Dog walking should be a time of pleasure and relaxation. But sometimes it can become a real nightmare – if your dog pulls on the lead.
If the dog is free from physiological problems, then he is pulling for other reasons.
Let’s look at some of these:
The CHOICE OF TOOLS: It’s really important to choose the right harness and the right lead.
But it’s not enough. It’s necessary to know how to use the leash. And, above all, it’s essential that you NEVER pull the lead. If you pull the lead, the dog learns to pull and the walk will become a competition about who can pull harder. The lead must always kept SOFT and relaxed.
The LEAD should be CORRECTLY MANAGED. This depends on the environment. For example, I should use a short lead when I’m walking in a busy street. But I could use a longer lead if I am walking in a quiet street. And, of course, I have to teach that to the dog.
When I do puppy training, I spend a lot of time just teaching how to walk on the lead properly. It’s essential to understand at the outset that the lead is just a tool by which I can keep the dog safe.
My NON-VERBAL LANGUAGE will be so important to having a relaxed walk on the lead. The communication that I use with the dog, and the relationship that I build with the dog, will be the key assets. Whether it is a good walk, or a bad walk, will depend on these key assets.
OLFACTION: When we humans go out, we use our sense of sight to inform us – but the dog uses olfaction. If I want my dog not to pull on the lead, I must let him smell things, such as dog urine, leaves, dog stools, wooden sticks and so on.
If I don’t let the dog do it, if I pull on the lead because I am in a hurry, then I will not have an enjoyable walk. And my dog will have behavioural and physiological problems. A dog needs to SMELL. It’s a basic need.
If a puppy is allowed to do it from the outset, he will become a balanced adult dog on the lead.
FREEDOM: A dog might pull on the lead because he doesn’t have enough freedom. We mustn’t forget that a dog likes to run, to explore, to jump, to chase squirrels, and to play with other dogs.
If I don’t let my dog do it, the dog will be frustrated. It’s essential to intersperse the walk with MOMENTS OF FREEDOM.
At any rate, when a dog pulls on the lead, there is something wrong. For this reason, it’s essential to seek help and advice from an expert. In this way, the problem can be sorted quickly.
This dog stopped to pull in two days!
All the Best,
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