How To Stop Your Dog From Pulling On The Leash

He pulls – because you allow him to.

Training your dog on how to stop pulling on the leash is one of the most annoying issues many dog owners face. While some people believe that leash training for dogs is really difficult, the truth is quite contradictory. If your dog pulls too much on the leash, it is only you who is responsible for this behavior of them. Although it is a natural behavior, but you often reward your dog for this behavior by walking quickly with them when they pull; subsequently they develop a habit of pulling on the leash. Effective planning and proper implementation of that plan with patience is all what you require for your dog to quit this maddening habit. Let’s see how:

Start leash training early: If you start leash training at early stage, chances are thin that your dog will adopt the habit of pulling on the leash. However, if your dog has already developed this habit, there is nothing to worry about. But, it will require a little more time and dedication to teach him polite leash walking at adult stage.       

Start a walk with a calming energy: Dogs are more excited and active than us. When you start on a walk with your dog, obviously; he is more eager than you to go out and will bolt out first. Better calm him down and start a walk with energy level equal to that of dog. Lead yourself and don’t let the dog feel that he is the leader. Maintain a positive body language that shows your dominance over dog.

Choose a short leash (but not tight): The reason behind this is that if you will use a long leash, chances are fat that your dog will take liberty to go anywhere possible. It will be harder for you to properly communicate with the dog if the leash is long. Also, make sure that the leash is not tight as a tight leash may choke dog when you are trying to control him.

Record the dog walk: Ask your friend to record when you take your dog on walk. This will help you to analyze the mistakes you make when on a walk with your dog. You will come to know how you react when your dog pulls on the leash. You will see your posture while walking with your dog. This will surely help you to improve on your mistakes which you make while on a walk with your dog.

Position the dog collar appropriately: Harness of the collar should not be on the lower part of the neck of the dog because the most of the pulling power of the dog is located at the lower part. Instead, place it on the more sensitive area of the neck which is the upper part of the neck. Whenever your dog will try to pull on the leash, it will trouble him because the harness is positioned on the thin-skinned area of the neck. Also, learn how to keep the collar in the right spot so that the collar doesn’t slip.

Practice daily walk (at least 30 minutes with patience):     A regular walk with your dog is the establishment of a good relationship with him. Dogs make certain energy when are in the indoors which they need to use up in the outdoors. Walking is a good way for dog to expend their energy. If they are not taken on a walk regularly, the energy results in a destructive behaviors (pulling on the leash is one of them). It is better to take him to a regular walk so that you can work on his leash training.

Reward him for a polite walk: Whenever you dog walk politely without pulling on the leash, reward him some treats. Offer him the treats which he doesn’t get other times except for walks. Make him realize that you are offering him something special whenever he walks politely.

Since dogs are more excited than us to explore outdoors and they are quicker as well, leash training may be a daunting task. Leashes put a limitation on their natural behavior; which nobody likes obviously. The best possible method is to never allow them to pull on the leash which will avoid developing this habit in them. Your consistency in offering him leash training is very important because whenever you will give a skip, he will try pulling.