First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘leash training’

Dog Pulling on Leash

One of the most frustrating behaviors for most dog owners is when their dog refuses to walk calmly by your side and instead constantly tries to pull you along on your walks, dictating where he wants to go, how fast he wants to get there, and pays little or no attention to you, his owner.

A dog pulling on leash is a sign that they believe they are in charge and that you’re only there to follow their leadership. So what winds up happening is that they pay attention to distractions rather than you, the handler…basically everything else that’s going on around him instead of you.

While it’s very common, it’s also very simple to fix.

What’s incredibly helpful is to watch videos of handlers who know how to control their dogs so that you can learn the exact methods they use.

We’ll cover more on this in just a bit.

First, we need to go over three very easy fixes for your dog pulling on leash problem.

1. The Pack Leader Harness. One of the things you may not realize is that just about every collar will actually encourage your dog to pull harder on his leash.

Instead of a typical collar, a choke chain, or a prong collar, try a different method such as a Pack Leader Harness. This kind of device works to focus the dog’s attention back on the handler by applying pressure exactly where it needs to be.

You can find this type of harness on the Internet without any problem. It’s easy to find places that sell it just with a simple Google search.

2. Learn what you can about training with a clicker. A clicker is sort of like the duct tape of dog training aids. It can be useful in correcting so many different unwanted behaviors in dogs, that I encourage you to take a look at this training method.

Simply put, you teach your dog to expect something good to happen when the clicker sounds. Once this expectation is planted in his mind, the dog will almost instantly focus his attention exclusively on you whenever he hears the sound of the clicker.

We can;t cover everything there is to know about using a clicker for training here, but there are plenty of resources and even entire books written on the subject that are easy to find.

A clicker is useful in correcting leash pulling, because the sound will redirect a dog’s attention away from the distraction and back on you.

3. Food rewards. Dog owners know that behavior can be influenced with the use of food treats. When using treats to stop a dog’s leash pulling problem, what you basically want to do is introduce the food to your dog, and then let the dog use his naturally powerful sense of smell to direct his attention and his movements in the direction you want.

It’s obviously a lot simpler if you can just watch this in action, so let’s get to that now.

Stopping a dog from pulling on the leash is actually a very simple process. I’ve been on a lot of TV programs where I’ve shown dog owners these very same techiques, so I’d like to show you a complete video that reveals exactly how to do this in less than half an hour.

First, check out this dog pulling on leash post on my blog, where you’ll find a full tutorial that teaches you how to use a pack leader harness, a clicker, or food rewards (or all three) to teach your dog to walk calmly at your side and always pay attention to what you want her to do.

If you’d like to bring your dog out, leash training becomes indispensable. Dogs allowed to venture outside of their owner’s properties need to be leashed. Despite others seeing it as a harsh method, leash training is inevitable.Read on for some tips to guide you through leash training:

You might want to read Dove Cresswell review to help with your dog training .

1. Keep a steady steam of patience. Dogs train at their own pace.The manner and speed of learning is a factor of their breed and your commitment to the training program. Beagles must be trained more intensely because they are distracted easily. Bichon Frises are not as smart as Collies; they won’t learn as quickly. Of course, you will need to be firm and consistent, ensuring your training is done appropriately. If you are unable to be consistent, dogs get confused and your training will last weeks longer.

2. Age matters. Young pups are not as bothered by a leash as adult dogs are the first time. If they’d not been previously trained, adult dogs need more time to get settled with having a collar and leash.

3. Have your dog’s attention. In whatever way you do it, it is essential for your dog to be responsive during training. If his attention lasts only a short time, do your training in a quiet place where he can focus. Do your training in the backyard instead of out front. Passing cars and people can get your dog excited unnecessarily. If you have a hyperactive pet, work him out a little to expend excess energy; he’d be able to stay at attention longer.

Have a look at Golden Retriever Training to find out more on training this breed.

Choose Your Equipment.

There are more options than a flat leash and buckle collar; you can now choose your training tool based on your training goals and your dog’s needs. For instilling discipline in young puppies, the traditional flast leash is often enough. In other cases, you would find these special equipments useful:

1. Head Collar. This kind of collar is very much like a horse’s collar. It gives you gentle control of your dog with two loops – one around the mouth, the other around the neck. If you want to train your dog not to lounge, this is your best bet. Your dog is still able to move his mouth freely; the collar effortlessly prevents lounging as it turns a forward movement of the head into a sideways motion.

2. Retractable leash.A push-button control helps you to take up slack with this leash. This is helpful if you’d like your dog to have a wide berth. Your dog can wander off several feet from you but you remain in control with this leash. However, take up slack manually when you’re teaching your dog to heel.

3. Choke/Prong Collars. From its name, you’d likely have guessed this collar uses pain to train. Attached to the leash, this collar won’t let your dog stray. You can tighten the collar to choke him a bit or jab him with spikes as a reminder not to pull. Bear in mind that you only want to remind your dog, not hurt him.

Check Dog Leash Training Tips for further information.

Spring is here and that means nicer weather and more opportunities for taking your dog for walks. If your dog walks are anything but leisurely strolls, the following tips are just for you!

Change Your Direction

Abruptly changing the direction you’re heading in may be enough distraction to make your dog understand that he needs to follow you. Each time your dog begins to yank on the lead or run in front of you, quickly change direction and start walking in a different direction. When his attention is averted and he returns to walk next to you, follow up immediately with lots of praise. A small dog treat helps, too. Its pointless to scold your dog, catching him off guard and redirecting his attention is far more effective.

To begin with, your walks may only be a few steps at a time. That’s OK! You may need to repeat this process several times. The idea is that you want your dog to be paying attention to you and your movements. Be generous with your praise and rewards and repeat this process several times. Your dog will slowly give up the tug of war game he’s been playing with your.

If you already have a remote dog trainer that offers both positive and negative tone reinforcement, now would be a good opportunity to put it to use.

Consistency is Important

Once you’ve made up your mind that you want your dog to walk obediently beside you, don’t give in! If you don’t establish consistent rules, your dog will become confused. Treat this as you would any other training session.

Practicing your dog’s new skills in a familiar place, such as your driveway or backyard, is the best way to start to your training. Once you’re confident your dog understands what’s expected of him, begin taking longer walks in less familiar places.

Keep Up the Good Work

As with all dog training, teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash is an ongoing process. Don’t be discouraged if your dog isn’t instantly getting it. Patience and consistency will pay off in the long run. You’ll want to continue to use this technique occasionally to keep your dog on his toes and reinforce his new behavior.

Make sure you heap on the praise! Dogs instinctively want to please their owner and love being rewarded and praised for obeying. The more praise you give when you “catch him” being good, the more likely he is to pay close attention to what you’re doing.