Learn how to put the brakes on your leash-pulling dog.
A daily walk with your dog should be enjoyed by the both of you and not a drag – literally.
The constant pulling by your dog can make your muscles ache and your patience evaporate. Suddenly, walks become tugs of war or worse, you find yourself making excuses not to walk your dog.
Dogs need daily exercise to keep them in shape and out of mischief due to boredom. Walking with your dog also offers you the opportunity to bond closer and to solidify your role as the benevolent leader of the pack.
In striving to stop your dog from yanking and pulling on leashed walks, resist the temptation to simply yank back. Here’s why: when a dog feels pressure on his throat, he responds by leaning into that pressure to get away from it. Yanking can also injure your dog’s neck and trachea.
Instead, arm yourself with the right tools and the right tactics. Start by increasing your “curb appeal” to your dog so that he pays more attention to you rather than to that squirrel scampering up the oak tree, that stray soccer ball kicked in your path, or that beckoning smell of a deposit left on your route by the basset hound who lives up the street.
To do this, stash a bunch of itty-bitty bite-and-swallow pieces of meaty treats in a treat bag before the walk. Let your dog watch you prepare the treats and even sniff the treat bag. That gets his attention (and perhaps a bit of drool) on you.
Second, reinforce the “watch me” command, so your dog will look your way when you speak those magic words. Practice inside the house for a few days and then on the sidewalk in front of your house. Walk a bit and call “watch me” again. Treat him sporadically so your dog never knows when a tasty reward will occur. Dogs will perform more consistently if they aren’t rewarded every single time they respond.
Third, invest in the right leash-walking devices. Opt for a nylon halter, which fits behind your dog’s ears with a loop over the nose. The leash is attached to a metal ring below your dog’s chin. The halter works by applying pressure to the dog’s nose instead of her throat. Because the nose is more sensitive than the neck, he will back away from the pressure rather than leaning into it. You can also use a no-pull harness that puts pressure on the dog’s chest.
Fourth, take out the ho-hum from the walk by keeping your dog’s interest by altering the route and the time of your walk as well as the pace. Be willing to act a bit foolish in view of others by unleashing what I call the Molasses Walk and the Jack Rabbit Sprint. The Molasses Walk begins with your dog walking nicely at your side with slack in the leash. Then get your dog to look at you as you take giant strides forward in slow motion. Say “s-l-o-w” in a drawn-out way. The goal is for your dog to mimic your slow stride. Praise and treat him. Do this for 10 seconds and then resume your normal pace. For the Jack Rabbit Sprint, begin with your dog at your side and call out, “fast, fast, fast!” as you start power waling. Again, reward your dog with a treat for moving his four feet swiftly forward and then return to your normal pace.
Fifth, become a statute at times on your walk. Simply stop and remain still. Do not move forward until the leash is slack. Or take a couple quick steps backward. Keep your dog guessing. Reward him for watching you with praise and treats.
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