How to Stop Your Dog From Pulling on the Leash
Tell me if this sounds familiar. You get home from work, greet your furry friend and then go to snag the leash. Your dog immediately starts running in circles and jumping up and down. You get him outside, and he practically pulls your arm out of its socket on a beeline to whatever it is he smells.
You smile sheepishly to the neighbors, pull back a bit on the leash and try to get your dog to slow down - but no way, Fido is on a mission, and there's nothing you can do to stop him.
This is how most people start their walks with their dogs, and it tends to turn a walk into a chore more than something enjoyable for owner and dog alike.
The result is a dog that doesn't get enough exercise and an owner who is embarrassed to take their dog out the front door.
Stop the Behaviour
Dogs pulling on their leashes are not new. After all, dogs are not genetically bred to have their throat wrapped in a collar and tied to your arm. They pull because you're pulling back, and the only real way you'll ever get him to stop is to train him that the walk isn't going anywhere until he slows up.
I've seen hundreds of dogs with this problem, and the vast majority simply didn't know what they were doing wrong.
They're not trying to assert dominance by running in front. They're not trying to make you mad. They're just excited and want to smell everything they can.
That's why you need to take control of the situation. Like anything in your dog's life, it's your job to control what he has access to and when he can have access to it. By showing your dog how his behavior hinders his walk (rather than yelling, which only confuses him), you'll solve a lot of problems.
Revise the Walking Ritual
To be effective in revamping your dog's walking behavior, you need to start with the moment you pick up that leash.
As you may have noticed, your dog learns very quickly which of your behaviors signal that they're about to go outside.
You need to take control of this situation because it sets up his reactions for the next few minutes on your walk. If your dog decides he is going to jump around and whine in excitement before a walk, wait until he calms down.
Simply waiting 5-10 minutes will often drain him of that over-exuberance. I know it's cute, but it's hard to control a dog that gets that excited.
Before you even open the door, make sure he is sitting in a quiet, calm position. From there, don't do anything until he's waiting patiently.
Once you get outside, let him relieve himself right away, but then take control and limit his exploration. Because a dog pulls back when he is restrained, you cannot teach him to stop pulling by pulling back. You need to stop walking and make him sit beside or behind you.
It can take a long time, but if you stop your dog from walking every time he starts to pull, he'll quickly learn that the act of pulling on the leash stops the walk. This is important. He needs to recognize that the pulling action is causing the stoppage. Anything else will be too complex for him.
Once you've done this, you should be able to slowly work him up to walking beside or even behind you on your walk -
both will make your life infinitely easier. Take treats with you as well. It can make the process much easier if you can reward him for good behavior.
the Dutch Guy