When I take my dog for a walk, she pulls so hard that she chokes herself with the leash. How can I stop her from doing this?

I have found that a harness is the best solution,it's never failed ,I have had both large and small dogs and they all seem to prefer not having something that tightens around their necks. They don't seem to realize that it is themselves causing the problem! Ask in your local petshop for advice on the best type for you dog.

I don't agree to using a choker chain. Would you want to wear one? I think choker chains are cruel to animals.

I won't use one on my dogs, for the fact that THEY CHOKE! It could cause damage to their throat. A harness is the safest and easiest to use.No choking and pretty easy at handling your dog.

Work with your dog inside the house with the leash, and have dog treats to let her know that she did good. Then take her out in the yard and work some more with her. I have a dog that didn't take to leashes at all, but I would hook a leash on him in the house and let him walk around with it for awhile, and he did get used to it.

Hope this helps.

The easiest thing is to get the "Halti Gentle Leader" or something similar. It is put onto the dog's head like a horse's halter and is a very easy and gentle way to curb pulling. Wherever the dog's head goes, the rest of him will go.

Here is a nice photo from Drs. Foster and Smith: Halti Headcollars. It needs to be fitted properly (Internet instructions or ask pet store personnel), and many dogs will try to get it off at first, but if you use treats to distract the dog and start walking, it will soon get used to the idea.

This is a very gentle and humane way to handle a large dog. Next step would be obedience training class. Great for both of you, and fun, too!

I also have a medium sized dog that doesn't seem to grasp the concept of "heel" lol. We had tried choke chains and also the choke chains that poked her if she pulled, neither seemed to help. We did however buy her a harness.It goes around her chest and not only does she not choke herself anymore, she seems to be catching on to the "heel".

They are sold at most pet stores, just make sure to measure your dogs chest so you can get the right size. Hope this helps! :).

Just let her do it, animals feel pain just as we do and she will quit when she starts feeling the pain, my dog would do it to so I would just stop and let her pull, she would pull so hard she would start gagging and than once it started to hurt her she would stop and realize whatever it is she's pulling so hard for isn't worth the pain.

That's my answer too - a harness - I have a 90-pound 'puppy' who gets so excited he chokes himself too, so we got a really good harness that goes around his chest, waist, legs and back. It's such good quality you could literally pick him up by the harness and suspend him and not hurt him. He probably wouldn't like it any, but it wouldn't hurt him!

Harnesses also are safer for dogs. It's nearly impossible for them to get out of the harness quickly, but a dog could slip a collar easily. You can pull a dog back with a harness if he's in danger, and smaller dogs, you can literally pick up out of harm's way with a harness.

Harnesses make your dogs easier to control and safer for you and the dog when walking. They aren't very hard to put on, taking not much longer than it would to put on a leash and collar, and they make a huge difference, and if they are the right size, don't hurt the dog even a little bit.

If I remember correctly from puppy obedience classes long ago, choke chains aren't supposed to actually choke a dog. They should be worn higher up on the head around the base of the skull - not really around the neck (but they tend to slip down). Secondly, its the snap that a choker collar makes that is supposed to get the dog's attention, not actually choking the dog and cutting off it's oxygen.

A properly used choke collar (and check with an expert for best results - i'm sure information can even be obtained on the net) should not cause damage to the dog, nor is it cruel. However, that being said, I have seen people misuse a choke collar. I saw a man pick up his dog (a lab) just using the choke collar (the dog was off the ground) because the dog would not come when called.

Nice guy. Obviously, this is not the correct usage. Choke collars require consistency, as all dog obedience training does.

If that's not an option, you might try a pinch collar. They have prongs on the inside that put slight pressure on the dog's neck (again worn close to the base of the skull). It does not choke, nor does it pierce their neck.

You can wrap a pinch collar around your thigh or arm and pull and find out how much pressure is applied. I use one on my 85lb mix breed that would haul me down the block. The pinch collar works immediately with very little training for the dog.

I have no problems walking him now. He doesn't mind the pinch collar and my arm stays in the socket when we walk. Best of luck to you.

The answer I came up with when in this situation myself was a dog harness. It goes around their chest, not their neck, and under the stomach. My dog was honestly completely indifferent to it.

The only thing he didn't like about it was the extra few seconds it took to put it on him, as this was precious time being taken away from his walk! I also felt I had more control over him when I needed to. As you know, sometimes dogs will lunge towards other people when they shouldn't, and if they're wearing the harness you don't have to feel guilty about stopping them right away and giving the person they're lunging at a little more space.

Put her on a choke chain and wrap it around your hand until she is right beside you under your hand. . Before you take your first step have her right at your side and tell her "sandy heel" then step and bring her with you.

She will not have much leash to pull with so that will help a lot. Tell her to heel and pull the leash straight up quickly then release it. Step again saying Sandy Heel Praise her when she relaxes in the walk and ruffle her chest and tell her good girl nice hjeeling Sandy.

The more you repeat the word the more she realizes this is heeling. A little choking of the dog is pretty normal until she learns this basic command. When she walks right with you praise her for this.

Love and repetition is the best method for training her. This picture is how the walk should go with a little training.

I don't believe the halter will be effective with your dog. Harnesses are designed make it easier for the dog to pull! Sled dogs and carting dogs wear harnesses just for that purpose.

The head halter is probably the best idea, since you are hesitant to use a choker. (Choker chains are effective when they're used in the correct manner, but in some states they are illegal). Wherever the dog's head goes, the dog is going to go, and it will be easier for you to control the dog and get him to walk beside you instead of lurching ahead.

Don't let her pull til she chokes that is really bad young dogs don't know any better and need to be tauhgt. You can also harm their esophagus and thats really bad. A choke chain can work but some dogs will even pull on thoes and a thats even worse and don't get the ones with progs that go into the neck or they can punture themselfs.

The harness is really good or they have thoes things like a hacamore for a horse that work for dogs by pulling there airway shut and them taking off the pressuer so they can breath.

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