26/11/2020
PULLING ON THE LEAD is one of the most common complaints by dog owners. Training your dog to walk nicely isnt as hard as you think but it does need time and patience.
Your dog is a simple creature. All he desires is forward motion. He wants to go forward. If you allow him forward motion whilst the lead is tight, you have trained your dog to pull. He learns that pulling means forward motion and his reward is well - going forward. Every time to allow pulling you reward your dog.
Your dog is only interested in moving forward. The single best piece of advice I can give you is -
NEVER ALLOW YOUR DOG TO MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THE LEAD IS SLACK.
There are two methods I use when training loose lead walking and it very much depends on the dogs focus.
THE TREAT METHOD.
You’ll need a very tasty supply of treats. Your dog is only rewarded when he is beside you. Start with your dog next to your left leg. Hold a treat in your left hand to keep your dog in that position as you move forward. Frequently give those treats and add the “yes” response to tell your dog what he’s doing is good. Add in lots of turns and stops. This method works really well with puppies. It’s interactive and fun and can really help when it comes to training recall.
THE PATIENCE METHOD
This takes time and can be described as a battle of wills! But it’s calm and quiet. You say and do nothing except stand still. When your dog is still you move forward. If your dog pulls you stop. It’s really simple. I might take a long time to get 50 metres but your dog will learn for themselves how they can get that forward motion they want - by not pulling. I like this method because it encourages your dog to use his brain to problem solve. Research “shaping” for more info.
Whichever method you choose it works better if you’ve done training at home. Teaching “sit” “watch me” and “touch” will all stand you in good stead when you go outside. And you can start loose lead walking in your garden.
Remember you will only get out what you put in.
