By far, one of the most commonly asked questions I get asked by dog owners is, "My dog always pulls. What can I do?" There is always a pleading tone to their voice and I wish to myself that I had an easy and instant fix to give them. However, like people, dogs have their own free will to contend with, and changing a set behavior is not something that will change overnight. Sure you see Caesar fix people's dogs in about 20 minutes flat on his TV show, but what you don't see is the creative editing and the weeks of follow up work that is required by the dogs' owners.
Getting your dog stop pulling on their leash is a bad habit that needs to be broken and replaced with a better habit. A bad habit like quitting smoking, or changing a bad eating habit can be difficult for humans to overcome, so if you approach leash training with the same patience and understanding your chances of success with your pooch will be that much greater. The following 10 steps are all methods that I employ with any dog, big or small, and I have had great results. Now you can too!
1. Be Consistent!
Odds are your dog has had the bad habit of pulling on their leash for awhile. Breaking that bad habit is going to take awhile, and in the meantime you need to create the good habit of being consistent with your leash training! The more you get out there on a regular basis, the quicker your dog will learn. Set aside a good amount of time to leash train so that you are not rushed and won’t try to cut corners. Don’t have high expectations for a nice, long walk in the beginning stages.
2. Start the Walk in a Calm State
If your dog is in an excited frame of mind before you even get out the door, you have already lost the battle for control. Make your dog sit nicely while you put on the leash and wait as long as it takes for them to settle down.
3. Play/Fetch before Training
If your pooch is just so darn excited and won’t settle down for you, try playing before the walk. Don’t wear them out completely, but a dog that has blown off some of that extra energy is more receptive to you, and calmer.
4. Put 'Er in Reverse
So you’re out on your walk and you’re getting dragged along. Stop it. No really. Physically stop and become an immovable statue. When your dog realizes that you are no longer moving forward, call them back to you and reward them if they do. Only then can you move forward. If they keep pulling, you keep stopping and calling them to heal. This puts you in control of the walk. After awhile when your dog has made the connection that pull = stop, you can simply slow down your pace as a reminder for them to stop pulling.
5. Pinpoint the Reason for Pulling
Your dog pulls because they are getting a reward for it. Whether it is squirrels, other dogs, being just plain excited, or simply getting to where they want to go, your dog pulls because you let them. Recognizing your dog’s triggers can help you realize when you need to take precautions. Which brings us to:
6. Use Distraction
Your dog sights in on one of their pulling triggers and you can see them thinking about lunging forward. Cut this behavior off at the bud. Make them sit and realign to your command. I find that distraction works the best. Call your dog’s name, or even put your body in the line of sight of their trigger. Move forward only when your dog has relaxed.
7. Different Techniques for Different Dogs
Just like humans, dogs have vastly differing personalities and learning styles. What may work for one dog may not work for another. I think some training collars and halters can be good training aids, but they should not become a crutch. Just because a Gentle Leader may stop your dog from pulling, it does not mean that you should quit reinforcing good leash habits. If both you and your pooch do the homework, you should eventually be able to walk with a good ol’ leash.
8. Flexi Leashes
In my opinion retractable leashes are not the best for learning how to walk on a leash. They give your dog all of the control of the walk because they can go wherever they like for yards of leash at a time. So while you train, go back to a traditional length of about 4 to 6 feet.
9. Chill Out...
Don’t forget that your dog is an expert at reading your emotions, and will mirror them. If you stay calm, collected and upbeat, your dog will be much more receptive to learning.
10. And Have Fun!
This won't happen in a day, so if you find that you or your dog are starting to get too stressed out by training, stop for the day. There’s always tomorrow. Don’t forget to reward your pooch often with lots of love and positive affirmations. After all, going for a walk together should be fun!
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