Walk on a Lead.
Training your dog to stop pulling on the lead is essential. So many people get pulled down the road by their dog, or people say I cant take my dog for a walk on my own he is too strong, I have even met people that have broken bones as a result of their dog pulling on the lead.
Some people think that their dog is too strong to stop him pulling, but its not about strength or fighting with your dog.
Dogs can be taught to walk well on the lead. This is true whether you get a puppy of an older dog.
Some people thinks that their dog is too old. You can teach an old new tricks, but it takes time and patience.
People get frustrated, they don't give their dog enough exercise, he gets more frustrated so he is harder to control on the lead. It really is a viscous circle.
Watch a great video on how to lead train your dog HERE.
I would advise that when you get a new dog you should take some time your job if possible, put in the work early on and everything is easier in the long term.
You can do all the training on your own but you can also get help. Contact your vet, contact your local dog trainers, speak to your neighbour who has a well behaved dog ask how he does it.
Find a trainer/course that meets your needs.
For me its important to understand the behaviour, he is not a bad dog so why does he pull on a lead
Walks are exciting and fun for your dog (we don't want to change that)
dogs walk faster than us,
they want to get somewhere interesting/fun
they have lots of energy
and it works, he pulls you move faster
it can be a habit
These behaviours are completely natural for your dog so instead of punishing, it is important to work with them. often we have dogs that were bred to work/retiieve/herd and not to walk on a lead, it does not come naturally to them.
The good news is that they can learn, they are adaptable, they can and will charge.
They have lots of energy, so it is a great idea to give your dog a chance to run and play before you go out walking with them on the lead.
What I am describing here gets easier, day one takes effort, several weeks of effort are required until your dog masters it. But it will become easier, even second nature to them if done correctly.
Rule 1 get their attention fixed on you, keep making regular eye contact
Rule 2 hold their attention interact with them very regularly, this can involve using treats initially
Rule 3 Reward good behaviours, them heavily often, reward each small progress
Rule 4 change one thing at a time
Rule 5 be patient, small steps
Rule 6 be gentle
Rule 7 correct early, correct a problem like pulling before it happens
Rule 8 repeat
dogs are smart and curious, aware of environment, they easily distracted
be patient
do it some where boring, if food orientated then train when there are hungry
if something exciting is happening, try to get him to sit, if not possible then he needs to be taken to a quieter place
often pull going out the door because they are excited they want to get outside
change a few variables at a time
dont confuse them
keep them motivated, lots of rewards
Final words of advice on lead training, Training your dog not to pull can be a very long process
you need to be consistent and patient
make it fun
keep initial training time short,
When your dog or puppy pulls on their lead, it can be uncomfortable for both of you and take all enjoyment out of your walk.
Just get a longer lead. No, that will not solve the problem, it might make it worse in fact!!
The good news is you can train your dog to walk nicely on the lead using reward-based training.
you have to give him what he wants
he wants to run, he needs off lead time, you need to work on his recall
Training Rules easier to train if not full of energy
they need to have outlet for energy
do training in quiet, boring environment, where there are no distraction
keep their attention, maybe a treat initially
super high energy dogs need a way to use up their stores of physical and mental energy
a lead walk will never be enough for these dogs
they think pulling gets them where they want to go sooner, let them know that it doesnt, if any tension on the lead they wont progress
Before the walk
mistake one is to take them out for the initial lead training when you are in hurry (before work, lunch time) and they are excited and full of energy.
teach them something new when no distractions
Have your dog’s favourite treats available
When you first start lead training, it’s best to allow your dog some suitable outlets of energy (for example a long play session) beforehand. This will tire your dog out a little so they don’t want to pull as much.
It’s normal for your dog to get excited about their walk. However, if your dog gets too over-excited when their lead comes out and this becomes a problem, you may need to begin de-sensitising them to their lead.
During the walk
Tin the initial training period a walk is very time consuming, it involves allot of stopping and starting
The best way to stop your dog from pulling is to show them that walking on a loose lead gets a reward and pulling doesn’t.
As soon as your dog starts pulling, stop walking. Do not pull back on the lead, wait for them to stop pulling.
Once the lead is slack, reward them and continue walking. You will have to stop and start many times in the beginning, but your patience will pay off.
Your walk will take a lot longer than usual, but if you’re consistent and committed to it they will learn.
Give your dog plenty of praise and treats when they are walking with slack in the lead.
Negative training (like pulling back on the lead or shouting) will not help your dog understand the right way to do things – always reward their good behaviours and ignore the unwanted.
Over time the aim is to phase out the treats
You may find that it takes many walks and lots of treats to prevent your dog pulling so much. When your dog stops pulling you can try to gradually phase out the treats and replace them with lots of praise. If this doesn't work, you may need to find a healthy alternative to use long-term. Always phase out treats slowly rather than going cold turkey – they might lose their motivation.
Our top tips to stop your dog pulling
Practice in quiet areas at first so your dog doesn’t get distracted.
This will help them pick it up faster.
When it’s safe to do so, make sure your dog has plenty of time off the lead playing and running each day – this will help tire them out and make them less likely to pull.
Let your dog sniff and explore when they’re on their walks – after all, this is what dogs love doing.
Be patient with your dog as it’ll take time for them to break the habit. Never punish your dog for pulling – they will learn much faster with positive training.
