Although we all love to see our wolfhounds galloping freely, there are times in the life of any dog when we require him to walk quietly at our side without pulling. Training methods to achieve this desirable state are many and varied, probably because none is 100% effective, or may not suit all dogs. We have used Haltis (head collars) in the past, and they certainly help, but not all dogs tolerate them well, and also body harnesses but they're not very dignified.
Like most owners, we got by, but in some circumstances, eg crowded streets, or when forced to walk with another dog in view along the road, our dogs didn't always behave as we would like. This was brought home to us when we visited Stratford-on-Avon whilst on holiday with Fran Smith-King from Bribiba Irish Wolfhounds.

Picture the scene: the streets are crowded with sight-seers and shoppers. Paul and Anne are walking Darcy, Fran and Bill are walking Darcy's brother, Harry Potter. The Torteval 'team' are having to constantly remind Darcy not to pull with an increasingly stern and ineffectual series of 'steady' commands, whilst suffering the discomfort of shoulder strain and glaring pedestrians who would prefer not to have an uninvited wolfhound nose up their rears! The Bribiba 'team', however, are cool! Harry Potter is walking sedately, calmly and coolly at his dad's side - no sweat, no stress!
Left:
McGinty models the Halti.

Right:
Chewie gets into a bit
of bondage with a
full body harness!
The secret? Harry Potter is walked on a cunningly arranged horse lead. The photos below show how simply it works. The dog requires no training (nor does the owner!), and seems to accept the temporary restriction to movement without complaint or distress.
All you need is:
Left:
Harry Potter and Darcy
neck and neck in Stratford.

Right:
But Darcy's pulling hard to get ahead; Potter is relaxed.
1)
A  6ft (2m) long, cotton rope horse lead, widely and cheaply available in a range of colours from tack shops. Tie a firm knot in the end to give extra purchase.

(if you want to carry the lead over your shoulder when not in use insert a metal ring into the knot, then attach the D clip to the ring to form a loop.)
2)
A headstrong Irish wolfhound (is there any other type?!)

Darcy says she's not, but kindly offered to demonstrate anyway.
Stand with the wolfhound on your left and attach the lead to the collar in the usual way. Then:
1) Hold the knotted end in your right hand and allow the lead to fall.
2) Reach down around the dog with your left hand and pick up the slack length of lead and position it over the dog's back.
3)  Transfer the knotted end to your left hand, so that your left hand holds both the slack lead and the knotted end, and rests lightly on the dog's back.
4)
The length of lead across the dog's chest effectively but comfortably restricts forward movement - and you even have a hand free for shopping!
For extra control, the lead can be dropped down as fara as the dog's elbows.
It's a simple as that, and it really works!
Page reviewed October 2007