Tired of being dragged around - let's stop it!

Everyone has seen dogs dragging their owner around the neighborhood.  Hundreds of cartoons and movies have made jokes about owners being pulled around by their dogs.  Why do so many dogs pull? What can be done about it?  Pulling on the leash is, in fact, a very common problem for dog owners.

Dogs Do What Works

Dogs pull because it gets them where they want to go faster.  In other words - it works for them.  The best way to stop your dog from pulling is to simply make it stop working.  If only it were as easily done as said!

The longer your dog has been pulling the more difficult the problem will be to solve.  If your dog is an adult and has a long history of pulling on lead your dog has been rewarded probably hundreds if not thousands of times for pulling.

If you have a puppy start teaching leash manners now!  It is far easier to teach proper manners now then it is to fix problem behaviors later.

Who's Walking Who?

When an owner has their dog on lead he or she should control the direction and the speed of the walk. With dogs who have problems pulling on lead however, it really is a case of the dog walking the owner. Countless times I have seen owners not only being pulled by their dogs but going in which ever direction the dog happens to tug.  Another bad habit for many owners to break is allowing their dogs to pull then stopping and waiting when the dog decides there is a good smell in an area.

Learning to Lead the Way

Owners should strive to be good leaders for their dogs.  Leading the way on walks and outings is a very fundamental way to do this.  If your dog is controlling the direction, speed and/or length of the walk, you should put the collar at the top of the neck just at the jaw line.  Most collars will need to be moved up periodically, so get in the habit of checking the collar's position and adjusting it as needed.  This will give you the most control no matter what collar type you are using.  Avoid using harnesses for dogs who pull.  There is a reason sled dogs wear harnesses.  Harnesses make pulling physically easier for the dog and give you the very least amount of control.

Now take a look at your dog's leash. The answer is clearly that the dog is leading you.

Sometimes pulling problems can be solved simply by changing what you are doing.  Look first at the collar you have on your dog.  No matter what kind it is the collar should fit snugly for walking and be as high up on the neck as you can get it. This means it needs to be kept right up behind the dog's ears, and right under the jaw line. How much leash does your dog generally have on a normal walk? Your leash should be kept short and taut but not tight while teaching your dog to walk nicely.  A taut leash will have no excess hanging but will be loose enough that there is a difference in collar pressure between the dog pulling and not.  Holding the leash too tightly simply gets your dog used to feeling pressure on the collar and strengthens the neck muscles.  Avoid extra thick leashes - they are too hard to bunch up in your hands and shorten.  Also avoid retractable leashes.  These actually reward your dog for pulling and teach him that if he pulls the leash will get longer earning him more freedom.  It is best to wait to use a retractable leash until after the dog has learned leash manners.

Make the rules clear

Now it is time to look at what you are doing.  Dogs learn best when the rules are clearly presented to them.  If you require your dog to walk on your left side with the area between his shoulder and nose in line with your left leg your dog will understand what is expected of him more easily then if you allow him to decide where to walk in relation to you.  So pick a side and a position and stick with it on every walk.

No pulling allowed

One key factor in teaching your dog leash manners is to not tolerate pulling.  If you are allowing pulling at all, you are rewarding pulling.  When your dog pulls you should say "no" or "eheh", step backwards a few steps and reposition the dog at your side.  Reward your dog for good behavior.  This will break his focus and show him proper behavior by randomly slipping him a treat when he walks nicely.  Carrying treats in your hand while walking can encourage other bad leash behaviors so keep them accessible but not directly in your hand.  Consistency is key.  If you require polite walking sometimes and other times you allow the dog to pull you are actually making the pulling behavior stronger.

Management Tools

Remember if your dog is too strong for you to practice the techniques in this article or your dog is already very persistent about pulling, there is still hope. There are many different training collars which can be used to help you regain control.  Each of these has pros and cons and none are suitable for every dog.  So speak to an instructor about which would be most appropriate for you and your dog, how to properly fit and use the tool.