Mary Allen
If a dog constantly pulls on the leash, the walk can become quite tiring. Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can use to break this behavior from your four-legged friend.
First of all, one thing not to do: Don’t start pulling on the leash yourself when your pet is doing it. The so-called leash jerk is no longer used as a training tool because it is ineffective and you can damage your dog’s sensitive larynx or trachea. Under no circumstances should you use supposed “aids” such as choke collars, not even as a test. You would cause irreparable physical and emotional damage to your dog.
Reasons Why Your Dog Pulls on the Leash
But what to do if the dog is constantly pulling on the leash like crazy, maybe even gasping because the collar is choking it? Maybe your four-legged companion also barks as soon as another dog is in sight and then pulls on the leash all the more?
The first thing to check is the length of the leash. Sometimes this is set too short so that the animal starts to pull on the leash as soon as it takes a few steps forward. Remember that dogs are territorial and social animals. Sniffing for the scent marks of their territory colleagues, renewing their own marks, greeting conspecifics, and moving around are all part of their natural needs.
A tow line can be the first measure to remedy this. This allows your dog to move more freely while you still have control over them if necessary. If this does not solve the problem, you can try training. The goal: to make your dog understand that you don’t want him to pull. And that he pays more attention to you than following his own head. This also applies if he pulls on the leash and barks because he gets excited by other four-legged friends.
Dog Pulling on the Leash? This is How You Break the Habit
So as soon as your dog pulls on the leash on the next walk, just stop. Hold your position until he takes the first step towards you to find out why nothing is happening. At that moment, you praise him and only then move on. You keep repeating that. It is important that you remain consistent.
Start with short workouts and gradually increase the duration. Gradually, your animal friend will understand that the walk only progresses if he walks loosely on the leash.
Change of Direction for Dogs that Pull on the Leash
You can vary this exercise by continuing in the opposite direction after your dog pulls on the leash. So your four-legged friend has to pay even more attention to you in order to make the walk as pleasant as possible. In general, it challenges your dog mentally when you don’t just walk straight ahead, but criss-cross, back and forth.
As a result, your dog has to concentrate and cannot avoid paying attention to you. In addition, further exercises for orientation training or obedience training can help to strengthen the bond between humans and animals.
More Tips Against Tugging on the Leash
To make your dog pay more attention to you when you stop, you can use a squeaky toy or something to get his attention. At the same time, however, there is a risk that your four-legged friend will misunderstand you and believe that the noise is a confirmation that he is tugging on the leash. If that is too risky for you, just wait until your dog stops and turns to you. Then you can compliment him and increase the reward by giving your dog a nice treat or his favorite toy.
If your dog gets very upset when it encounters other dogs while it is on a leash, you can train it in this situation as well. On the next walk, for example, go specifically to other dog owners. Greet and stroke they’re and your dog – of course only in consultation with the master or mistress – and reward your dog if he remains calm in the situation. In this way, he will gradually learn to react in a relaxed manner to other four-legged friends.
By the way: In order to rule out injuries if your four-legged friend repeatedly rushes forward on a walk, a well-fitting harness is recommended instead of a collar. In this way, the pressure is better distributed and does not only stress one part of the body, which is also a very sensitive part. Experienced dog trainers also report that dogs with a harness tend to pull less than with a collar.
If all else fails and your dog simply cannot be weaned from pulling the leash, you should consider attending a dog school.