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5 Clever Ways To Stop Your Dog Pulling On The Lead
When taking your four-legged friend for a walk, you should be the one who’s in control – not the other way round! Pulling on the lead isn’t just frustrating for the owner – it’s actually uncomfortable for the dog too.
So how do you stop your canine companion pulling on their lead?
Here, PetBucket, the online retailer of discount tick and flea treatment for dogs and cats, reveals five clever ways to stop your pooch pulling on the lead, so you and Fido can enjoy nice – but most importantly, calm – walks together!
- Train them from an early age
One of the first things your dog needs to know is how to walk correctly on the lead. This can be taught alongside other techniques like learning to sit and come to heel, and the same positive reinforcement methods – treats! – should be used.
But while you should reward your pooch for walking on a loose lead; punishing them by jerking the leash when they pull has actually been proven to be ineffective when it comes to training. This is not a strong enough punishment and it can even be damaging to your dog’s neck and spine.
Instead, stop moving forward if you dog pulls and reward them with treats or their favorite toy when they walk by your side.
Asides from pulling, dogs also have a tendency to stop for sniff breaks. To remedy this, when you are teaching your puppy to walk on a leash, command them to “Go sniff” every five minutes or so. This is a reward, so if your four-legged friend pulls on the leash during this time say “Let’s go” and turn around to walk off, ending the free time.
If you train your dog from a young age not to pull you will likely have few problems down the line when it comes to pulling and other lead behavioral issues. And the good thing is, even the wildest of puppies can be taught successfully to walk calmly and politely on the lead.
- Invest in a proper, well-fitting harness or collar
Different kinds of dogs walk better on different kinds of harnesses or collars. Dogs with elongated necks, such as borzois or whippets, need a wider band to their collar, and small dogs with more fragile necks should only be walked wearing a harness. Stronger, more muscular dogs are easier to control wearing a harness.
Each breed of dog has its own physical uniqueness that will suit it to one or the other, though it is also important to take into account advice from your vet and your own dog’s particular individualisms. If you purchase an inexpensive, ill-fitting harness over a fitted, well-made one, your dog’s training progress may be hindered as it may be uncomfortable or pull against their skin in the wrong places. The right harness or collar can make a huge difference in your pet’s willingness to cooperate with their training, and your ease of mind that they can’t slip out of it and escape.
- Explore other harness options
If your dog just isn’t getting along with either a harness or a collar, there are other options to explore.
For dogs who react very strongly to external stimuli or very strong dogs, a head collar may be the best option. A head collar is worn over the muzzle and the point of contact to the lead is at the chin, so the dog can feel your hands on the lead much more easily.
This can make teaching your dog to walk on the lead comfortably a lot easier, as long as it is done correctly. The dog must be introduced to the head collar in a way that does not distress it, and it must not fit painfully. Although it might seem strange to your dog at first, it can be a useful training tool that ultimately pays off in a well-behaved dog.
- Continued positive reinforcement
Once your dog is walking calmly and appropriately on the lead, keep telling them that they’re doing a really good job with their favorite method of positive reinforcement. For a lot of dogs, this will be by slipping them treats.
Make sure these treats are healthy and good quality, full of fresh ingredients and few preservatives. If you walk your dog to a place where they can run free, ensure that they have a great time off the lead with balls to chase or other dogs to play with. The enjoyment is part of the reward for walking well, with the bonus that they’ll be tired on the way back and eager to rest when they get home.
- Know your dog
If your dog is prone to chasing cats, always be on the alert for passing neighborhood cats, squirrels, or other small, chaseable animals. Knowing they’re likely to act up, you can compensate for their behavior – tempt them with a treat, pause and ask them to sit or lie down, or come to heel and wait until the distraction has passed.
If you don’t spot the distraction in time, try to keep walking like you normally would. Show your dog that you aren’t reacting to the cat so they shouldn’t, either – dogs pick up on your body language and take their cues from you, so if you show them that the cat is nothing to possible pay attention to, they’ll eventually get the message, too.
It takes persistence, but this type of subtle reinforcement, combined with nonverbal cues to your dog, will eventually pay off.
About the author
PetBucket is a trusted online retailer that ships discount tick and flea treatment for dogs and cats around the world, as well as pet vitamins and supplements, and medication for heartworm and intestinal worms.
PetBucket stock a range of popular brands, from Revolution and Bravecto, to Nexgard and the Seresto collar. Shop online at petbucket.com
