Is every walk with your dog is a nightmare? Do you rather have the impression that he is the one who walks you and not the other way around? Do not panic ! Dogs pulling on their leash are commonplace and there are solutions to fix it.
1. Identify the problem
A dog that pulls always has a good reason for doing so. He will never drag you dozens of meters just to infuriate you. It is therefore necessary to identify the causes of his impatience on a walk.
The majority of dogs pull on their leash for the simple reason that they are attracted to new smells and they just want to sniff them immediately. During walks, there are so many new things to discover that there are many temptations for our faithful companions. We must not forget that dogs are guided by their instincts and that, even if they love you deeply, it is not out of malice that they do not listen to you when you order them to stop.
More rarely, some dogs are so scared that they pull on their leash because a noise or a person scared them and suddenly made them want to run home. In this case, it is advisable to treat your dog’s anxiety with appropriate education in order to reassure him during walks and allow him to fully flourish.
2. Teach him to walk on a leash
A dog does not naturally know how to heel. It is up to the master to educate him from an early age not to pull on his leash. For this, it is possible to try alone to teach your dog to walk on a leash or to get help from a dog trainer.
Some dogs will learn quickly, with the help of treats and encouragement, while others will be a bit more reluctant. The key is to focus your dog’s attention on you so that he can work effectively. For this, use the game, food or voice intonations.
Train your dog in your home or on the street by walking together and rewarding him every time the leash is loose. So, little by little, your faithful friend will associate the relaxed leash with something positive. And he will naturally take his place with you during outings. For better learning, favor education sessions after a moment of play or release so that your dog is more concentrated.
3. Choose suitable equipment
Quite often, dog owners equip their four-legged friends with collars. But there are other ways to attach your dog, such as harnesses for example. The important thing is to choose the type of material according to the temperament and health of your dog. If your dog pulls on a leash, a collar is not recommended. Indeed, he risks strangling him with each pull and thus causing him physical damage. Choker collars and spiked collars are obviously to be banned.
Harnesses can be an interesting alternative to collars. There are several kinds, some of which have attachment points suitable for dogs that think they are sled dogs. The anti-pull harness thus makes it easier to learn to walk on a leash thanks to an ingenious device that allows you to control the dog’s shoulders and chest.
