Expert Advice When Taking Dog For Walk
Kai and Byrdie are excitable and reactive when walking on the leash, so I’ve had to work on good leash manners with both of them. They used to pull on the leash constantly. I would struggle to control them whenever someone walked by. It was exhausting every single time I went for a walk. Even though I used the loose leash walking tips from my puppy classes, the problem persisted. In fact, it got worse with two dogs. So I enlisted help from a dog trainer.
Here are the steps we took to solve this problem and stop our dogs’ stressful leash-pulling habit. For all the details and links to products we used, read on.
Professional Tips to Prevent Leash Pulling When Taking Dog For Walk
Understand why dogs pull. It’s an instinctive behavior called the “opposition reflex.”
Use the right lead system to prevent opposition reflex.
Use the right type of collar with a dog that tends to pull.
Practice loose leash walking as early as possible.
Keep treats at your side to encourage your dog to stay by your side at all times.
Learn how to handle leash pulling triggers.
Why Leash Pulling Happens when taking dog for walk
First off, she said leash pulling is a common complaint, which made me feel better. In fact, she said it’s one of the biggest training needs she hears from most of her dog owners. She explained that before we can promote good behaviour on walks, we first need to understand what causes this common problem. Why do dogs pull on the leash in the first place? The answer is simple. It’s a natural instinct called the “opposition reflex.” When they feel pressure from their collar or harness, they want to pull against it. The more they pull, the more pressure they feel, and they want to pull more. The vicious cycle then continues. Also, dogs walk at a faster pace than humans. They want to go go go, and we should just keep up! But, our job is to teach them to follow us instead.
Select the Right Lead When Taking Dog For Walk
The first step when leash training is to make sure you have the right equipment. Choose a new type of collar or harness other than a traditional flat collar. This will help focus your dog’s attention and manage leash pulling. There are a number of collars and leash-walking systems available to choose from. While no piece of equipment can solve your dog’s pulling problem on its own, the right type of gear will help support your training efforts. Remember to keep up the praise when you start using your new collar or harness. With time and practice, your dog will associate it with loose leash walking.
I’ve used all three of the following types of equipment and have found them all to work equally well for different reasons.
Chest-led Harness, Front-Clip Harness, or Easy Walk Harness
With this type of non pull harness, the leash clips to the front of the dog’s chest instead of on the dog’s back. This type of harness lead is specifically designed to discourage pulling because it’s harder to drag you forward from your dog’s chest.
Head Halter, Head Collar
The Gentle Leader head harness gently moves your dog’s head and body back towards you when he pulls. This redirects his attention away from the trigger and back to you. Although it looks like a muzzle, it’s not. It does not put pressure on the dog’s throat, and your dog can still pant and bark.
Prong Collar
When used appropriately, choke collars are a great way to improve your dog’s focus and attention. Contrary to popular belief, most professional trainers say they are completely humane. When worn correctly, a prong collar gently applies leverage to get your dog’s attention, letting him know it’s time for training. But, they must be used in conjunction with proper training. If you’re unsure how to properly use a prong collar, consult a professional trainer. Harshly correcting your dog can make leash pulling worse and lead to other anxious behaviors.
Avoid these leashes/collars when Taking Dog For Walk:
Retractable leashes - Although popular among dog owners, do not use this type of leash if you have a dog that pulls. The constant pressure on your dog’s neck from a retractable leash actually encourages pulling.
A traditional collar or a flat collar does not offer enough control to focus your dog’s attention on you. Your dog will continue to pull which will make the problem worse.
Expert Methods to Stop Leash Pulling When Taking Dog For Walk
There are several effective methods to stop leash pulling. The best training plan for you will depend on your dog’s temperament. For instance, a more sensitive dog will need additional positive reinforcement training and reassurance. Understand your dog’s background and personality to know the most effective way to improve your dog’s behavior. Dogs respond differently, so give these tips a try and see what works best for you. When training your dog, remember that positive reinforcement is always the better way. Negative reinforcement will only lead to anxious behaviors.
loose leash Walking Tips For new puppy
Have your puppy wear a leash for short amounts of time in the house. Play with him and give him treats to keep it a positive experience. Soon your puppy will associate the leash with treats and fun.
