Tips and Tools to Stop Your Dog from Pulling the Leash
While owners of lazy dogs won’t understand the pain of an active puppy, there’s few things more frustrating – and occasionally terrifying – than walking a dog that thinks it’s on a 100m sprint.
Especially if your dog weighs more than you!
If this is plaguing you every time you step out the door – don’t worry! Dogs pulling on the leash is actually one of the most common issues among dog owners. This isn’t just a puppy problem either – without proper training, dogs will happily go their whole lives trying to drag their owners to a particularly interesting looking hedge.
So, if you’re looking to give your shoulder muscles a break, then we’ve got the solution. Check out our best tips and tools to stop your dog from pulling on the leash.
Why is your dog pulling?
For all the owners that need to spell out the word W-A-L-K for fear of endless torrent of the notorious zoomies, you know that “walkies” are just about the most exciting thing that can happen to a dog.
There’s limitless new smells. New people never seen before that are all begging for your dog’s attention. Sounds that your dog must absolutely know about.
It’s no wonder that they want to go as fast as possible.
And the average dog has a much faster walking pace than the average human, so it’s only natural they would want to go at their pace. But, the issue is when they’re pulling the leash and hurting you or you’re losing control of the dog.
But don’t worry – with a clear and consistent strategy, it’s no trouble to stop your dog from pulling.
Like any kind of dog training – from crate training to tricks – it comes down to following simple steps over a long time period. Be prepared that it’s unlikely your dog will change their behaviour tomorrow. But, after days and weeks of practice you’ll begin to see a difference.
That brings us to the question you’ve all been waiting for – what are the steps?
How to teach your dog to stop pulling on the leash:
Use the most comfortable equipment possible
The first step is making sure the equipment you’re using is all comfortable and safe.
Whether it’s a collar, headcollar or a harness, ensure that it’s not too tight on the dog and that it’s in decent condition. If possible, a fixed length leash, rather than a retractable one, is preferable for this type of training. Changing the length of the leash risks confusing the dog on how close they should be during the walk.
Begin walking with your dog calmly
Keep the leash slack but remember to still grip it firmly. The dog should also begin beside you or slightly ahead.
As the dog starts to pull, stop walking
The first time you do this, they’re likely to tug quite hard (either out of shock or really wanting to continue), so make sure you’re ready to stand your ground! Make sure the dog isn’t able to pull you along.
Eventually, they will stop pulling and the leash will return to a slack potion. This may take a bit of restraint – and strength – but as with all doggie training, patience is a virtue.
Once they comply, offer lots of treats and praise
And if you use a clicker then click away! This system of praise will let your furry companion know they’ve done good.
Once the dog is calm again, begin to walk again.
And… it’s as simple as that!
Just keep repeating those steps and eventually your dog will associate sticking with you with treats and praise and will stop pulling.
As mentioned previously, this probably won’t happen in one walk, one day or even one week (if it does, you may be a dog whisperer). But consistency is very important to solidify the behaviour.
So, keep trying and your pup will get there eventually.
How can I ensure it goes well?
Walk somewhere quiet!
The less distractions there are, the easier time you’ll have training your pooch. You can gradually increase the distractions as your dog gets the idea, but you will definitely want a nice quiet walk to start.
Ideal spots are far from a main road or joggers. Off the beaten path is recommended. If that’s at all difficult in your area (any big city folk reading – we understand your pain), then going out early or even later might be the best option.
Types of treats!
If your pooch is struggling, you may need to bring out the big guns!
Though dogs will usually do anything for food, we all know that the eye contact (and drool) dials up to 11 when the really good treats come out. For extra focus, or even extra praise if they’re really nailing it, bust out the good stuff! Some cold meats, the special treats at the back of the cupboard, or pick up some of our TubbyK9 tasty treats (as they work great for training).
Whatever your dog loves – use it! Just be sure to check that it’s also healthy for your pup.
The smell of these treats can even have the added effect of keeping your dog close to you! Between the smell and associating you with top tier rewards, sticking close to you will seem more interesting than that squirrel in the distance scurrying up the tree…
What not to do…
There are many leashes and methods that try to shortcut this process.
Equipment like choke chains, electronic collars and other “no pull” products punish your dog for exhibiting perfectly natural behaviours, instead of rewarding desired ones. Many studies have shown that negative reinforcement methods not only cause an increase in fear and aggression, but are flat-out less effective.
If that wasn’t bad enough, using these methods could cause your dog to associate going for a walk or being close to you with pain. And that’s the last thing you want!
Ultimately, there really is no substitute for consistent training using tested positive reinforcement techniques. So, stock up on those treats and enjoy your training!