Dog pulling on a leash: Why? What to do ?

Do you have a dog and do you dream of enjoying the nearby park, the surrounding forests or a simple walk?

Yes but problem; your dog pulls on the leash and gives you no respite.

What should be a moment of complicity and simple happiness becomes a real obstacle course?

Don’t worry, things can work out.

Dogs often tend to pull on a leash, but good training , a few simple techniques, and the right equipment should help you change your dog’s behavior on outings.

Is your dog one of those who pulls hard on the leash? Here’s what you need to know to rectify this mania, and take full advantage of your walks.

My dog ​​pulls on a leash: Why?

Dogs can tend to pull on a leash for many reasons. Here are the main causes of this behavior:

excitement

Obviously, the number one reason for a dog pulling on its leash is excitement.

Our companions are indeed true explorers, who love to sniff, track, meet other animals and play with all the objects they find in their path.

Nothing more normal therefore, when it is time for the daily outing, to want to go on an adventure in the face of all these novelties that await them.

Does your dog explode with joy when you show him the leash? Jump on the door when you’re about to open it? Pulls forward when outdoors? So he’s probably just excited to discover this world that’s open to him.

Especially since the more your dog pulls, the faster you tend to move forward. And the faster you go, the faster he will discover the world around him.

Leash tension

The logical consequence of this excitement is that you unwittingly reinforce the behavior of pulling on the leash.

Because the more your dog pulls, the more you probably tend to bring him back to you to hold him back.

Problem ; this action on your part ashes him and forces him to pull on the leash even more. And so on. The vicious circle is in place.

Stimuli

Also related to excitement, external stimuli can make your dog distracted and inattentive to your expectations.

This behavior will vary a lot from one place to another, depending on the stimuli surrounding your dog.

For example, your dog may not pull on a leash in a quiet, animal-free environment, but start pulling like crazy in a crowded dog park.

The stress

Another reason that can explain why a dog pulls on a leash is stress .

Like us, dogs can suffer from phobias ( storms , other dogs , etc.), trauma, or even simply be fearful in nature .

A dog can therefore pull on the leash hard out of fear and in order to avoid the trigger of his fear.

This can for example be another animal that is in the vicinity.

A dog may also have had a traumatic first outward experience, such as an aggressive encounter with another dog.

If this is the case, he may associate the outside with this bad experience, and therefore be afraid to go outside .

Likewise, dogs tend to like routine.

If you have decided to walk yours in an environment that he does not know, he can show reserve and pull the leash to return to the car.

All the reasons related to fear, stress and anxiety can thus explain why a dog pulls on its leash.

My dog ​​pulls on a leash: what to do?

Several techniques can help you limit this behavior, including obedience sessions and the reward system.

Indeed, if your dog does not know the basic commands such as “At the feet”, “Sit”, ” Stay ” or “Stop”, it will naturally be less easy for you to control him when you go out on a leash.

By teaching him to stay by your side and listen to your orders during training sessions, he will learn to walk more calmly by your side.

Here are some other tips to stop your dog from pulling on the leash.

Start in a calm environment

To start teaching your dog to walk on a leash without pulling, it is essential to get him used to wearing a leash in a calm environment and without stimulation that could compromise his concentration.

For example, you can start by walking together on a leash in your yard, in your garden, or even in your house.

In his environment, he will indeed tend to be more concentrated and less entertained by other things.

This will make it much easier for your dog to learn new behaviors.

Objective? Maintain the dog’s interest and attention.

So practice several times a day at home or in the yard with minimal distractions.

Then, as your pet develops the right behavior, gradually add distractions.

Start with small steps

It is better to take one or two steps at a time and keep the dog in the right position, rather than trying to accomplish a long walk.

Your dog will indeed tend to stay more focused on short walks and you will be able to more easily rectify his behavior if necessary.

As he learns, take longer and longer walks with more and more distractions.

Go for example from a walk in the garden, around the block, then to a walk by the sea.

Stop walking when your dog pulls

If a dog begins to pull forward, pulling back on the leash and collar will cause resistance.

Either blocking may stop some dogs, but it will generally cause most to pull even harder forward.

This resistance can thus create frustration, causing the opposite behavior to what you want.

Worse, fearful or defensive dogs may become more aggressive if you pull on the leash , as they may feel trapped and unable to defend themselves if needed.

Constrained and limited by the leash, they are therefore more likely to defend their personal space or their family members (defensive or protective aggression).

Also, depending on the type of collar and your reaction, every time you tug on the leash, you may increase your dog’s anxiety and, therefore, his aggressive attitude.

To rectify this behavior, do not pull on the leash.

Teach your dog that walking beside you with a loose leash means he can walk, and pulling means he can’t.

For this, and if your dog pulls on the taut leash, stop and wait for him to return to a level where the leash is looser.

Do not move, stay calm and do not move forward until the leash is relaxed.

Just stand, and wait calmly and quietly.

When the leash is slack, continue your walk and reward your pet.

Repeat this operation if necessary.

Opt for positive reinforcement and the reward system

The best technique for teaching your dog to walk on a leash is the positive reinforcement or reward system .

