When I'm at the park, there's only one thing that makes me jealous: seeing dogs walk by their owners' side. Another dog is coming? They don't seem to be bothered by it at all. Three excited children approaching? The dog does not seem to be aware.
We used to be completely opposites. I used to be the woman who tried desperately to calm my dog down on walks. I would hold her back with my whole power when someone passed by. I held her tight even when there was nothing “exciting”.
A few years ago, I found some tips for loose leash walking that worked. After watching and reading everything I could on the topic, I found some techniques that worked. This article will discuss why dogs pull on leashes, how to stop them, and the importance of consistency. This is how I stopped my dog pulling on the leash.
Why Dogs Pull the Leash
Let's first take a look at the reasons why dogs pull on the leash. Understanding why dogs pull and how we might be encouraging the behavior can help us manage the behavior.
It's just normal behavior for dogs to pull on their leashes. Is it desirable? It is not desirable, but it comes naturally to them. They can pull themselves to their destination at their own pace.
Your dog does not pull on the leash to show dominance, but it's because it works. If you are behind your dog and they pull, you are teaching them to do it even more. This pulling is being rewarded, because it keeps the dog moving forward.
It will be difficult to break a dog's habit of pulling on the leash. They're used moving forward when pulling, so the behavior has been reinforced. A dog's instinct is to resist restraint. If you are consistent, you can break this habit and show your dog that walking with you is more rewarding.
Some methods may not work perfectly for every dog
Before you start any type of training, you should know that not all methods will work with every dog. I have tried many different methods for loose leash walking and felt like a fail when they didn't work. If you have tried loose leash walking in the past and not seen results, you are not alone.
Dog training is a lot about finding out what motivates your dog and then building off of that. Laika was motivated by treats and toys.
Have you heard about the Be a Tree Tip? When your dog starts to pull, you have to stop the walk and remain still. The theory goes that your dog learns that pulling will cause you to pause, so he'll stop.
What happened when I did that to my dog who was already used pulling on the leash? She pulled harder to get to where she wanted to be and became frustrated when I refused to move. This method may work if you are patient, but not for my dog. I tried this method for months and was stuck by the side of the highway, stopping every three feet to stop for a few minutes in the hope that my dog would settle down. This did not happen. She would at best stay at the end looking forward and occasionally stop for a second, but as soon we started moving she was back to pulling.
My Laika didn't like being a tree. Part of this was due to her exuberance, and part was due to the habit she had of pulling to get to where she wanted. You'll need to motivate your dog to stop pulling the leash if you want to keep them from doing so.
This is not to say that being a tree does not work for some dogs. I have seen it work. It didn't work for my dog and may not be the best option if your dog has been pulling for some time.
Keep in mind that not all methods will work for your dog. Do not get discouraged when a single method does not work for your dog. Dog training involves figuring out your dog's motivation and then building off of that.
1. Choose One Walking Method And Stick To It
Picking one method of walking and being consistent is the first tip to teach your dog to not pull on the leash. It is important to teach your dog the proper behavior on a walk. The fastest way to achieve this is to choose a walking method and be consistent.
You can choose to have your dog walk along your left or right side. Or, you can let him follow a few steps in your footsteps. Choose your preferred option and be consistent. You want your dog to walk on your right side, so make sure that everyone who walks your dog follows the plan. By sticking to one method, you can teach your dog what is expected on a walk and make the training process easier.
2. Start in an Unattractive Area
You don't want to set your dog up for failure when you are trying to teach him how to walk on a leash. When you are trying to train your dog to walk calmly and remain calm, it is important to choose a quiet area for training. Choose a quiet moment of the day to practice walking. You can also go on a walk in the evening during dinner when people tend to be indoors. Or, you could go into a park at a time that is not busy.
You can expect your dog to be too distracted and excited to learn and pay attention if you bring them to a busy park before they are accustomed to good leash manners and impulse control. All those sounds, sights and smells will distract them. And of course the squirrels. Do not set up your dog to fail in this way. Begin by teaching your dog to walk in a calm environment and then build on that.
3. The Cheater Method – Using a Front Clip Harness
When it comes to teaching a dog to not pull on a leash, I use what I call the “cheater method” — namely – putting he front clip harness. Front clip harnesses can be used easily; the only difficult part is learning how to put them on for the first few times.
I don't regret getting a front-clip harness many years ago. It's actually one of the things I wish I had at the beginning. I've never seen any piece of equipment make such an immediate difference to walks. For this reason, I think a front clip is one of the best dog-walking tips. It's an easy way to “reset” a dog's leash behavior if you've never used one before.
It is especially effective for dogs who are used to pulling on a collar and leash. As soon as you begin using your harness, praise your dog for walking well. You will begin to see your dog associate the harness with walking on a loose leash.
This is the same technique used by many police K9s. The collars are different depending on what task they have to perform. They can change their mindset by changing the collar.
Laika was already used to pulling when I first started using the harness. When we left the house, she would immediately start pulling. But once I switched to a front clip harness, that all changed. She was not used to wearing the harness or using a leash with a clip in front. I took this time to teach her good walking manners as she got used to the new gear. It didn't last long before she caught on. Since then, our walks are much more pleasant.
4. Use treats to encourage your dog to follow you
It doesn't matter what method you use to stop your dog pulling on the leash, the important thing is to keep them motivated. You can encourage your dog to walk well by showing them the rewards that come with it. The easiest way to do this is to use tasty treats. If you reward your dog for good behavior, they will be more likely to do it again. This is true of loose leash walking.
When you begin teaching your dog to walk on leash, use treats to motivate them to follow. (Or toys if they are more playful) It will teach them that walking on a leash without pulling is rewarded, and they'll eventually start doing it on their own.