use treats to keep pup at your side on the way back. Remember pups need the rewards early on so you can build up to correcting later. Sounds to me like pup isn't understanding that heel means heel all the time.

Personnally I would go back to working on heeling with the dog using treats or some sort of reward for what you are looking for..... which is healing next to you. Not behind or in front of you.

I agree with this approach. Any type of correction collar used correctly, (which is sparingly) should be as a last resort. I'd really play follow the leader with the pup at this point and use luring such as treats and stuff. Sure get a prong collar if you like but there is not need to do hardish corrections if you spend a bit more time on the groundwork of the pup's heeling.

The follow the leader game basically goes like this. The nanosecond the pup gets out of position do a 180o turn doesn't matter into the pup or away from the pup. Keep doing it over and over. Even if the pup looks away for a second, turn and turn again. You may even step on his paws in the process .. oh well to bad for him. Forget about walking the pup in a straight line for the next bit.

This will get the pup to focus on you the leader, as right now the pup doesn't really have solid guidance that shows to me in how the OP described his behaviour. If you guide the pup more you will have better results instead of struggling with your pup.

IMHO this is a problem that shouldn't require much if any compulsion from the OP as the handler. Like I said the OP could still use a prong and collar condition the pup to it but just don't use it to correct the pup, maybe self correction on the dead ring at this point that's about all that would be needed.

I'm confused. Why don't some of use use pinch collars on dogs who are 5 months? You think that is too young to train them?

It's to young to be training with corrections, yeah.

At that age, training should be motivational. I want my dog to have a solid, established association between training=fun, NOT training=that prong thingy keeps biting my neck.

Once that nice solid connection is established, then I'll use the prong.
Every dog is going to be a bit different, but outside of using a prong on a walk to prevent pulling through "self-corrections" (not to be confused with heeling), I'd shy away from using a prong collar for any dog under 6-8 months for training.

 Quote: Jennifer N. Hack

I'm confused. Why don't some of use use pinch collars on dogs who are 5 months?

I also got from this thread:

... make no mistake, I'm not against pinch collars at all. What ever age the dog asks for it. As I read the op though, the dog only pulls toward home and prefers to walk to the rear otherwise. Just doesn't sound as clear cut as the puppy is pulling me everywhere scenerio. For the moment I would rather see the prongs put away for when the dog is somewhat more sure of himself. (Randy)

I agree with the other posters, though, that maybe you need to address why the dog seems reluctant to leave the house/yard. I can't really give advice on that, but it does seem strange to me... (Kori)

I am also a strong advocate of the prong collar but to me this situation sounds more like a puppy training issue. (Chris)

 Quote:

I'm confused. Why don't some of use use pinch collars on dogs who are 5 months? You think that is too young to train them?

Admittedly I do very little with dogs under 10 months old. Basic recall, sit and learn their name is about the extent of it.

But that aside, the way you phrase your question seems to imply that you consider the prong collar to be synonymous with "training." The prong collar is just a tool, not a training goal, or even a necessity. It has nothing to do with training in itself, so to suggest that not using a prong means that you are not training the dog is ludicrous.

Hello Chris,
I think the prong collar is great to use at this age.Your pup will learn at a early age that you are the one in control of the walk and not himself,and the pup will begin to start showing more and more respect to you at each new walking session.And when he becomes an adult you will have a very well manner companion standing at your side during the walks.

 Quote: karen white

Hello Chris,
I think the prong collar is great to use at this age.Your pup will learn at a early age that you are the one in control of the walk and not himself,and the pup will begin to start showing more and more respect to you at each new walking session.And when he becomes an adult you will have a very well manner companion standing at your side during the walks.

Did you mean this particular pup, Karen, and why, or did you mean puppies in general? Are you advocating a general "prong at 5 months" protocol? It reads kinda like that.

 Quote:

Your pup will learn at a early age that you are the one in control of the walk and not himself,and the pup will begin to start showing more and more respect to you

I'd just like to point out that each of these things can be achieved without the use of a prong. Respect has nothing to do with corrections.

I use prong collars starting at 4 months minimum. These are not necessarily future sport dogs. They are taught the meaning of a correction starting at 4-6 months old. I am training several puppies right now who are a bit over 4 months, a prong collar can be used with a light hand. The first thing they learn is heeling.

And yes, a prong collar is a training necessity IMO.