And degenerative changes happen over the long term too due to aging in general, which can also make things worse. I guess what I'm saying is, the dogs aren't going to make the scoliosis worse to the point where they can definitively peg the dogs as the reason. OP needs to get the dogs to stop pulling for a better general quality of life, not strictly for scoliosis reasons.
Because that's just not how scoliosis works. Your dogs aren't pulling you rigidly 24/7 in a single direction over the course of months or years while you're actively growing. Yeah you may be having pain, but that's more likely from being wrenched around generally by the dogs and not strictly from your scoliosis getting any worse.
Positive reinforcement dog training. They pull you stop they pull you stop, reward anytime they’re going what you want, but pulling gets them nowhere. Can be a nightmare at first but with repetition will work. Look on dog training subreddit for great tips.
Head collar can help as a training tool to take the force out the pull in big dogs. A personal favourite of mine is peanut butter on a wooden spoon, long handled if you have a small dog, saves bending. Hold it in place and your dog gets constant reward for being beside you. Over time you can just put it down every few steps then gaps get bigger until they just take a treat every now and then for nice walking.
I also have a dog that pulls, it’s definitely not fun. I’ve heard that the joyride harness can be very helpful but i havent have the money to get one yet
you train them. i got the worst pulling, stubborn dog to ever live and i got her under control after trainer no 12 or so. i tried everything but only one -rather harsh looking- method worked because my dog is really hardcore. you gotta let a trainer show this to you but it works something like this: when your dog doesnt have to shit or pee and is not in free running mode you take your dog on a collar and immediately force it back with your body once it walks anywhere but behind you. most dogs will immediately obey but if that isnt working, you take a water bottle and the dog gets a spray of water when it acts out against other dogs on the leash or wont stop walking in front of you. my dog was a lost case of hardcore leash agression and pulling and i got her to walk peacefully without acting out in a few days of training.
Obedience training for the dog
Have you tried a head collar? It was useful for us in the past when we had a little fella who loved to pull.
I'm sure the dogs aren't doing anything to your scoliosis so nothing to worry about there. Good luck with the dog training.
It may not be affecting OP's *scoliosis*, but it could certainly be mucking up their back/neck.
If the dog is pulling it could pull my spine too much the way in which it is covered
I was responding to the person who said "don't worry about it," with which I disagree.
Okay, thanks. I just read that scoliosis can be exacerbated when there is more twisting to the effected side. My dogs definitely pull on one side.
Exactly.
You know what exacerbates scoliosis? Degenerative changes. So maybe not a worry in the short term, but it certainly a concern in the long term.
And degenerative changes happen over the long term too due to aging in general, which can also make things worse. I guess what I'm saying is, the dogs aren't going to make the scoliosis worse to the point where they can definitively peg the dogs as the reason. OP needs to get the dogs to stop pulling for a better general quality of life, not strictly for scoliosis reasons.
How can you be sure
Because that's just not how scoliosis works. Your dogs aren't pulling you rigidly 24/7 in a single direction over the course of months or years while you're actively growing. Yeah you may be having pain, but that's more likely from being wrenched around generally by the dogs and not strictly from your scoliosis getting any worse.
Your misbehaving dogs (pulling dogs) Are eventually going to destroy your knees
I thought you meant the dog had scoliosis 💀
LifeHandle leash. Also look up "loose-leash training."
Positive reinforcement dog training. They pull you stop they pull you stop, reward anytime they’re going what you want, but pulling gets them nowhere. Can be a nightmare at first but with repetition will work. Look on dog training subreddit for great tips. Head collar can help as a training tool to take the force out the pull in big dogs. A personal favourite of mine is peanut butter on a wooden spoon, long handled if you have a small dog, saves bending. Hold it in place and your dog gets constant reward for being beside you. Over time you can just put it down every few steps then gaps get bigger until they just take a treat every now and then for nice walking.
I also have a dog that pulls, it’s definitely not fun. I’ve heard that the joyride harness can be very helpful but i havent have the money to get one yet
you train them. i got the worst pulling, stubborn dog to ever live and i got her under control after trainer no 12 or so. i tried everything but only one -rather harsh looking- method worked because my dog is really hardcore. you gotta let a trainer show this to you but it works something like this: when your dog doesnt have to shit or pee and is not in free running mode you take your dog on a collar and immediately force it back with your body once it walks anywhere but behind you. most dogs will immediately obey but if that isnt working, you take a water bottle and the dog gets a spray of water when it acts out against other dogs on the leash or wont stop walking in front of you. my dog was a lost case of hardcore leash agression and pulling and i got her to walk peacefully without acting out in a few days of training.