How to train your dog to stop pulling in your leash

If your dog is a leash puller you are in good company and help is near. Just a few corrections and your dog walk will be a new experience. Just keep in mind that to create tension in the leash it need to be pulled from both sides, so both you and your dog need to adjust your behavior.

Lets start by taking a step back to try to understand why your dog is pulling the leash and how to train your dog. not to do so . Dogs are not so far away from us humans, and act based on pain or pleasure and in this case the dog associates some sort of reward by pulling in the leash. We have a great park near by where we go to play and meet other dogs to play and socialize with. As a puppy my dog was pulling like crazy ever time she understood where we where going. And five minutes later we where there, and to her it was simply a reward and this is the reason why your dog is pulling as well. When you meet an other dog on your walk it pulls and gets to greet the other dog, when you are going to the car it pulls and gets there etc. It associates the pulling with reward even how simple it sound.

To undo this, to some very frustrating dog behavior there are a few simple but powerful steps to take. When your dog create any sort of tension in the leash just stop for a few seconds. If the dog turns to you give it praise for the attention it gives you. If it doesen't help then take some steps back or in an other direction. But the key here is to reward your dog every time the tension is gone, with it's favorite toy or food of your choice. When your dog starts to act the way you wont, then take it one step further and reward him when he is walking at your side. After a maximum of two weeks your dog walk should be a whole new experience in positive way

Lets summarize this effective way on how to train your dog. stop pulling the leash:

- Both you and your dog need to change behavior to make this work.

- Do this every time your dog is pulling. Be consistent.

- Reward your dog every time your behave the way you like it to do.

PS! Some dogs likes to walk in front of their pack because they try to take the lead. If this is the case for you, just follow the same steps. I have done so with success on some of my dogs.

Have a great dog-walk

Cheers
Tom