[MyPemCharlie]

We've been using the quick pop since we started walking and are still doing it. The early mistake I made was to skip the step of stopping or turning around and then starting forward again. Our walks ending up being "pop, pull, pop, pull, pop, pull, pull, pull" which is now what I've been trying to fix the last several weeks by remembering to stop or turn a different direction right before he pulls. Unfortunately I think I made Charlie immune to any pressure on his neck with my early failure.

He has a really sweet temperament, not dominant or shy, and I can usually cajole him into behaviors I want with "happy talk". I think the stern gruff voice would make him ignore me more or make him shut down. It might even scare him since he's not used to it. I could try it once though. If it's a mistake it wouldn't be the first one I've made. What we're doing isn't working. LOL

I did just return from our third short walk today and was trying the opposite techniques. No pops and almost "baby talk" like "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Good job!" When he started to get ahead, I said "Stop!" (still happy voice) and stopped and let him either turn back to me, or self-correct by continuing ahead to the end of the lead. He did make more eye contact, but it's getting later in the day and he may have just been in the right mood (too tired to pull) for the first time today.

One idea I had was that I trained my last dog and Charlie the basics almost entirely off-leash in the backyard with all other obedience commands and they both learned very well, and carried the obedience skills into public while on leash. However, I failed my last dog and am not doing well with Charlie only with loose-leash walking. Charlie actually heels very well off-leash in the backyard (I wouldn't try it in an unfenced area though). I don't know if all the off-leash training would have any impact on the leash walking training, but it was a thought.