Is your pup pulling on the leash? Try these training tips to change the behavior!
To get dogs to walk on the leash calmly next to you, without dragging you around as they go from one smell to another, it is helpful to understand why they are pulling in the first place.
Dogs pull because they get to “it” faster, whatever “it” is. “It” could be a tree, a smell, an animal, person, leaf, sometimes it is something you cannot figure out. They also pull because humans are slow and boring; dogs are fast and interested in everything! Dogs also pull on leash because it works.
To change the behavior of them pulling you around on your walk, or to avoid pulling becoming a behavior, you must make pulling stop the walk. Do not go forward unless the leash is loose. Your dog will learn “when I feel the tightness on my collar from the leash, we stop moving. When the tightness stops, we get to walk forward again.” You are an anchor; they can pull as much as they want but they do not get to smell, see, or touch, what they are pulling towards.
Now, this anchor technique can work wonders for some dogs, and will help with just about any pup, but reinforcement is what really brings it to the next level. Reinforcement is what will change the behavior. You need to be more interesting than the smell up ahead, or the dog and squirrel across the street. Obviously, the reinforcer needs to be strong enough that your dog’s attention is locked on you. This is not always food or treats. With our dog Barry, if we are outside, nothing keeps his attention better than a ball. Treats hardly register as something interesting, he wants to run. If we are indoors, we can use food or treats to get him to stop barking at the mailman walking up the sidewalk. Knowing what gets your dog’s absolute attention in every scenario is probably the most helpful tool for teaching behaviors. The outdoors offers so many more interesting opportunities than sleeping on the couch while you watch tv.
One way to use a treat for reinforcement is to lure them. Have a treat in the hand that is next to your dog. Have them smell the treat, and as your pup walks next to you, praise and randomly give a treat. If he/she is walking next to you and looks at you, give them a big treat. This method is great if your dog gets distracted and stops to sniff. If you have a treat that your dog likes a lot, have the treat in your hand and move it by his nose to lure them back into the walk.
Loose leash walking can be a frustrating endeavor, but practice and patience are key to getting your dog to stop “walking you”.
One other option to try, which can be a quick fix for some dogs, and a helpful tool for almost all dogs, is the Easy Walk Harness. Even if your dog is a serious puller, these can give you enough control to help master the training. We use these harnesses on all of our leash training pups, as well as our own dogs, and we highly recommend them for anyone walking, or leash training your dog.
Please contact us if you have any questions on these tips, [email protected] or by visiting www.newmansdogtraining.com.
Also, follow us on Instagram @newmansdogtraining. You can also follow us and our dog Barry on our training and outdoor adventures on Instagram @adventuredogbarry.
Happy Training!
