6 Tips to get your dog to stop pulling on the leash
Ask any dog owner and they’ll say that one of the least enjoyable parts of dog walking (apart from rain walks) is when your pet tugs on the leash.
This is made worse if your dog is a larger breed with a lot of strength behind them. But don’t worry – there are ways to encourage less tugging.
This way, you’ll both get to enjoy the lovely walk without ending up with sore muscles.
Find your forever puppy
How to get your pet to stop pulling on the leash
Whether you’re toilet training your dog or teaching them a new trick, it’s important to have patience when training.
Patience, consistency, and calm are key to getting your dog to stop walking you!
1. Get the right equipment
There are a number of ‘miracle products’ that promise to solve all your pulling problems. Trouble is, how do you find out which one is telling the truth?
Another thing you might face is the way they solve the tugging trouble might not be comfortable or safe for your pet. Oftentimes, the wonder equipment designed to prevent dogs from tugging actually causes discomfort.
A flat harness might be one of the better middle grounds as it can help lessen the leash tugs whilst still being comfortable for your canine.
Just make sure to introduce them to it gradually. Remember, for a little puppy the world can be a bit scary. So new things should always be introduced gradually.
Best dog products that are worth the hype
2. Reward good behaviour
Using positive puppy rewards is a great way to encourage them to display desirable behaviour.
Science supports that positive-reward-based dog training is the most effective. A great way of doing this is to offer them a small treat or praise for good behaviour.
What can dogs eat as a treat?
3. Be consistent with your training
Don’t give up! It might take time, but it’ll be well worth it when you’re able to go on walks easily.
When you first start work on this you’ll probably need to spend longer on each walk. However, keep working on it consistently and things will come.
It is possible for you both to enjoy walkies without feeling like you’ve gone 5 arm wrestling rounds.
4. Try training with no lead first
If your dog is used to walking next to you without a lead, then they’ll pull much less when they do have a lead or harness on.
Always start this training stationary first before introducing movement. Using positive training methods like reinforcing good behaviour with treats is a great training method for this.
As they improve, you’ll find you don’t need as many treats to encourage them to stay close to you. But try to still reward them with fuss and plenty of love whenever they stick close.
5. Stop walking to show it’s not accessible to pull on the leash
If you pause every time your dog starts to tug. Keeping consistent with this will soon show your dog that they don’t get to walk if the lead is pulled tight.
Remember, you’re not punishing your dog by pulling the lead harshly or shouting. The aim here is to address it calmly.
Showing your dog that slack leads are rewarded with walking is a good way of encouraging positive behaviour.
Dog Walking Tips for the Summer
6. Let your dog be curious
Part of the reason your dog might be tugging so much is that they are curious. They want to explore the world around them! That should be treated as a good thing.
Incorporating small stops where your puppy can pause from their walking to smell and explore that area can reduce tugging.
It’s a form of reward for the dog, it also provides good mental stimulation. Just remember that they should be small smell stops.