Sorry that I can't help you because my golden does the same thing to me.....anxiouly waiting for other replies

I'm a big Cesar Milan fan from the Dog Whisperer and I learned an excellent lesson about walking dogs from his show. It seems if you slip the collar up to right behind their ears and gently secure it there they walk perfectly, right beside you without pulling. I don't do this for the entire walk, but if my dog starts pulling, I stop, pull the choke up the neck to behind the ears, hold it there for about 1/2 a block and then release. She walks well after that without pulling. If she starts pulling again, we do it all over again. They learn quickly this way not to pull and everyone has a nicer walk.

He recommends doing this for longer than 1/2 a block to train them so you'll have to judge the best distance for reinforcement for your dog, but it really works, generally within a week or two.

See, that is what we do, and thats what we initally did that got her to walk well. Now it only works if my boyfriend does it. And I'm the one who got it to work in the first place, so I know I'm not doing it wrong. That's why I'm so confused? I just don't understand why she did so well with me when we first started working on her walking, and now has decided not to walk good except with dad. Thanks for the tip though, I'll keep trying it, maybe I'm not doing it for long enough when I do try.

Reinforce her when she's walking WELL. Keep treats in your pocket and practice practice practice. You really don't need to choke her to teach her to walk nicely.

She may be walking a little better for your boyfriend because he has a deeper voice when correcting, or he may have worked with her more, or be exuding confidence/leadership on the walks. In the house, she needs to generalize her learning from you to your boyfriend. So he should start working with her inside, asking her to sit for dinner, or for a toy, or to go outside...and practice with her around the house. Reward. Dogs DON'T generalize well, so it's important that both of you train her regularly and that you positively reinforce with treats just until she really understands the commands. Then fade. I've noticed some men tend to repeat commands. This confuses the dogs. So watch him and make sure he says the command once, then helps her into the position if she doesn't get it. Follow-through is key.

Cynthia,

Common, I don't choke my dog, ever. She is my big buddy. I said, "Gently place the collar right behind the ears." Not strangle the dog into submission. This placement of a collar works WITHOUT choking, that is what is so effective. When they feel the collar there, they walk well. Try it before you criticize.

Mimi

Like I said, she does listen to him, but not near as quick as with me. If he says sit, she'll sit. If I say sit, she's sitting before I even finish the command. She just takes her sweet little time with him sometimes.

And we don't choke her, or use a choke collar, either. When she pulls and starts choking herself, we bring the leash in even tighter, and bring her collar up to her ears. It stops her from choking herself. It's definately not that he's worked with her more. I walk her daily, he comes once a week on weekends when we take both to the dog park. You might be right though, maybe his voice is a little more commanding than mine.

We bought her a new collar, I'm going to see if maybe that helps me have a little more control. The one she had on was pretty thin before and stretched a lot when she pulled. The one we got now is thicker and a lot sturdier so maybe she won't be able to resist as much.

Dogs are opportunists. I think your dog knkows when you are inside, that you are boss. If you are short of stature, and not able to hold your dog as well on the leash, your dog might sense that weakness and is taking advantage of it. My suggestion is you start your walks out slowly, the second your dog starts to misbehave, put it in a sit stay position until it calsm down, then start walking again. As tedious as this may feel, it will get you back on the top again as far as walks go. You may have to stop and start again 8 times in a minute, just keep doing it. Walks are rewards for your dog, they enjoy them, and in my house, a fuzzy does not get a collar on to go outside until they are being calm and submissive and waiting patiently. Im the first out the door, then sit and stay til I close the door and am ready to go. It is imeritive you stay the boss on yor walks, When your dog starts to pull, Sit stay...Good luck

You may have hit it right on. I'm 5'3 and pretty little. The boyfriend isn't a big guy, either, but he's bigger than me and a good 5 inches taller, thats for sure. I think until I get her back under control, I'll ask if he minds not walking her when we go to the dog park. I do the door thing, I make her wait, til shes leans to her hip, then I walk out, then we sit on the door step again. (I think that was by your suggestion, too, thanks)

It just baffles me that she was good before til he started walking her more. I guess she realised that she's got it good with littlebitty mom on walks when she's bad, rather than when dads in control, LOL.

You can correct any walking issue by doing the following.

First, walk fast. This will keep dog from getting distracted.

When you are walking along, and dog starts to pull etc. instantly make a noise (anything that will get dogs attention, don't say NO or any other command) and reverse direction for about 5-6 steps. While reversing, praise dog, then continue on regular route.

Each time dog does something you don't approve of, repeat. Praise when dog does good walking is very important.

Very soon, dog will get the hang of it and walk well.

Good luck!

SG