How do you teach a dog how to walk by your side and not attack other dogs while we...

[Jessica V]

...are out walking? My dog always walks in front of me when we are walking out in the street. how do I teach how do walk beside me?

[K K]

1) training classes will do wonders! My dog was a puller/lunger too, but after only 6 weeks, he's gotten to a point where he's great about 70-80% of the time, and still improving. He also lunged at other dogs--training classes have helped this as well. He is able to socialize in a structured environment--everyone has a common goal and is busy, so he's getting used to their presence, while getting all kinds of good treats and praise. Being with other dogs is slowly becoming a positive experience. However, I should note, that Asher is not dog-aggressive overall, just fairly insecure and tends to try to "bully" bigger dogs to compensate (the mastiff puppy in his class drives him nuts because he WAS smaller, but now he's bigger!).

2) "equipment"--if you just want to lessen the behavior, or at least its effect on you, the Sporn brand no-pull harness worked well for me. Asher still pulled, but he couldn't pull very hard (and it's all padded and such). Our trainer recommended (and instructed us on) a prong collar. Because of his lunging, a gentle leader/halti head harness could actually injure his spine (although a constant puller could benefit from these! we've had dogs that used gentle leaders their whole lives). And the narrowness of a choke chain was much more likely to damage his larynx/neck than a wider prong collar. The prong collar looks tough and nasty, but when used PROPERLY as a correction tool, he has actually learned not to pull (instead of just being physically held back by the harness). Again, I stress, you must learn to use it properly--and some additional advice, before you put it on your dog, wrap it around your arm, your upper arm, the sensitive skin up there, and "correct" yourself. Make sure you know what your dog will be feeling. It is not painful when used properly and the appropriate size.

3) training--don't let him walk in front of you! hold most of your leash in your right hand, let the leash run in front of you, and use your left hand to either hold the leash close to his collar (when he's trying to pull away), or pass off treats (I try to keep some in the palm of my hand) when he's being good and the leash is loose.

[Apacapacas]

Don't get a choker chain, a prong collar, or an electric collar for him unless you can also get a trainer to tell you how to use it properly. It looks easy, but it is vitally important that it be put on correctly and sit in exactly the right place on the dog's neck in order to be used properly. Failure to use it properly can result in damage to the dog's larynx.

Take your dog to obedience classes or get a trainer to come to your home. It doesn't take long for the dog to learn, but it does take a bit of knowledge on the handler's part.

[Elisa B]

i have a dog just liek that and my dog now shows in shows so i have ben teranying her for like 2yers now. so when you are walk your dog have her or he whalk on yout r left side and tell the dog to heel and when you see a dog have her or he sit down and if you have a Choke coler put it up behind its ears and pull up a little pit if you have any thing you need help with your dog AIM me at smileyDjxoxo12

[rescue member]

You take him for group obedience classes.

[Agility Man]

Lots of comments here:

1. Sign up for an obedience class. No, not something at Petsmart or Petco. A real obedience class from a dog club or dog trainer or your local Park Authority. You need space (just how much practice heeling and walking can you do at a Petco?) to learn some of what you do. Dogs don't come trained.

2. Initially, call your dog's name and treat your dog when he/she looks up at you. What you're training the dog to do is to focus on you.

3. Do NOT get caught up in a tug of war with your dog. Most dogs love to pull. The whole idea with a leash is that is just be loose or limp and you tighten it just to give a quick pop.

4. Look at using a choke collar or gentle leader. The key to a choke collar or any collar is not that it chokes the dog but that it's high up on the neck. It's not about choking but about controlling the head.

5. Leslie McDevitt's book Control Unleashed is the best thing I've seen for reactive dogs and some of the issues you're talking about. A game like "look at that" is superb for the issue about going ballistic at other dogs.

[michael t]

This question should have been asked and learned about before you became a dog owner. Now I suggest classes, as much for you as for the dog.

[Duisend-poot]

I have my dog on a special halter that helps me a lot. In the past i used a choke-chain and when he walked ahead i would suddenly turn and walk the opposite direction, that way he had to follow me. I also made him sit , then told him to heel, walk a bit , then sit, then heel walk a bit that way he starts listening to you. When you see other dogs walking your way, make him sit and stay till the dogs have past, it is also a good idea to take him where there are other dogs so he can socialize with them and then eventually run free and play with the other dogs. I wish you well.

[Tiger Lily]

Hold the dog on a short leash keeping him at your side quite firmly. Don't give him room to manouver in front and be strict with keeping him right by your side. After a few turns he does it automatically.