Dogs are always keen to go for walks. Most dogs will start to pull his leash when you're about to go for a stroll with them. I know a lot of dog lovers who dread taking their pet for a stroll. Don't do as what others do, stop dog leash pulling by making your dog follow your pace.
Early on, you should set the pace for your walk. If you begin with a fast pace, then you'll most likely continue that way for the rest of your walk. This is really unnecessary on your part. You can easily stop dog leash pulling by calming your dog before you attach his leash.
Before you attempt to walk with your dog, start with a short leash and sturdy collar. A long leash gives you minimal control on your dog's movement. Keep in mind that constantly pulling your dog's leash can cause serious injuries to your dog. Pressure also lessens your pet's ability to feel the way you control the leash.
Here are my tried and tested tips to stop dog leash pulling:
1. Train your dog by the help of a clicker. It's easy enough, all you need to do is train your pet to expect a reward every time he hears a clicking sound. Once he gets used to this, you can stop giving him treats. If your dog's eyes start to wander, just use the clicker to get his attention back to you.
2. Make your dog accustomed to walking beside you. Dogs are easily excited with unusual smells, water fountains and just about anything that's new to his eyes. It's important to start walking with a calm animal. Don't put on his collar and leash unless he's calmly sitting. Stop dog leash pulling by making your dog acknowledge that you're the alpha dog and that you will lead him during your walks.
3. Rewards for obeying commands: Keep your dog beside you at all times during your walk. Ask your dog to walk, making sure that he doesn't run. Pull the leash everytime your pet gets distracted and command him to stop. You can reward your dog everytime he obeys and walks back beside you. Keep walking at the same pace. Tell your dog to stop everytime he gets distracted. This is one of the easiest ways to stop dog leash pulling. After all, every dog loves a treat.
4. Taking a stroll with a dog will only be difficult if you don't know how to do it properly. Randomly turning 90 and 180 degrees during your walk. Changing your directions in random will keep your pet's attention from wandering. You need to make sure that you're keeping the same pace while you're switching directions.
Whatever tip you decide to use on your pet, keep in mind that you should never give in to your dog when he starts pulling the leash. Give your dog a sharp command. Be the Alpha Dog and make sure that your dog acknowledges that.
Stan Beck is an expert at dog behavior training. He has written many articles on how to correct certain dog behaviors. Visit his website to find tips on how to stop dog leash pulling and other bad behaviors.
