Pulling On The Lead
My greyhound pulls terribly on the lead. It makes taking him for a walk a real chore!
Many dogs are very excited to leave on their daily walk. In the rush to get to the park they often learn to pull on the lead. Unfortunately we tend to actually reinforce this behaviour – the dog pulls and we follow along, and the end result is the dog learns it can get to the park faster if it pulls.
Most greyhounds are taught to walk on the leash as part of their race career training, but some younger dogs, or those that have never raced, may not have had a lot of training in this area. Others have only ever associated the leash with the excitement of racing, so their trained response is one of excitement and anticipation.
Apart from the obvious discomfort to our arms, there is also the risk that the dog will pull us over. For the dog, there are also physical consequences. For dogs wearing collars that tighten or choke, the consequence of constant pulling can be restriction of air intake, and restriction of blood flow to the entire head. Some dogs have even been shown to sustain damage to the sensitive retina in the eye due to sudden increases to blood pressure as the collar goes tight.
So how can I make the dog stop pulling?
Teaching the dog to walk on a loose leash is not an easy task. It takes time, patience, and most of all – consistency. The dog must learn that pulling will get it nowhere, and a loose leash will result in progress. By the time most people decide to train loose leash walking, their dog has been pulling for months or years. This means the pulling behaviour has been rewarded for a long time, and therefore the dog will think this is the correct response. It takes a while to fade this behaviour from the dog’s repertoire.
The idea is to teach the dog that the consequence of pulling is that the walk will stop. Therefore every time the leash goes tight, you will have to stop any forward progress and stand still. If you have a large dog, you might have to brace yourself a little as you stop. You can then work on encouraging your dog to move so that the lead loosens before heading off again.
Another option is to stop moving forward as the lead goes tight, but instead of standing still, walk off in another direction. You might turn around and go back the way you came, or you might just head off in another direction. If the dog races in front and starts to pull, you change direction again.
As you can imagine, both of these methods will mean you spend quite a bit of your walk stopped, or not moving forward, and you might not get very far on each walk. As your dog will still need a normal amount of exercise, so you might have to think of alternate ways to burn off some steam whilst you concentrate on teaching the dog the loose leash walking. Sometimes it is a good idea to burn off some steam before you start your walk so the dog is not quite as energetic as you try to concentrate on the loose leash.
It is also important that everyone who walks the dog follows the same steps. If you are working hard on the loose leash walking and then another family member takes the dog for a walk and lets it pull all the way to the park, you will find that you will make very little progress, and the dog will be confused as to what is correct. Every person walking the dog must do the same thing, and it must also happen on every walk. If you are too busy to spend time working on keeping the leash loose, don’t just let the dog pull again, maybe exercise the dog by throwing a toy in the backyard instead.
Is there equipment that can help reduce the pulling?
There are now many different pieces of equipment that are designed to help give owners a physical advantage. There are special harnesses designed to reduce pulling, and many different head collars that will help. Head collars fit over the head and nose of the dog, similar to a halter for a horse. They give the owner a way of controlling the head of the dog, which is helpful if your dog tends to be reactive in certain situations – maybe he really gets excited when people ride past on bikes, or when he sees a cat, small animals or other dogs.
Both harnesses and head collars have a mechanical effect, but the benefits of these will soon be lost if you just continue to let the dog pull. The idea is to stop walking as the lead goes tight, and let the equipment do its job. The lead is held steady, it is not jerked or pulled, and once the lead is loose, you can again move forward. Most people find that they have the best success in the shortest time by combining the training with the added assistance of the equipment.
Although there are many brands of head collar, greyhounds do quite well in the Halti brand ones as they tend to fit breeds of dogs with longer noses really well. The sizing on the packet of the Halti is a little misleading, and you usually need to buy a size or two smaller than you would expect – sometimes taking the dog with you to the shop, or having the head collar fitted by someone who understands how they should fit is the best way to make sure you get the right size.
Generally head collars need to be fitted so that the strap that goes around the back of the dog’s neck is quite firm. Because it sits high on the neck, it does not need to allow any space underneath – unlike fitting a collar. The leash attaches under the jaw of the greyhound, and many people choose to have the Halti ‘safety strap’ or a ‘connector’ fitted to the dog’s normal collar, in case the dog gets the Halti off.
