Walking your dog can be one of the most relaxing times of your day but it can also be one of the most stressful bits.
It all depends on how your dog walks on the leash.
Going out is a very exciting time for dogs, so much to sniff and see so you can understand how it’s easy for them to forget the human on the other end of their leash.
Sometimes, it seems they even forget to breathe, considering the way they choke themselves by pulling so much.
Teach Your Dog To Stop Pulling On The Leash
Teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash may sound tricky and traditional methods usually are, but by doing it our way, it’s actually simpler than it looks.
And, in three easy steps, we’ll show you how to train your dog to stop pulling on the leash.
Step 1 – Stop When Your Dog Starts Pulling
You’ve probably tried this and ended up giving up, but it’s actually the best starting point.
Whenever your dog pulls on the leash, just stop!
This might mean you don’t leave the front door and that’s okay. You just need to stand still and don’t move. Each and every time (this is tricky, we know). Consistency is key.
It’s very very important, your dog needs to understand what you want from him and he won’t if you continue to walk even though he’s pulling.
Step 2 – Wait Until Your Dog Looks At You
By now your dog has noticed you’re not moving. He tried and tried pulling at the leash and you just won’t budge. What can he do to get things going? See what you want. How will he do that? He’ll stop and look at you.
If by any chance your dog is the stubborn type (like ours) this might take him a while, so a quicker way to get his attention is to attract it.
As soon as he looks at you drop some food, kibble or training treats on the ground then turn away from him.
Step 3 – Turn The Other Way Around
Now that you have your dog’s attention, turn around and face the direction you have just come from and encourage your dog to join you by dropping a treat behind you for him to collect as he reaches you.
You’ll want him to eat the reward just behind you, the ideal position for your walk. You want him to get comfortable behind you so he’ll want to do it on his own.
Start walking as soon as he picks up the treat. If he rushes past you and resumes the pulling, you’ll know what to do, go back to step 1 as often as it takes for him to understand what you expect of him.
Eventually, he’ll understand what he needs to do in order to get his walk and once he does you’ll be able to walk him on a lose leash.
This might be an exercise you’ll want to do when your dog is calm and not desperate to do his business in the nearest tree, because he’ll probably won’t be able to focus.
Also, take his time with him, once he gets it, if you remain consistent, he’ll never go back to his old ways.
Conclusion
Is your dog ready for long walks on the leash? Great!
How about making things interesting? Mix things up, walk him past some really interesting distractions and see how he behaves. Like dogs he loves or places with great scents.
Now you’ll teach him there’s a time for playing and a time for keeping focused. And once he gets it right? Reward, reward, reward!
Keep it simple and consistent and enjoy your time with your dog and those walks together.
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