15/01/2021
Today, I had my first walk with Anri, a beautiful and gentle 3 year old German Shepherd x Rottweiler who always pulled on her lead during walks.
At the start of our session, Anri was pulling on her lead constantly and barely seemed to notice I was there with her. After offering Anri small pieces of cooked chicken when she looked at me while I made some silly noises, I was able to hold her attention and show her that she didn’t have to pull on her lead in order to explore the environment. Allowing her to sniff and wander around for short periods of time, while I made sure the lead stayed loose, was the key to building her trust.
By the end of the session Anri was starting to walk with a loose lead knowing that she would be able to explore her environment after we walked together for a short while.
By understanding our dogs’ natural inclinations, experiences when walking, and by using gentle, positive training methods we can build trust and help them feel safe and connected when walking, thereby naturally reducing behaviours like pulling on the lead.
Professional dog walkers can help dog owners understand the motives behind certain behaviours and improve the relationship with their canine companions, making going for a walk a more positive experience for everyone.