This method consists of reinforcing good behavior, by rewarding your dog with treats or toys, for example.

In practice, take two steps with your dog.

If he doesn’t pull on the leash and stays at your feet, reward him.

Take a few more steps, then longer walks, and reward your dog each time he performs the right behavior.

If your dog pulls on the leash, stop walking, wait for him to come back, then try taking a few steps again.

Reward him when he does the right thing .

Always keep in mind that the walk itself is the ultimate reward and if the leash is not slack the walk will not take place.

The goal here is to associate walking on your feet with a positive experience; the rewards.

Once your dog stays close to you on your walk, gradually reduce the treats, replacing them with something positive like a pet.

Associate your dog’s movements with commands

If you find this technique too slow, you can try the method in reverse.

For example, teach your dog not to move when he pulls too much on the leash and it is tight.

Concretely, if your dog reaches the end of the leash and begins to pull on it, say the command “Stop” , followed by a slight pull on the leash to attract the dog’s attention and stop it.

Give slack again and if your dog obeys (i.e. does not move), immediately give him a reward to praise him.

After several repetitions, your dog will understand that he will be rewarded for keeping the leash loose and that the word “Stop” means he should not move forward.

The “Stop” command can then be used to stop your dog pulling on the leash while walking, and to obtain a stable and controlled position, especially when approaching a fire, an obstacle, other dogs or danger.

Choose comfortable equipment

A traditional leash can be unpleasant and affect your dog’s breathing if he pulls on it.

It is therefore essential to put him at ease, so that the outings remain a happy event.

Associating outings with a stressful event may cause him to pull on the leash to get home, make your dog anxious or even aggressive.

You are probably wondering for a dog that pulls on a leash, collar or harness?

Instead of a collar, always prefer a harness.

A dog harness that pulls on a leash is a perfect training aid, as it takes the strain off a dog’s sensitive neck, distributing pressure more evenly around the body.

Likewise, if your dog’s traction is too strong and your companion takes you with him, know that there is equipment for humans to help you keep control of your movements, and at the same time of his own. .

Finally, and among the accessories that you can use, the halter can be a good way to obtain immediate control.

Indeed, when the dog pulls forward with a halter, the pull on the leash makes the dog’s head turn towards its master.

At that point, you can therefore regain your dog’s attention, bring him back to your side and continue.

Similarly, and thanks to the halter if you pull the leash up, the dog will back up and sit.

Once seated, reward him by saying “Sit”, so that he understands that this is the behavior to adopt when you pronounce this order.

However, be careful with the halter. This accessory can be dangerous for overly crazy dogs and puppies. Use with caution therefore.

Be motivating and present the exercise as a game

You can prevent your dog from pulling on the leash by motivating him to follow you in an excited voice to get his attention.

When he follows you and the leash is loose, turn around and continue on your way, continuing to motivate him to follow you as if it were a game.

Also show treats to your dog next to you to come over and reward your dog once they position themselves as desired.

Increase the difficulty gradually

Once your dog listens to you more, you can vary even more by becoming unpredictable yourself.

This means that your dog has to listen to you at all times because he never knows when you’re going to turn or where you’re going to go next.

By changing direction from time to time, your dog will learn to watch you closely.

Gradually add distractions , but remember to always go at your dog’s pace.

If he is struggling, go back to a stage where he was successful and take it slower.

Instead of turning away from him when you give him the go signal, reverse the direction by turning towards him.

You can spin in a circle or do a figure eight. All of these variations will get your dog’s attention.

Don’t forget to praise him for his obedience, because the closer you make him feel like you’re walking, the more he’ll choose to do so.

Start at the front door

Training should start as soon as you leave home.

Ask your dog to sit and not move, then open the front door.

Whichever technique you choose to use, make sure your dog is seated before you walk through the door.

It is essential that he begins the exercise calm, and that he understands that he must be calm to have the right to his walk.

If your dog starts to run away, try commanding him to sit, using food bait, or waiting for him to sit (close the door if necessary).

Again, the halter can be a quick and effective way, as an upward and forward pull should bring your dog back to a sitting position, and the tension should release when the dog sits.

Remember to reward your dog when he is calm and seated.

Be patient and don’t use punishment

Some owners resort to forms of correction or punishment (such as strangulation devices).

It’s not a good idea.

Punishment can make your dog anxious so that he begins to fear having the collar put on or he becomes increasingly fearful and hesitant to walk around.

Another serious consequence is that owners who correct their dog every time he pulls, such as when he meets new people or new dogs, can create a negative association. That is, the dog associates social encounters with something painful.

In other words, dogs that are anxious or aggressive toward people or animals may become so in part because their handler has used punitive and corrective techniques.

Especially since some dogs will learn to stop only when the correction is applied and others will continue to pull despite the pain and discomfort.

To be effective, the techniques used to correct fear and anxiety must aim to ensure that each new outing or encounter is associated with rewards.

Therefore, dog leash walking training should aim to teach your dog that rewards, including the walk itself, are only obtained when he walks on the leash correctly and without pulling.