Leash pulling is your dog exerting dominance over you. Remember that you are the alpha dog and you dictate when you walk, what direction you take, when you turn and the duration of your walk. Your dog follows you and your instructions. For some reason known only to dogs, they receive pleasure and motivation from pulling on a leash. You must not allow this. By pulling on the leash and dictating pace and direction, your dog is establishing dominance over you. In the wild within a pack the alpha dog decides when, where and what direction the pack goes. If a subordinate dog does not comply or challenges, there is a consequence to be paid.
There are several tactics that we can use to teach a dog not to pull on the leash. This method is called the reward technique. First of all you need to start with a calm animal. Just the sight of the leash can make your dog excited. Have your dog sit/stay and let him calm down before you apply the leash. This may take a few minutes but be sure he has calmed down. Stand beside him as he is in the sit/stay position, hold the leash a foot from the collar and give the command to walk. You want him to walk your pace, direction and at your side. If he pulls or goes in a different direction STOP! Do not allow him to dictate to you. Call him back and put him in the sit/stay position and praise him for the sit/stay. Once he has calmed down, grab the leash 6 inches from his collar and give the walk command. Your goal is to keep him by your side for a couple of steps and then drop a treat on the ground in front of him rewarding his leash walking behavior. Place him in the sit/stay position and start over again. If he pulls on the leash, tell him no and put him back in the sit/stay and start again. Gradually work up the number of steps before the reward. With this method your dog will want to stay by your side. Never tolerate pulling on the leash, if your dog continues to pull, stop the session, put him up and walk away. Eventually he will learn that pulling means no walk.
Another technique that is fun for you and your dog is called random walking. This teaches your dog to watch you for instruction. Start with the sit/stay position and a calm dog. Give the command to walk and after a few steps change direction, take a few steps and change direction again. Continue to randomly change direction and pace frequently and for different durations. This makes your dog watch you in order to know which direction to go. As he walks by your side praise and reward by dropping a treat. Go to sit/stay and start again. If he pulls and does not respond, end the session and walk away.
A variation of the random walking technique is called the drop leash method. As with all the methods start with a calm dog in the sit/stay position. Use an eight foot leash and hold it two feet from the collar with your right hand if your dog is on your right side and visa/versa. With your other hand hold the loop end of the leash. Choose a word that will mean good bye. I use the word "bye". Start the session as described previously and as you walk, watch your dogs body language for the moment that he starts to loose attention, ie. turns his head, starts walking ahead or behind. When this occurs give the "bye" command drop the leash from your lead hand, hold to the end of the leash, turn and walk in a different direction. Your dog should hurry to your side and watch you for instruction. When he does this, heap praise and reward upon him. Continue this method until he learns to stay with and watch you. If he refuses to comply end the walk session.
Another method that works is the "Pot of Treats". Set a bowl of several treats out where he can see them and he knows that they are there. Move thirty feet away and place him in the sit/stay position. Make sure he is calm and hold the leash about two feet from his collar. Give the walk command and head towards the bowl of treats. If he walks ahead, give the "bye" command, turn him around and start again from the original start area. This may take several repetitions. Once you and the dog reach the treat area without him walking ahead or pulling, have him sit and give him the treats. What you are teaching is that pulling does not get him where he wants to go.
Remember that you are the leader the alpha dog and you control all. Your dog likes structure and responds best when he knows what the limits and boundaries are.
It is key to remember that you control all and your dog looks to you for instruction. As with training all dogs, this process can be frustrating. I invite you to discover the secrets to dog training by clicking on Dog Training Tips
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