If you are not sure about fitting or using a head-collar it is best to ask someone knowledgeable to show you how it is done. If you have trained dogs before using a choke or correction collar, you will need to be careful that you don’t jerk on the leash that is attached to the head collar in the same way or you may do damage to your greyhound’s neck. Instead, think of the head collar as ‘power steering’ with the act of you standing still and holding the leash steady having the desired effect.
Because sudden jerking on the leash will have the effect of turning the dog’s head too quickly, it is also advisable not to allow the greyhound to run on a long line which is attached to a head collar. This is simply because they can do serious damage if they race off at speed and hit the end of the line suddenly. It is safer to attach a long line to a flat collar.
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Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Hendrix
Donny ARP
If you are looking for a big love bug that can be soft and cuddly then Donny may just be the love of your life. He is sweet and affectionate, but it can take him a little bit to feel comfortable with new people and environments. Once he is settled, he is a goofy oversized puppy that will lean on you for a good scratch. We think he may suit living with children 10 and over and with or without another medium or larger canine companion. No apartments for his boy though as he does like to show you his silly side and do zoomies!
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Tessa ARP
How stunning is the cow print on this little girl! She is sweet, smart and soft, affectionate and can be a little shy to start but when she is comfortable she shows her silly, puppyish side and loves to do zoomies! We think she may suit living with another male dog of any size and children 10 and over as long as they are respectful of her space as she settles in. She may suit living with full time workers as well.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Donald ARP
This handsome man is Donald, but his mates affectionately call him Snowman for obvious reasons! He is all the sweetness in the world, loves to have a cuddle and will look up at you with his stunning eyes. You wont be able to stop patting him as he has the softest coat and he will just keep coming back for more. We think he may suit living with children 5 years and over and or without another medium or larger dog.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Mack ARP
Mack is a four-year-old boy who is, quite simply, a pleasure to be around. Handsome and elegant in the way only greyhounds can be, he is also genuinely sweet — the kind of dog who leans in for affection and rewards you with a calm, grateful warmth that is hard not to fall for. He is friendly and personable, and those who take a little time with him will find an affectionate soul who truly appreciates gentle kindness. Patient, soft-natured, and quietly charming, Mack is the sort of dog who makes himself at home in your heart before you’ve quite noticed it happening.
Mack is well-placed to share his home with a dog of any size or breed, making him a wonderfully flexible addition to a household that already has a canine resident. He would suit a family with children aged ten and over, who will appreciate his gentle nature and give him the calm, considered companionship he deserves. If you have a quiet lap and a soft voice to offer, Mack will return it tenfold.
Mack is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with t heir racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Jack ARP
Gentle Jack is ready to find his forever couch! This lovely boy has a calm and quiet nature and has the skill to climb stairs! Jack may be suited to an elderly owner and may also enjoying having human siblings ages 5+. He may be happy with another medium or large dog but would prefer to not have small dogs or cats in his home. Jack may suit a wide variety of homes and we cant wait for him to find his new family!
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Pizza
Ace
Rubharb Ruby ARP
Like he rname, Rhubarb Ruby is equal parts sweet and full of character. This little girl is friendly, affectionate and always happy to make new friends. With her puppyish personality and enthusiastic approach to life, Ruby brings plenty of fun wherever she goes. Ruby loves treats, enjoys being around people and has a wonderfully sweet and personable nature. Her happy, excitable energy is guaranteed to keep you smiling. Ruby may be suited to live as an only pet or may suit living with medium or large dogs. Ruby may be suitable to live with children 5 and over. Rhubarb Ruby has a deformed jaw and will need regular 6 monthly teeth check ups.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Colt ARP
Don’t let the name fool you – Colt is much more of a gentle gentleman than a wild stallion. Quiet, calm and polite, this sweet boy loves spending time with people and has a friendly and affectionate nature. His adorable eye contact is guaranteed to win you over.
Colt would suit living as an only dog or may be suitable to live with a canine friend of any size. He may also be suitable to live with children aged 5 and over.Because of his lovely nature he may be suitable to live in an apartment.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.