Pulling On Leash
Does your dog practically pull your arm off when you take them for a walk? Has it become so unpleasant that you no longer want to walk them? Well, you’re not alone. Many dogs who have never been taught to walk on a loose leash pull their owners down the street. This is because dogs have an “opposition reflex,” which means they pull against pressure. When a dog feels pressure on the front of their throat from their collar, they actually pull against it. This is why choke collars only make the problem worse. The tighter the collar gets, the more they will pull - it’s a vicious cycle. In addition, choke chain collars and prong or pinch collars are painful and can damage your dog’s trachea. There is no need to hurt your dog because they are doing what comes naturally.
The best method to teach your dog to stop pulling is to “become a tree” when they pull. Start walking, and whenever the leash becomes tight, you stop, plant yourself like a tree, and don’t say a word. Your dog will eventually look back at you as if to say, “Hey, why aren’t we moving?”. When they do this, they will most likely move slightly toward you, loosening the leash. When there is slack in the leash, start walking again. They will eventually learn that they don't go anywhere when they feel tension on the leash, but when the leash is slack, they are allowed to walk.
In addition to stopping when your dog pulls on the leash, you need to reward them when they DON’T pull. This is a perfect place to use your clicker. When they are walking with a slack leash – randomly “click” the clicker – marking the loose leash walking. When they hear the click, they will most likely come back to you for the reward. Between these two things – stopping when they pull and only moving forward again when they slacken the leash and then rewarding the loose leash with a click and treat, your dog will learn how to walk properly.
Some dogs need a little extra help learning not to pull on the leash. Perhaps they are particularly strong or have spent years pulling, so it has become a bad habit. For these dogs, a head halter can help. There are several kinds of canine head halters (Gentle Leader, Halti, Snoot Loop, Comfort Trainer), and they work on the same basic principle - if you control the head of an animal, you control the entire body. The canine head halters were designed after horse halters – sort of like power steering for the animal. When a dog is wearing a head halter, they are discouraged from pulling because, as they do, their head is brought around towards you, making it difficult for them to pull you down the street. Head halters usually require some desensitization to help your dog get used to the feel of something on their face. This process usually involves a few days of putting it on and off several times – increasing the amount of time it stays on each time. To help the process along, offering extra special treats every time it's put on will help.
Another wonderful tool to help the pulling dog is the front-clasping body harnesses (the Easy Walk and the Sensible or Sensation Harnesses). These harnesses are designed so the leash comes out from the chest instead of the back. So when the dog pulls forward – their entire front half moves around to the side, making it difficult to continue any forward movement.
