How to train your dog to walk in leash without pulling you over
Let me just tell you that if you have a dog that is pulling the leash when you are walking him, you are in good company. Just a few corrections and your dog walk will be a new experience. It takes two to pull or create tension in a leash so remember that both you and your dog need to adjust your behavior.
Lets start by taking a step back to try to understand why your dog is pulling the leash and how to train your dog not to do so . Most living beings act based on how to gain pleasure or void pain, and in this case the dog associates this behavior with pleasure or reward. When I go out to play with my dog we go to park near by to play and meet other dogs. As a puppy my dog was pulling like crazy ever time she understood where we where going. And guess what. Every time she got to park five minutes later so to her pulling was to arrive in her favorite place, the park. Just give it some thoughts and you will see that every time your dog is pulling there are some sort of reward at the end of it.
To undo this, to some very frustrating dog behavior there are a few simple but powerful steps to take. Every time your pull or create some sort of tension juts stop for a few seconds. Give the dog a reward in form of praise or food/favorite toy when he turns his attention to you. If it doesen't help then take some steps back or in an other direction. But the key here is to reward your dog every time the tension is gone, with it's favorite toy or food of your choice. Repeat this behavior until the dog don't pull as much any longer, then start to reward him when he stops pulling and are back at your side looking at you giving you it's attention. This should not take to long time before your dog is walking in leash with you in a way that you will enjoy
Lets summarize this effective way on how to train your dog stop pulling the leash:
- Both you and your dog need to change behavior to make this work.
- Do this every time your dog is pulling. Be consistent.
- Reward your dog every time your behave the way you like it to do.
PS! Some dogs likes to walk in front of their pack because they try to take the lead. If this is the case for you, just follow the same steps. I have done so with success on some of my dogs.
Have a good dog-walk
Cheers
Tom
Lets start by taking a step back to try to understand why your dog is pulling the leash and how to train your dog not to do so . Most living beings act based on how to gain pleasure or void pain, and in this case the dog associates this behavior with pleasure or reward. When I go out to play with my dog we go to park near by to play and meet other dogs. As a puppy my dog was pulling like crazy ever time she understood where we where going. And guess what. Every time she got to park five minutes later so to her pulling was to arrive in her favorite place, the park. Just give it some thoughts and you will see that every time your dog is pulling there are some sort of reward at the end of it.
To undo this, to some very frustrating dog behavior there are a few simple but powerful steps to take. Every time your pull or create some sort of tension juts stop for a few seconds. Give the dog a reward in form of praise or food/favorite toy when he turns his attention to you. If it doesen't help then take some steps back or in an other direction. But the key here is to reward your dog every time the tension is gone, with it's favorite toy or food of your choice. Repeat this behavior until the dog don't pull as much any longer, then start to reward him when he stops pulling and are back at your side looking at you giving you it's attention. This should not take to long time before your dog is walking in leash with you in a way that you will enjoy
Lets summarize this effective way on how to train your dog stop pulling the leash:
- Both you and your dog need to change behavior to make this work.
- Do this every time your dog is pulling. Be consistent.
- Reward your dog every time your behave the way you like it to do.
PS! Some dogs likes to walk in front of their pack because they try to take the lead. If this is the case for you, just follow the same steps. I have done so with success on some of my dogs.
Have a good dog-walk
Cheers
Tom