Be consistent and don’t give up. You need to train on every walk.
Don’t use anything that is painful for your dog or restricts their movement (such as a choke collar). We recommend walking your dog on a harness if they pull – this will help prevent them from hurting their neck.
Watch a great video HERE.
Some people think that their dog is too strong to stop him pulling, but its not about strength or fighting with your dog.
Some people thinks that their dog is too old. You can teach an old new tricks, but it takes time and patience.
People get frustrated, they don't give their dog enough exercise, he gets more frustrated so he is harder to control on the lead. It really is a viscous circle.
Watch a great video on how to lead train your dog HERE.
I would advise that when you get a new dog you should take some time your job if possible, put in the work early on and everything is easier in the long term.
You can do all the training on your own but you can also get help. Contact your vet, contact your local dog trainers, speak to your neighbour who has a well behaved dog ask how he does it.
Find a trainer/course that meets your needs.
For me its important to understand the behaviour, he is not a bad dog so why does he pull on a lead
Walks are exciting and fun for your dog (we don't want to change that)
dogs walk faster than us,
they want to get somewhere interesting/fun
they have lots of energy
and it works, he pulls you move faster
it can be a habit
These behaviours are completely natural for your dog so instead of punishing, it is important to work with them. often we have dogs that were bred to work/retiieve/herd and not to walk on a lead, it does not come naturally to them.
They have lots of energy, so it is a great idea to give your dog a chance to run and play before you go out walking with them on the lead.
What I am describing here gets easier, day one takes effort, several weeks of effort are required until your dog masters it. But it will become easier, even second nature to them if done correctly.
Rule 1 get their attention fixed on you, keep making regular eye contact
Rule 2 hold their attention interact with them very regularly, this can involve using treats initially
Rule 3 Reward good behaviours, them heavily often, reward each small progress
Rule 4 change one thing at a time
Rule 5 be patient, small steps
Rule 6 be gentle
Rule 7 correct early, correct a problem like pulling before it happens
Rule 8 repeat
dogs are smart and curious, aware of environment, they easily distracted
be patient
do it some where boring, if food orientated then train when there are hungry
if something exciting is happening, try to get him to sit, if not possible then he needs to be taken to a quieter place
often pull going out the door because they are excited they want to get outside
change a few variables at a time
dont confuse them
keep them motivated, lots of rewards
Final words of advice on lead training, Training your dog not to pull can be a very long process
make it fun
keep initial training time short,
When your dog or puppy pulls on their lead, it can be uncomfortable for both of you and take all enjoyment out of your walk.
Just get a longer lead. No, that will not solve the problem, it might make it worse in fact!!
The good news is you can train your dog to walk nicely on the lead using reward-based training.
you have to give him what he wants
he wants to run, he needs off lead time, you need to work on his recall
Training Rules easier to train if not full of energy
they need to have outlet for energy
do training in quiet, boring environment, where there are no distraction
super high energy dogs need a way to use up their stores of physical and mental energy
a lead walk will never be enough for these dogs
they think pulling gets them where they want to go sooner, let them know that it doesnt, if any tension on the lead they wont progress
Before the walk
mistake one is to take them out for the initial lead training when you are in hurry (before work, lunch time) and they are excited and full of energy.
teach them something new when no distractions
Have your dog’s favourite treats available
When you first start lead training, it’s best to allow your dog some suitable outlets of energy (for example a long play session) beforehand. This will tire your dog out a little so they don’t want to pull as much.
It’s normal for your dog to get excited about their walk. However, if your dog gets too over-excited when their lead comes out and this becomes a problem, you may need to begin de-sensitising them to their lead.
During the walk
Tin the initial training period a walk is very time consuming, it involves allot of stopping and starting
The best way to stop your dog from pulling is to show them that walking on a loose lead gets a reward and pulling doesn’t.
As soon as your dog starts pulling, stop walking. Do not pull back on the lead, wait for them to stop pulling.
Once the lead is slack, reward them and continue walking. You will have to stop and start many times in the beginning, but your patience will pay off.
Your walk will take a lot longer than usual, but if you’re consistent and committed to it they will learn.
Give your dog plenty of praise and treats when they are walking with slack in the lead.
Negative training (like pulling back on the lead or shouting) will not help your dog understand the right way to do things – always reward their good behaviours and ignore the unwanted.
Over time the aim is to phase out the treats
You may find that it takes many walks and lots of treats to prevent your dog pulling so much. When your dog stops pulling you can try to gradually phase out the treats and replace them with lots of praise. If this doesn't work, you may need to find a healthy alternative to use long-term. Always phase out treats slowly rather than going cold turkey – they might lose their motivation.
Our top tips to stop your dog pulling
Practice in quiet areas at first so your dog doesn’t get distracted.
This will help them pick it up faster.
When it’s safe to do so, make sure your dog has plenty of time off the lead playing and running each day – this will help tire them out and make them less likely to pull.
Let your dog sniff and explore when they’re on their walks – after all, this is what dogs love doing.
Be patient with your dog as it’ll take time for them to break the habit. Never punish your dog for pulling – they will learn much faster with positive training.
Be consistent and don’t give up. You need to train on every walk.
Don’t use anything that is painful for your dog or restricts their movement (such as a choke collar). We recommend walking your dog on a harness if they pull – this will help prevent them from hurting their neck.
Watch a great video HERE.
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