So, you’re wondering how to teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash. Well, this article will definitely shed some light on the subject. Now, I don’t want you to be scared off by the thought of having to train your dog on leashes. First, most dogs are perfectly happy to keep up with you for as long as you want them to. Second, when you use these tips, you’re teaching your dog that pulling is not going to get him what he wants. This should be comforting to any dog.
Now, you need to understand why dogs pull on their leashes in the first place. Dogs pull on their leashes because they’re either frightened lonely or frustrated. In essence, they’re just looking for attention. A dog who’s feeling neglected and abandoned will often tug on his leash. If you’re at a dog park, try looking for the dogs that aren’t running around looking for attention. That dog is probably feeling neglected.
If you have an obedient dog, don’t punish him for it. It’s really in his nature to pull. Just think of how much better things would be if you never had to pull your dog around. He’d just listen to you and do what you ask.
To teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash, you have to start with reinforcing his obedience and praise when he follows your commands. You can make this easier by adding an extra reward when he does something right. For instance, let’s say you’re at the dog park and you want your dog to sit. Find a nice place to sit and call his name. If he sits, give him a treat and lots of praise.
You’ll need to reinforce your dog’s obedience with positive reinforcement, too. You can do this by using treats and lots of verbal praise. If you’ve ever worked with dogs before, you’ll realize that one of their most powerful tools is their dog’s sense of smell. If you can teach your dog that his leash doesn’t mean anything, you can actually make him stop pulling on leash!
Once you’ve taught your dog to ignore his leash, use your words as well as his. For example, if you were to say, “Sit” when you meant to say, “Stay” (or vice versa), your dog will quickly understand the difference. You can teach him this by saying something like, “Just a little extra praise when he follows your command,” then pointing at the dog while giving the command. After this, say, “Good dog!” followed by a treat. Reward your dog again for obeying your commands.
If you still have a problem with your dog pulling, you can actually use your words against him. Say something like, “You are so eager to see me right?” When your dog follows after you, give him praise and a treat, and you can even tell him that he did a good job.
In addition to reinforcing your dog’s obedience with positive reinforcement, you can also use your voice to teach him how to stop pulling on the leash. Remind him that he has only one life and that he better take care of it or he will get no where. He may be taken aback, but try saying this several times until he gets the message. Reward him with lots of petting and treats as well as petting him afterwards.
Use the same words as you used to reprimand your dog when he was pulling too hard. It is best not to use profanities when talking to your dog. But use short phrases like, “No!” or “Release!” Be sure to say these clearly and firmly so your dog knows what you mean.
The main reward your dog gets when you are training him to do his business outside is praise. This is the ultimate in dog training because it shows him that you are pleased with what he has done. Plus, he will get lots of petting later on when he successfully completes all your commands. You should expect your dog to do other things he likes while you are training him to behave well on a leash. He may want to go out in the garden or round up some puppies, for instance.
Do your best to remain in the same place when you are teaching your dog to do his business outside. Your dog needs to be able to see you at all times and know that he will receive loving attention if he stays near you. You should never pull on the leash unless you are prepared to take immediate action. In the beginning, keep the leash by your side and practice the same lessons over again until you learn how to teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash.
