Does your dog take YOU for a walk, dragging you at the end of the leash? You are not alone, and the solution is easier than you might think.
Equipment:
For proper leash training, your dog's collar should be fitted so you can just get two fingers between the upper part of your dog's neck and the collar. If it is too loose, your dog could easily back out of it if something spooks him. The use of prong or shock collars is painful and unnecessary. If you feel frustrated enough to resort to their use, contact your local Bark Busters trainer for help.
The leash should be six feet in length and made out of cotton, which is durable and soft on the hands. Your dog should feel freedom to move, not restraint from being held back. If you physically hold him in place it is tiring for you and uncomfortable for your dog. Also, dogs are natural pullers and if they feel restraint of any type, they will only pull more. This is also a common trigger resulting in dog or people aggression.
Techniques for walking your dog:
Your dog should be taught to follow, not lead. If he starts out by leading you to the door, turn around and call him the other way. Make it a game of follow the leader, with YOU always in the lead. When you stop, he stops, not the other way around. When you turn, he turns without being pulled by the leash.
It is important that you call him and entice him to follow you, instead of forcing him by pulling or yanking on the leash. If your dog respects you and sees you as his leader, he will know it is more important for his safety and well-being to focus on you than all the smells, other dogs, kids, cars and other distractions on walks. Praise him for following you.
A walk is about communicating with your dog, not about physically controlling him. If you find that he continues to pull on leash and is more interested on other distractions on your walks than you, contact your local Bark Busters Dog Behavioral Therapist, who can teach you how have a more enjoyable walk, for you and your dog.