Leash Pulling – YOU can stop it!

Our dog starts leash pulling as soon as he sees the leash and knows he’s about to go for a walk. If we don’t stop it at that point, and the walk starts out of control, the precedent is set for the entire walk.

Here are some suggestions to help you get your dog used to walking on a leash WITHOUT alot of pulling and jerking.

Before expecting your dog to calmly walk beside you on a dog leash, train her to be calm when you are putting her collar and leash on! Ask her to sit-stay while you are putting on her leash. If she does not stay, delay the walk until she does. Don’t give in or she will learn that it’s OK to be out of control. If your dog doesn’t have a reliable sit-stay, then practice training her to sit-stay without the distraction of the prospect of a walk.

Most dogs learn very quickly that they must sit while the leash is being attached to the collar. If your dog bolts toward the door as soon as the leash is on, dragging you behind, then the situation is out of control. Simply hold onto the leash, stand still and let your dog dance, ricochet and bounce around at the end of the leash. It may take a few minutes or more, but she will soon realize that you are not going anywhere and will begin to calm down.  Try a retractable leash to invoke more control on the situation – pictured to the right, is Flexi’s Giant leash for larger dogs.

When this happens, praise him or her for being good. You may even give her a small dog treat as a reward. After another minute or so, take your first step, but NOT towards the door. Instead, walk your dog around your house, garage or yard to give her a chance to practice her ‘not-pulling’ skills. Every time she pulls, lunges or strains on the leash, simply stand still again. When she calms down, talk to her, praise her calmly and quietly. Try to keep your dog’s attention on yourself instead of the door. When you feel that your dog is in control and she is walking nicely without pulling in your house or yard, then it is time to proceed to the front yard and around the block.

Every time your dog pulls on the dog leash and you continue the walk, you are rewarding her for pulling and lunging. Every time your dog gets out of control it is essential that you instantly stop the walk, stand still and wait for her to calm down before continuing. It is a tremendous effort in patience at first but it will pay off if you persevere.

You may only get to the end of the block or even your driveway on your first outing, but if you give in to your dog’s demands, then she will continue to pull. You can speed up the process by asking her to sit- stay for about 5 to 10 seconds every time she begins to pull.

By being consistent and persistent – walk time will be more enjoyable for both of you.