Hi Ben

We also have a 7 month old choc lab. He pulls on the lead so much now and it's most uncomfortable when trying to take him for walks. I have read a few books and was told at puppy training to never have a slip lead, (is that what it's called?), whereby they go as far as they want and you have to push the button on the holder, and the lead looks like string! The reason for not having this type of lead is due to the fact that they work out how far they can go, and, it's very difficult to control them.

Also, the books I read, said to stand completely still when they begin to pull. They will soon realise that they are not going anywhere! (we are stronger than we think). They will turn back to you and you should encourage them to come back to you and to heel. Once they have done this, you praise them and set off again. By using a fairly long, and thick, strong wide lead that is comfy to wrap around your arm/hand and grab quickly, this technique is more effective. I personally don't like to put the lead on his collar, (as I hate hearing him choke himself). I use a harness as you then have more control over them. Most times, he comes back to me, but sometimes, he will just sit there. As long as he has stopped pulling and I have his attention, that's okay; as I then get him to heel, and start again. I keep the lead very short to enable me to walk him to heel but I talk to him all the time he is walking to heel. Saying Good, Good, Good, anything really, just reasuring chatter to keep his attention. It is extremely tiring and intensive and I know I look and sound mad to anyone passing by. But eventually nearing the end of the walk, he gets the idea and I begin to slacken his lead. To just go for a relaxing walk is so not going to happen until he's at least 12 to 18 months old, (what other dog walkers have informed us). Also, our dog is excited to see anything and everything, and pulls like mad. So when that happens we have to try and distract him by using a cheerful voice and treat to encourage him to go where we want to go. Our dog has taken some weeks to learn this one;-%3E

However, we have encountered a problem when we have let him off the lead in the park. He would run off but never out of sight and came back eventually. Until recently, when he ran off until we couldn't see him!! Fortunately, another dog owner had got hold of our ownerless dog, when he started to play with their dog. His sudden change in behaviour is down to his hormones kicking in, apparently. Our dog, would start jumping up on us when we were sitting down, and barking as he just wanted our attention, to play etc. However, eventually he stopped when he realised that he couldn't play all the time. We would give him his toys to play with or try to settle him with his blankets. He was also much worse when he was teething. Some days would be worse than others, he would just be very hyper', and we discovered that it was probably because he had discomfort, as some days his gums were very red and once bled. However, he has never snapped, just mouthed us, when we first got him, wanting to play, so I would recommend asking the vet about that. Hope this info' may have helped; There's still so much to learn.. Good luck!!