Your dog walk should be the most enjoyable part of your day, but often it's the opposite.... especially if your dog pulls on the lead.
EQUIPMENT
Something as simple as evaluating the equipment you use to walk your dog, assessing its suitability and making changes if needed, can make a big difference to how your dog feels and, in turn, behaves whilst walking
When wearing an uncomfortable bra (or shirt and tie), it can make you feel restricted, uncomfortable, itchy - naturally you squirm and fidget more. The same applies to your dog when having a lead attached to a collar or wearing an ill-fitting harness, so if he's feeling tense or uncomfortable your dog is going to pull to resist that sensation!
Likewise, the choice of lead is an important factor. Although your natural instinct might be to use as short a lead as possible to regain control, actually the opposite is best - a longer lead gives your dog the opportunity to sniff and move more freely without needing to pull to achieve their goal.
When choosing a lead and harness
- Opt for a well-fitted harness with Y front and H back design for optimum freedom of movement
- Avoid harnesses that tighten, have a straight bar across the front or sit too close to the front legs
- Use a fixed length lead that is a soft and comfortable material
- Avoid retractable leads as these provide inconsistency
No matter who we are - we all need motivation!
Whether the task is getting to work on time (we need income) doing the washing up (no clean utensils to cook dinner) or walking our dog (he'll not settle if you don't), there is always an underlying reason that motivates us to get it done!
Your dog is no different, for everything your dog does (good or bad), there will always be something that motivates them. Often the unwanted behaviours come about because we aren't clear what the motivation behind it is and therefore, we are unable to channel them into a more appropriate activity or mindset
Knowing what motivates your dog to pull on the lead will be a game changer!
Food rewards are often the easiest to obtain and deliver during training BUT every dog is different and you may need to use toys, praise or affection instead
TASKS
- Think about when your dog pulls and see if you can work out WHAT they are trying to achieve
- Experiment with different foods and toys to see what your dog LOVES the most
We all know dogs can get easily distracted but this can be particularly so if you have a young puppy or adolescent dog
Start by practising your lead walking skills in an area where there are as few distractions as possible, so that you can work solely on the foundation skills. This ensures you are setting your dog up for success, by making training fun and achievable for you both! As you improve, gradually (very gradually) increase the level of distractions in your training environment
If your dog can lead walk beautifully when it's just the two of you, but struggles whenever there is a distraction present (people, dogs, smells, birds etc) and pulls or is vocal due to these distractions, it's likely that it's not 'loose-lead walking' that is the problem but your dog's emotions about the things in their environment.
KEEP A DIARY - Keep a written diary for a few days to see if you can work out what things your dog finds distracting - the more you understand WHY your dog is pulling on the lead, the easier it is to fix!
FOCUSED TIME
On an average walk we try to cram in so many different things - lead walking, recall, on lead, off lead, training, social interactions, coffee visits - the list goes on. Is it any wonder that, especially when they are learning, this is confusing and overwhelming for our dog?
The goal posts and expectations are continuously changing throughout that short time, not just for your dog but you too - what's the focus, what are the rules, what am I rewarding now?
We don't give credit for how tiring training is for us or our dog!
Setting aside a short 5 or 10 minute window to train towards a goal or specific task means you and your dog both stay focused, energetic and enthusiastic - making your training 'good quality'!
When spending time training, Quality is better than Quantity
COMMUNICATION
One of the most important factors for successful lead training is having strong communication channels between you and your dog. If either of you isn't listening to the other it makes everything more challenging
As humans, we focus a lot on talking and giving instructions, often in vain because our dogs don't speak English! Choosing to say less and instead communicate through body language is more beneficial so that your leadwork looks like a number from Strictly as you and your dog move as one
Often the lead is used to attempt to control a dog, but try thinking of your lead as a safety tool rather than a means to communicate. Tensions and jerks make lead work an unpleasant experience for you and your dog - instead hold the end of your lead and let in hang loose so that your dog chooses to stay close rather than the lead making them
TASK - In the early stages, reward your dog whenever they look at you or in your direction. This reinforces them looking at you and encourages them to choose to engage with you and open that communication channel
In a new location forget about walking and just reward eye contact for a few minutes first
MAKE IT FUN
Achieving good lead skills is seen as a functional, boring and challenging task, we put pressure on ourselves and our dog to get it right as soon as possible
In turn lead work becomes an arduous and boring task that creates negative attitudes and a feeling of incompetency. It's no wonder both you and your dog then find it a challenge!
Focus on the FUN!!!!
It's a common misconception that dogs only have fun when they are running off-lead, chasing and playing, and being on-lead is boring! We disagree! ON lead can and should be just as much fun!
Remove some pressure and undertake some activities ON lead that are fun and help to improve your relationship with your dog - often without you realising, these activities improve your lead work too!
TIME, CONSISTENCY & PATIENCE
Good lead skills won't happen overnight, so don't be tempted to give up after a couple of days if you don't see instant results
You will need to allow a good time frame to measure your progress - at least a month. Long term results will come from a slow progress and realistic expectations - don't expect miracles to happen overnight
Be consistent with your methods! Stick to your approach and stay with it for a good period of time. Don't start mixing things up after a couple of days
If one day you are committed to practising and the next you're in a hurry and let your dog pull throughout the walk - how do they know what is or is not allowed the next day?
Be reliable with your training schedule and have lots of patience both when practising and when anticipating results (sticking those 10minute sessions will help)
MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS - Progress can be hard to measure!
- Make a note of how each training session goes - give it a mark out of 10
- Film your walks
- Count how many times your dog pulls each walk and make a note
LEADING THE WAY
Let us help you improve your lead skills and transform your walks from a total arm ache to a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Book a Free Discovery Call
If you'd like to delve into this topic further, take a look at our podcast: