This is quite a common problem. The ways that dogs communicate to other dogs that they are in charge is nipping at the neck. The alpha dog gets the respect of the other dog. Mother dogs do this to their puppies as well. By using a slip collar, you can communicate to your dog in a way he will understand that you are in charge. After all, you should be the one determining the direction and speed of your walks. No-pull harnesses are not effective and the dog will still pull. Gather up some of the leash so your dog only has about 3-4 feet of space. Hold it firmly at your waist- usually with both hands. Step forward with your left foot as your dog should be sitting by your left side. If your dog lunges ahead, stop all forward motion. In a few seconds he will figure out that pulling gets him absolutely nowhere and he should turn back to you, loosening the pressure on the collar. Once he turns back to you, turn round and head out the other direction. At first you will have frequent stops. Once you can travel a few steps, add in left turns and an occasional right turn and about turn. It won't look pretty. And you need to set small, incremental goals of being able to walk five steps in a straight line, then seven. Your dog will soon get the idea that you are the one in charge of the expedition (walk), and he needs to pay attention to you. If he manages to do well for several steps, stop and praise him well and maybe play for a moment. This is a process, so don't push your dog by trying to walk several yards in a straight line, as he will lose focus and start pulling again. It is okay if your dog sees something and wants to look for a little bit, but after a few seconds get his attention and walk the other way. Happy heeling!
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