Steps and Tricks You Can Use That’ll Make The Walk Go Smoother

Do you get home from your hard day at work, say hi to your canine friend and then get the leash? Does your dog begin running around in circles, jumping up and down? You finally get the leash on them, get them outside and they’re dragging you out the door to reach the item they want to smell up close.

As you’re being dragged by your dog, you smile at your neighbors, knowing they are wondering who is walking who. You pull back on the dog’s leash to get him/her to slow down. However, your dog is just not listening. You have no way to slow him/her down to catch your breath and get him/her under control.

Believe it or not, this is how the majority of people are walking their dog at the very start of it. In the end, the walk turns to a chore. In the end, the dog does get the exercise he/she needs and you don’t want to take your dog out anymore. Thus, you may want to learn how to stop your dog pulling on the leash.

How To Stop Your Dog Pulling On The Leash: Why They Do It

Dogs have always pulled on their leash. Why? They’re not genetically bred to have a collar on their throat and have that leash attached to your arm. The reason they pull is because you’re holding them back. The first thing you need to learn when you want to know how to stop your dog pulling on the leash is to train them to know you’re not going to do any walking if they don’t slow down.

Believe it or not, most dogs have no idea they’re doing something wrong when they’re pulling on their leash. They’re not pulling on the leash to assert their dominance nor make you angry. They just love being outside so they can smell everything.

You must gain control over the situation. You need to control what your dog has access to and what they don’t. When you show your dog that their behavior will stop the walking, they’ll begin to understand that pulling on the leash is the last thing they need to do. Don’t yell or scold them, as it just confuses them.

How To Stop Your Dog Pulling On The Leash: Revamp The Walk

If you’re going to be effective at keeping your dog from pulling on the leash, then you need to begin working on it from the moment you pick up the leash. You may notice that your dog picks up rather rapidly on what you’re doing before going outside.

You want to be in control of this situation since what they do inside will cause them to react how they do outside. If your dog is excited and jumping around, you can be sure he/she will do that outside. Make sure your pup calms down before you go outside.

By waiting just five or 10 minutes, your dog’s energy can drain. Keep in mind that overexcited dogs can be very difficult to control. Don’t open the door until they are sitting down quietly and patiently.

Once you’re outside, you can let them do their business right off the bat but you must maintain control afterwards. Since dogs pull back when they’re on a leash, you cannot pull back yourself to teach them not to do it. Want to know how to stop your dog pulling on the leash? It’s easy! You stop walking. You don’t move until you have them sitting down either beside you or behind you.

It’ll take some time but eventually your dog will pick up on the fact that you don’t want him/her to pull on the leash when you stop walking. Anything more than you stopping the walk to get them to stop is going to complicate matters.

As you get them to stop, you should work your way up to have them walking beside or behind you. Be sure to bring some treats since you can make the entire process go smoothly when you reward them for their good behavior.

Need more help learning how to stop your dog pulling on the leash? Pick up Secrets to Dog Training, which is a detailed, step by step guide that can help you stop common dog problems like pulling on dog leashes. You’ll also get some photo examples, case studies and videos to help you get a real handle on your canine friend.

The post How To Stop Your Dog Pulling On The Leash first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Nothing gives your dog greater pleasure than to be taken for a walk outside. This is a great time to bond with your dog and work on your dog training classes, however, most owners don’t enjoy taking their dogs for a walk. And that’s because they’re not taking the dog for a walk-the dog is taking them for a walk.

When our dogs leap around in delight at the mere sight of their leash in our hands, we often smile indulgently and think how adorable their excitement is. We struggle to keep them still just long enough to clip the leash onto their collar before they are off again. That is not how you want to train your dog to behave.

Even a small dog tugging incessantly on the end of its lead is not enjoyable; a large dog capable of pulling you off your feet is even less so. It is time again to remind your dog who is the leader and who is the follower. Every interaction with your dog is an opportunity to reinforce the basic precepts of dog training. Don’t ignore this, thinking that a well-behaved dog doesn’t enjoy walks as much as a boisterous one. Believe me, they do!

The first step is to insist your dog sit calmly while you strap on its lead. Ideally, your dog has already been trained to sit on command. Have your dog sit and then pause a moment to make sure he is calm. Attach the lead.

If the dog begins to jump around again, stop and command him to sit. Don’t yell at him. You are training your dog that it is his own behaviour that delays his walk. Every time he sits quietly, immediately recognize and reward without getting him overly-excited. Once you attach his lead and he remains calm, only then do you take him outside.

The next thing is to let your dog relieve himself. Once that pressure’s off, your dog is going to be anxious to investigate every smell within sniffing distance, which is the main reason dogs pull so hard. If you pull back, their instinct is to pull harder, not ease up.

You have two options to train your dog to stop pulling on the leash. If he pulls, you can command him to sit, and refuse to move until he does, alternatively, you can do an abrupt about-face and begin walking in the opposite direction. Using the sit command works well with dogs that are fairly well trained; walking in the opposite direction is more effective if your dog tends to ignore you. You may feel a little silly at first but don’t let that deter you. You are the leader and you choose in which direction to walk.

Every time the dog pulls ahead and you swiftly turn away, he’ll find himself behind you, forced to walk in the direction you dictate. The idea is to train your dog that pulling on the leash immediately stops the walk.

If you are vigilant, you’ll soon find your dog trotting alongside of you, waiting for your cue as to where to go. And everyone you pass will admire your well-trained dog!

The post Pulling on The Leash first appeared on Puppy Blog.