Training a dog to stop pulling while on a leash is about who’s in control and what the focus is. You’ll want your dog to walk freely while on a leash. Even the best trained dog will need gentle reminders from time to time. You are teaching the dog to stop pulling while on a leash. This means you need the dog to follow your lead. He learns this from the pulls and commands you give at the times the dog is out of control.
The goal is for your dog to walk freely and easily with you, without pulling or lunging at things.
Start Early With Leash Training a Dog Not To Pull
Puppies who have never been on a lead are usually, but not always, out of control and lack focus. Starting training as early as possible helps instill long term expectations. A dog that has been walking well on a leash may need further training to learn when he feels your pull he follows your commands. It’s never too early to start leash training.
Start as early as possible to train dogs not to pull on a leash.
Proper Equipment for Training a Dog Not To Pull While On a Leash
A good 6 feet lead and harnesses are the best equipment for gaining good control of the dog and gives the ability to quickly help them re-focus. The lead can be held long or short; the shorter the lead the more control you’ll have. A sturdy harness helps by putting light pressure on the dog’s strongest areas, its chest and shoulders. This gives control without causing pain from a choking collar and, in some cases, an uncontrollable dog. Having treats as rewards for following through will help motivate the dog to succeed in learning.
Get the right equipment for the training
Remove Triggers When Training a Dog Not To Pull While On a Lead
Training should be done in an area that has few triggers. A trigger is something that could cause the dog to react in response to it, for example, the presence of other dogs, squirrels or unfamiliar people. Triggers give rise to the dog‘s natural instincts to react to them. Therefore training a dog in an area with few triggers will help it concentrate better, with fewer distractions. The dog should be trained in a familiar area before testing its obedience in unfamiliar or public areas. The back yard is a good place to start and training could be done indoors as well. People, smells, noise and motion are great distractions for dogs. By removing triggers the dog will be able to focus more on what your expectations are.
Avoid distractions during training
Once you have the sturdy dog harness and lead attached to the dog and removed triggers, it’s time for the fun part. Have a ball or toy handy to create a trigger. You’re going to throw the ball in one direction and when the dog reacts, give a gentle tug and say “let’s go”, then proceed in the opposite direction of where you threw the ball. This may seem to confuse the dog but yet puts the owner in full control of where and when the dog can or can’t react to triggers. Repeat this 4-6 times a few times a week giving treats as the dog follows your command. Once the dog is able to not react to the ball being thrown you can try some public areas.
After the dog becomes familiar with the routine and starts to perform as expected through obedience, other triggers that were kept away, like people or squirrels, should then be introduced and experienced. Practice of the same routine used in training should be given and continued until the dog becomes obedient by not pulling on leashes after new triggers are introduced.