I have an 11 month old lab, he is currently intact but is getting neutered at the end of this month. We have been doing leash training since he was three months old, he was OK at it as a younger puppy, but never really perfected it. When he was five months old, I had to get ankle surgery and he didn’t go for any substantial walks with me for about two months. We started leash training again as soon as I was able to, but he had become a really, really, really really bad puller by that point. Since then, I have tried quite literally everything to get him to not pull me when he’s walking on the leash, and I am out of ideas.
We’ve tried playing puzzle games, or treat finding exercises before going for a walk, we’ve tried using different collars and harnesses, we’ve tried using a collar, and a harness with a double ended leash, we’ve tried using longer leashes, we’ve tried using shorter leashes, and we’ve tried incorporating just one or two sniff walks every week.
The only time that he doesn’t pull and yank is when he’s on the 20 foot lead when we go on hikes and he’s able to go off and sniff and explore. These are the only walks that are enjoyable for me, even though I have to be extra mindful of grabbing his leash and shortening it when people walk by.
At this point, I’m giving up hope of us ever being able to enjoy walking. All I want is to go on an enjoyable walk with him even if he’s leading the walk and pulling slightly I would be OK with it. I just cannot stand when he yanks me. I feel like at this point we’ve tried everything and I’m completely out of ideas.
submitted by /u/8901Rg
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