Well its no secret that I have 2 exuberant huskies, and while they are obedient angels in every other since if you put them on a leash they pull like, well sled dogs. It is such a struggle to control them by collar, and don't even think about a harness! I decided to make the switch to head leads but they don't agree with that idea. Around the house the older one doesn't mind it being there but you get her outside where the fun stuff is and she acts worse then a cat on a leash!! She flails and kicks at her face like a mad dog and only cares about getting if off. Don't bother trying to distract her! Last time she somehow managed to unclip her leash from it but thankfully didn't realize she was free because she was thrashing around trying to get the face part off. I'm scared to even try now because if she gets off she could get in big trouble!! Our house is out in the country and she could easily get eaten by gators, wild cats, or beat up by wild boars and that's just the wild threat! There are more then a few gun happy farmers in the area that would shoot a dog on sight, let alone one that could be mistaken as a wolf, especially if she got into the pastures. The younger ones no better and she did get free once but lucky us we had the bait she couldn't resist, her buddy! She didn't want to leave without Shiva. How can I get them to act civilly on it without endangering them?

Sounds like a job for Ceaser Milan. OK sorry I couldn't resist. Actually I am intersted in what other write about this post too. Maybe getting them comfortable with the leash/harness beore putting it on them. Like letting them sniff it and be around it even when indoors and you aren't using it.

She'll wear it around inside the house just fine, its just when it gets in the way of the fun stuff that she goes nuts with it.

Maybe then it is a general obedience issue. Huskies are very strong willed excitable dogs. Sounds like she needs to learn to listen not just when it is quiet but when the fun and excitement are going on. That is a true test os a dogs dicipline. Have you tried class? I would suggest private classes as it seems your dogs have a hard time remaining calm around outward stimuli.

I heard something used on Basenjis who are resistant to listening, but haven't tried it yet. The dogs like to go, right? Someone got amazing results by stopping whenever the dog pulled. You would have to take them one at a time, of course. When the dog realizes that the fun of a walk with mom will happen only if he doesn't pull on the lead, he will stop pulling.

She is fairly obedient and knows all of her basic stuff like sit and lay down, and even knows a few tricks as well such as high five. She's a quick learner, with everything else. She's not even that bad when she's in town, but out here in the country the scents are much more appealing. Ohh, is that a armadillo? Cow,cow,cow... SQUIRREL! Plus out here she has the option of stretching her legs. I use to jog with her when she was a puppy and I could keep up to her, but the puppy days are long past and no one could dream of matching her speed. It would be nice if she could go at MY pace, as it if I just flat can't run with her anymore. I will get hurt trying. Walks are difficult enough. Would an anti-pull harness work better? I really want to be able to make our walks fun for both of us.

My brother had this dog that was part german shepard and something else and boy what a mess she was to take outside. I would walk her all the time even while really big and pregnant. Needless to say that was not a good scenario. Sooooo I bought one of those inward prong collars to walk her with. It helped out quite a bit. She learned not to pull and the best thing is that you do not have to use it always just until she learns to not pull. But overall I think I would talk with a trainer.
Remember not just a choke collar but a pronged collar!

The prong collar's look so viscous though! They look as if they would cause a mighty good bit of discomfort, I don't want anything that causes any sort of pain.

Prong collars are less dangerous than a choke chain collar. The prongs simulate the mother dog's teeth on the neck. They look scary, but work well on the pullers.

A no pull harness actually pulls the dog sideways. Both the prong collar and no pull harness have worked on my Basenji. Pulling the dog to the side seems to stop them from pulling forward but the weight of a 50 pound dog? OMG, get a padded leash too.

My big dog has a choke chain but she doesn't mind. Your dog need pronged. The choke chain would be dangerous for a strong doggie. My dog was pretty obedient.

Rex also wears a choke chain(on walks only) this helps with the walks wonderfully he heels at my side at all times. I do realize some people view choke chains as cruel but there are a few good reasons I use it, for one that's what we used in dog obedience and two it is mostly a safety issue because rex can slip out of anything, collars, harnesses, halty's anything and then if he did slip out of something on the walk it would not be a good outcome. Also it helps a lot to know how to put the choke chain on, if you put it on correctly it will only tighten if you pull it, as soon as you let go it will loosen. Oh... and you asked about the anti-pull harness, well I had one and not to sure if it worked right but I would not suggest it, as soon as rex pulled it broke(not a good thing with a husky) thankfully I was just outside are house and not on the road yet!

And I totally know what you mean by the squirrels, rex loves squirells. When we go for a walk in the woods(he doesn't have his choker on then, that would be cruel!) he'll smell the ground, then run to a tree and stare at one spot, I'll look up and sure enough there's a squirell there. I can even ask him to find one and he'll run up to a tree and fixate on a certain spot. So now for him finding the squirell is a trick, that he will get lots of praise for:D.

So for you I would suggest a backpack, they seem to work wonders. You see huskies are a working breeds, so when you put that pack on they will see it as their job, you will be giving your dog a purpose, and to fulfill that purpose he will be more attentive of you and not the squirell. Hope this helps!! ;)

Put the leash that you have around your waist and attach the other end to your dog. Go outside and be prepared for some exerise. Your dogs have to learn that it's YOU they need to be focused on. You can't walk during this exercise... you will have to run. Begin running about 10 feet in one direction... when you're done don't stop and quickly change directions to the same amount of feet in the exact opposite direction. You have to do this over and over again till your dog is no longer pulling and making any other choice than to be by your side and IN the game. You can shorten the length of feet to less after a while... your dog has to be eager to be by your LEG and not ahead.

Also you may try doing this exercise inside the house, but w/ no running. Just attach yourselves by your waist and the dogs collar. While you're cooking or just putzing about. Do this for a good period.

It is necessary to perform this exercise outside in the running fashion. You will have to be strong and totally controlling over the run. Don't make any concessions for your dogs lagging or running ahead. It will surprise your dog when you take the turns. Just do it quickly. If your dog begins to follow by your side and is taking the turns promptly and on point... say "good dog", not until.

Positive enforcements are effective when your dog does well... any other kind of attention or affection need not be given unless she/he does the tast/command on point. This is how to make training uncomplicated.

I hope I explained this properly. It's hard to do over the internet. I tried my best... good luck. I'll be happy to help you tweak it if you need. Just hit me up...

I have two pullers as well, the pronged choke collar didn't work at all, it just made them itchy, it didn't stop them from pulling.

The only thing that works with my dogs is the pull harness, the one that has rope that goes under the armpit, every time they pull it tightens. This doesn't hurt them, they just don't like the sensation and they stop pulling.

Sweet Dee is also right, although I have to say, I've tried that method, it didn't work either. :(

Well, I just had a very pleasant walk! She's finally seems to be getting use to the head halter! For the first time in in ages I walker her. She even still behaved like the angel I know she is, even with the other dog with us, a neighborhood dog saying hi, and a group of children loving on her. With enough treats I even got her to forget about a squirrel!

Way to go, congrats.

It sounds like she just needed some time to get used to it. Dogs, stubborn, pig headed and lovable all at the same time. :)

Good for you. Happy it worked out. I have a female Lab that will do ANYTHING for food, ultimately making her my easiest dog to manipulate as she's so easy to bribe.

Got to love the dogs that are "food motivated", huh? LOL!