Leash Training a Pulling Puppy
This article is for all canines and people whose walks would be so much more pleasant if the leash wasn’t as tight as a bowstring. Let’s fix that, okay? I’ll teach you how to get your dog to stop pulling on the leash. For starters, you’ll see I say walk slack, or walk politely, don’t follow. Leaning is formalized competitive training, with the dog close to the handler’s left leg and intently turned toward yours. Not suitable for an hour afternoon walk – for beginners, if you are the dog, in no way allowing it to sniff defeats the intent of the walk. For a pleasant walk from your side, all you really need is for the leash to stay slack and for your pup to treat you enough to turn with you and stop once you do. For me, walking with my puppy is like holding hands. The problem is that walking on a loose leash may be the most difficult behavior for you to train and for most canines to master.
Elements that help make the loose leash difficult to walk on.
For starters, it’s abnormal. When was the last time she noticed that some off-leash dogs walk parallel to each other, in a straight line, by more than two feet? Our species doesn’t really move in the exact way. Human beings walk; Healthy, lively dogs that are not exhausted are more willing to trot. The agendas of humans and dogs also diverge. We need to go from one place to another and probably get some training; they just want to run after squirrels and sniff out fire hydrants.
Random and variable reinforcement.
Another factor has a specialized name: randomly adjustable boost. It means this. The moment a behavior works sometimes, and you can’t predict exactly when, you’ll try it again and again and again and again. And it won’t stop trying for a long time, even after it stops working. For you and your pet dog, this means that when you allow yourself to be pulled toward another dog or an interesting place to urinate, you’ve built a little more staying power into your pulling efforts.
The canines reflexively oppose the restraint.
Like many animals, puppies reflexively oppose restraint. Common sense implies that if you live in the wild, this is a great way to increase your chances of successfully reproducing. So once the leash tightens and the collar presses against the dog’s neck, his organic inclination is to pull harder. That may well be one cause of the unfortunate spectacle of a little dog pulling with all his might against a choke collar, coughing all the while.
The right way to teach even more efficiently.
It is possible that at this moment you are thinking that all is lost. Not really! Here’s how to become a better teacher for your dog. When you start educating to walk on a leash in a polite way, do it. Pulling no longer takes your dog where he wants to go ever. Rather, use what you would like to reward him for doing what he needs. Keep in mind how unnatural it is to walk on a leash in a polite way, stay calm and be polite. If your puppy parallels you, say yes to tag the good deed from him and offer him a treat. One more step, one more yes! and treat My dog earned his breakfast for the first few months of his life by being off the leash for increasingly longer periods during walks. Permission to go sniff things your dog is interested in is also a wonderful reward, so use it often. And change your trot and speed to your pet from time to time as a compliment for continuing to keep that leash loose.
Tips on how to enforce sanctions.
Here is a fantastic exercise. Create a target for your pup, it could be a cookie on the ground or a person they like. With your puppy on a leash, take a step towards your target. The moment he/she steps forward and tightens the leash, say ‘Oops!’ and proceed back to the initial stage. Repeat, repeat, repeat, imposing penalty yards each time your dog pulls hard on the leash. I pointed out that you would need persistence, right? Help your dog succeed by giving him treats while he keeps his leash loose on the way to the goal.
Some trainers recommend stopping in your tracks whenever the leash gets too small, and simply staying here until the dog returns to his spot. I have not found this to be powerful. Although the pet dog is no longer moving forward, his pulling has still brought him closer to whatever he was pulling. Several dogs stand at the end of the restricted leash, snorting and looking very content. The penalty yards technique works considerably better as it imposes a cost by moving the pet away from its target.
Equipment and Exercise.
The right gear can certainly help reduce pulling, so your dog gives you more tendencies to reward. And a small or frail person walking a huge effective pooch may require some physical leverage. My first choice in such cases is one of the innovative front clip harnesses. Two brands are Sense-ation, available on the web, and EasyWalk. I will almost never recommend a head necklace that includes the Halti or the Gentle Leader. Several canines find head collars very distressing; if you need one, talk to a trainer about how you can get your pet used to wearing it. In any other case, the best option is a simple buckle collar. A pet dog with a thick neck and a fairly thin head can easily wear a Greyhound collar, also called a martingale.
Have your dog do aerobic exercise before each lesson.
An exhausted pet will find it less difficult to walk at your speed and master you. So if you can get your doggie to do aerobic exercise right before each lesson, go for it. That bitter laugh you hear is coming from all the city dwellers who can’t!
Pay attention to your pet’s dogs while walking it.
I am saddened by the number of citizens who take little or no interest in walking their puppies. Walks are a highlight of many dogs’ lives. Walk with your dog. You’ll both appreciate having more to latch on to than just the leash.
