Help ! My Dog keeps pulling on my leash !
Help ! My Dog keeps pulling on my leash ! Dogs will pull on the leash when they are excited, or when they are leading the pack.
When you walk your dog, you as the alpha of the pack must always be in front leading the pack, calm & assertive. (Good read here https://www.cesarsway.com/cesar-millan/cesars-blog/Assertion )
1. Keeping your dog calm & be the pack leader
Begin your walk right from the door with your dog being calm.
This video may help you understand how to keep your dog calm.
(video taken from this website which does good explanation too http://www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com/how-to-stop-your-dog-pulling-on-the-leash/ )
As it may have already been a habit for the both of you for a while, this training will need patience and time because obviously it may not work within the first few minutes of trying. Your dog will need some time to calm down and understand you want. Never give affection (pet) until he is calmed because affection encourages current behavior.
Every time your dog tries to overtake you, try changing direction (See video above) or tugging him back quickly. Never leave tension on the leash as they would pull more with the tension. Tugging him is just the correction and then after tugging is relaxation, which is no tension on the leash.
2. Leash & tools Very commonly people whom I met with dog pulling problems aren’t using the right tools. And majority of owners with this problems are using a harness for their pets. Harness encourages a dog to pull, take for example sled dogs. Retractable leash is also not recommended as it gives them much room to run about, and that will eventually lead them to pulling you. Instead, use a short or average leash. A good collar is one that holds up high above the neck because that is where you control the brain and excitement. High excitement will cause a dog to escalate into aggressiveness… If not your dog, other dogs that are not stable will pick up the negativity and react the same.
This is how a leash should be on your dog when you walk him, high up at the neck.With the leash in this area, you are able to control and snap your dog out of excitement. People tend to get the wrong idea that an excited dog is a happy dog. In all that excitement, they do not feel relaxed and that is not a good thing. A calm dog is a happy dog.
(picture taken from this website which is another good read https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/illusiondogtrainingcollar.htm ) while this product may not be easily found in some countries (especially in the one I reside in), you can use a choke chain or loop your leash like this (but make sure it’s all the way high up the neck, near the ears for control of your dog.
Don’t be afraid, as you are not chocking your dog. Remember not to put tension while you walk your dog.
Another good link I found on walking your dog
While I have mentioned that the leash would be in better control high up the neck, this is NOT APPLICABLE for dogs with eye pressure related problem such as glaucoma etc , dog with breathing problems, dog with throat problems etc
