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Hello all whippy pawrents!
I'm writing because I am at my wit's end with my boy Alfie, 15 months (not castrated) and his pulling on walks.
Alfie pulls as soon as we are out of the door so he can poo and wee quickly. He goes out 3 times a day and also gets a run. But he pulls when he sees dogs, wants to sniff a particular lampost etc, wants to wee or poo..then he will trot normally....and then pull again. I'm in physio for my shoulder so I am at my wit's end. We use the command "slowly" and stop and start, I treat when he's stopped pulling and gives eye contact and say "good boy" and treat him. He loves any food. Very greedy, very demure.
Side note - We have recently become a single pawrent household and - are dogs affected long term by this? He's stopped waiting for his dad to come home now and listening for him (this makes me very sad to see). He's been a bit more clingy than usual but nothing else behaviourally has changed so don't think the pulling has become worse, it's just never got better.
Any advice, tips, or relating whippy experiences would be so wonderful to read. Thank you
Definitely got his martingale collar back on as he pulls less in that and turning around/stopping - rinse and repeat! Thank you!
Thank you very much! Stopping and starting does work and takes us forever but as you say, is a test of nerves!
Of course! So far what is working thanks to the comments
Martingale collar good treats stopping and starting or turning around
Still pulling like mad when he needs a poo and approaching dog zone
I have a feeling its going to be treats most of the time for us, too. He doing a lot better now with treats martingale collar stopping and starting, but he still pulls when he wants to poo or gets close to the dog zone. Bless your younger one being afraid, they are little scaredy cats, aren't they! Veggies? Forget it hahaha
Hahahaha yes! Alfie flattens his ears and refuses eye contact and pretends I'm not there. Little diva!
Is your boy castrated? If so, when did you do it? if not, what was your reason?
Thank you for being honest about it taking 4 years - my boy is also stubborn but very greedy so the cheese is working. Harness makes it worse now on reflection. Lighthearted attitude is key, isn;t it? Thank you for reminding me. I've been so stressed about it, I guess this has effected him, too :(
Ahh good idea. Alfie has a ruffwear one, too so I'll give that a try also. Out of interest, what types of walks are you doing each day, and how often?
I'll give that a try! Whippets ,eh? 😅😅
Thank you - i had in mind it was some sort of concept!
In the city he is always on a short lead but the way he pulls (off to the side) is what is causing my shoulder pain. Cheese is helping :)
Oh, good tip! Thank you, I will give it a try
What is RBF? Good point about varying the walks. He does 2 sniff walks a day with a short lead with 1 off lead run/play time in a fenced big dog zone here in the city (Vienna) - he pulls less on his martingale yet more on his harness on the sniff walks. When he's had a good run and tired, he is as good as gold. He pulls when he needs a poo or sees one of his favourite dog zones in sight but the treats (cheese) is helping a long and using his martingale more. Thank you for your comment :)
Aww thank you! How old is your girl? Have you always done lots of treats? I fear this is the only way my boy is going to comply because since I got the cheese out on walks, he is as good as gold!
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He is not a big PB fan but I've been doing this with cheese and he is compliant and not pulling as much. Really useful point about making sure his needs are being met before walks, thank you!