The other day I decided to be nice and walk my mother-in-law’s dog Katie. I had no idea that I would spend the majority of the time fighting her from pulling on the leash. It was frustrating, and to be honest, a little embarrassing when my neighbors walked by us.
If this sounds similar to something you yourself are experiencing, there are things that can be done to fix the leash problem. First, be sure that you actually are using the right type of leash and walking equipment. Some leashes will work great, while others are pretty useless.
It is good to remember that a dog naturally walks faster than humans do. They don’t like having to stand around while we visit with neighbors either. This is a normal, natural tendency that all dogs have so it is up to you to train your dog how to use the leash and keep slack in it.
A standard nylon buckle collar or a Martingale Collar is the best type of collar for training a dog how to stop pulling on a leash. Don’t try to use a choke collar because they can cause damage to your dog. Find a leash that is not too long, or too short, to give you apple of room to train. A standard six-foot dog leash should work great for this type of training exercise.
If your dog is constantly pulling away from you, a retractable lead can really help. Body harnesses are not meant to be a training tool, so don’t use them. They are especially a bad idea if you own a bigger dog.
Train your dog to keep the leash slack by standing stiff whenever they pull on the leash. The best way to keep your dog going where you want them to is to positively reinforce the times where they follow your direction. Training collars are also a good training device.
You can also try to train your dog where he will have little distractions. It may be a good idea to start training your dog indoors if you can. If that is not ideal, find a place where you can walk with him and he will listen to your commands without being distracted by people or animals nearby.
The luckiest dog owners are ones that train their pets while they are still puppies. However, if you aren’t one of those lucky ones don’t fret. Luckily, you can still teach old dogs new tricks.
Being walked by your dog as opposed to walking your dog can be very frustrating and sometimes upsetting. Jim Witt is an expert on dog training supplies. Jim recommends browsing to Country Brook Design for an excellent assortment Martingale Training Collars and Dog Leashes.
