Dogs Training Blog

Ok, so my sister and her husband just decided one day to get rid of their dog (they have had for 10 years). I couldn’t believe they were just going to discard him like that, so I took him in. I couldn’t let him go to strangers, after a decade of being a faithful family friend. I love this dog to pieces, but he pulls like a freight train when being walked. I have had many dogs (some were pullers), but I have always been able to train them not to pull when being led, without having to resort to harnesses and head collars. Unfortunately, I’m not able to train him. He is unlike any dog I have ever seen. He could make a professional dog trainer give up (and almost has). The trainers that he has seen, were unable to train him and nearly all of them suggested that he has some kind of mental problem. If you put an “anti pull” harness on him, he pulls until he hurts himself with the straps. If you use a head collar, he pulls so hard that the strap nearly goes into his eyes with the pressure. If you pull his head sideways, he will keep on pulling through anyway. NOTHING has worked. It’s almost as though he thinks he is supposed to bear the pain of pulling. Please give me your suggestions, I would really appreciate it.I believe in calm, patient training, but I’m at my wits end. What am I supposed to do when a highly respected dog trainer basically tells me “Sorry. I think he has a mental defect.” I just don’t know what to do.If this helps: He is a Doberman, 100lbs, solid muscle. 10 years old.It was reletively easy to teach him the basics (sit, stay, lay down, speak, etc.)

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