We once worked with a trainer who trained loose-leash walking at a very young age. Her technique is to introduce the leash as early as possible using a 15-foot leash. Start with casual walks with your puppy to get accustomed to the leash, always keeping slack in it so that he does not feel any leash pressure. This will help prevent the opposition reflex from becoming a habit as your puppy learns to walk on the leash.
In this video, both Kai and Byrdie are together on loose leashes. Byrdie was a brand new puppy, so that was her first time on a leash. In this video, Kai was a brand new puppy on his loose leash. You can see how loose-leash training was a positive, fun, and encouraging process for both of our puppies early on.
Keep Treats Handy When Taking Your Dog For Walk
If you have a food-motivated dog, you can use dog treats to encourage your dog to walk by your side during leash time. As you walk, hold a treat in your hand at your side above your dog’s head to get his attention. If your dog walks on your left side, put the leash in your right hand. Hold the tasty treat in your left hand at his nose. This will lure your dog to walk next to you instead of ahead of you. As your dog walks next to you, give lots of praise in a happy voice and a treat reward. This method teaches your dog that good things happen when he walks by your side.
Treats and squeaky toys have worked great with my dogs. Use the type of reward that is high value for your particular dog. With plenty of positive reinforcement, your dog will learn to look up and check in with you periodically during your walk.
Throughout your walk, reward your dog with a treat every few steps to keep his attention on you. Make sure to repeat a cue word, such as “yes,” to mark his good behavior. I have found my dogs respond really well to this method.
dog walking tips: Learn How to handle leash-pulling triggers.
When your dog sees a trigger, such as another dog walking on the other side of the street, use this same method to get his attention off the trigger and look at you instead. Rather than lunging, barking, or pulling, my dogs have learned to look at me when they see a trigger.
With practice and repetition, my dogs now react much less to another dog or person walking by.
Change directions as soon as your dog starts to pull.
When your dog starts to pull, turn around in the opposite direction in a U-turn. This slows your dog down and removes the tension on the leash to avoid the opposition reflex. Before turning, say your verbal cue, such as “Turn!” Make sure to use a happy voice and put a treat at your dog’s nose. As you make your turn, keep your dog’s attention on the treat and make sure he stays walking right with you. After you’ve finished the turn, keep walking and give your dog the treat to mark the good behavior with a reward.
This method has worked well for me, but be prepared to make a lot of turns!! It takes lots of training sessions during your regular walks to get this down.
Stop walking as soon as your dog starts to pull.
If you feel any tension in the leash, stop walking right away. Do not jerk or pull back on the leash because that will only encourage him to pull more. Instead, stop calmly and quietly. Continue walking only after your dog stops pulling. If he continues to pull, turn in the opposite direction to redirect his attention back onto you. Through this learning process, your dog will get the idea that pulling will not help him move forward. Once he experiences this over and over, your dog will eventually learn that pulling means no walking.
Keep in mind, if you have an excitable dog that has been in the habit of pulling on the leash for a long time, it may take a while for him to get the idea. So be prepared to practice regularly for 5-10 minutes at a time. It may also help to combine this strategy with changing direction as described above.
Be Patient and Consistent When Taking Dog For Walk
Keeping an excitable dog calm when walking in new places can be stressful and frustrating for pet parents. It’s also stressful for your dog! The most important thing you can do to help stop your dog from leash pulling is to be patient and consistent. I found that even just 5-10 minutes of practice a day helped a lot. Once I had a simple training plan to follow, I felt more confident about it. I also made sure my husband understood the plan and used it too.
Finally, I know that my dogs need plenty of exercise and playtime before training sessions. Otherwise, they’re bored and have too much energy to pay attention. They end up pulling, and we’re all frustrated! I find that a quick game of fetch in the backyard before a walk helps get out some of their energy.
I’ve found there’s been nothing better for Kai and Byrdie than attending their training classes. It’s been a gradual process, but they now know basic commands and their manners are improving every day!