I had the same problem with my staffy x lab when I first got him, 62 lbs of muscle pulling you along in the mud or snow/ice!
I used a lead I had made years ago as a copy of one my friend asked me to make as a visual aid incase I needed to make another one, it worked a treat. It's an all in one round leather lead and slip.One long length of round leather about 3/8 " wide looped through a ring which is sewn onto the end.
The idea is to get the ring that slides up and down the lead behind the dog's head (the equivalent of the poll on a horse).It has to be positioned the right way round to the handler or it won't release properly when required to do so. When the dog pulls, you pull it tighter, it has the effect of unwelcome pressure on the poll and breaks the dogs concentration on whatever he is doing that makes him not concentrate on you.It doesn't operate in the same place as a choke chain, which tends to work on the throat or the side of the head.
It makes them listen to you rather than them doing what they want,when you have their full attention you are then in the pack leader's position.
It only takes a second then it slackens off again. It's not about making it painful for the dog but to break into their thoughts and make them listen to you!
Timing is the essence, as soon as they pull you pull the lead then release and praise the dog when they don't pull, with a bit of practice I got the hang of it and my dog was as good as gold after that.
I tried it on my sister's big lab too, he had been to dog training so it was not as though he didn't know what he was supposed to be doing but my sister was not the pack leader, which he knew and at 70 lb in weight she could not hold him back if he decided to pull her.
I slipped the lead on him, within 4 seconds (I timed it) he was walking by my side and I had merely one finger through the lead to hold him.
I'm not saying it works for all dogs and I am not trainer but I did read up on it and tried it, it worked for me, hope this helps.
Oz
Traditional Working Saddler
Est 1988
Designer of the Locata horse ID tag as on www.unicornleather.co.uk
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