Leash Pulling In Pets: It's More Than Just Being Cute

Have you felt envious of other pet parents who are able to walk their dogs with comfort? Are you the only one being ‘pulled’ around when walking your dog? Is taking your dog for a walk becoming more troubling than cute? If the answer to all three questions was a yes, then you are in the right place. Today, we are going to dive into the reasons why dogs start leash pulling and what can be done to manage it - of course, with love and patience. 

Understanding the Reasons Behind Leash Pulling

There is a common myth around leash pulling in dogs, that they do it to show you who is the ‘dominant’ one. While some think that they do it to appear cute, others believe that it is a sign of disrespect. Both are myths. Now, let’s discuss the core reasons behind why a dog pulls the leash.

• Leash pulling works like a remote control: One of the  main reasons why our pets pull their leash is because it works for them. It gets them where they want to go. Once they realise that leash pulling helps them get to a place wherever they want to go, they do it again and again. 

• Most dogs are faster and they know it: Winning a race with a doggo can be challenging especially if he is of an athletic breed. When we walk our pets, we prefer to walk at a slower pace, something that athletic dogs dislike. This eventually causes them to trot ahead of us and leads to leash pulling. 

• The environment is more interesting than home: If your dog starts to pull at their leash the minute you step out and practically wants to run off, it is because they find the environment they are in much more interesting than indoors. You can make the internal environment for your fur baby more interesting through the use of yummy dog treats and rewards which include sniffing, rolling in the grass or chasing. If you follow consistent positive reinforcement, then the pulling can stop. 

• The right equipment: There are certain equipment that can contribute further to the pulling behaviour. You can use no pull harnesses that help in restraining the pulling behaviour and make your dog realize that this behaviour is not liked by you. 

Tips To Help With Leash Pulling

Most problems in this world have a solution and leash pulling is one of them. Here are a few important tips from our experts that can help your dog with leash pulling. 

• Use a dog harness instead of a dog collar: Like we said before, the right kind of walking gear can make a difference. When you use a chest-led harness, it works in the ‘opposition reflex’ of dogs, which is basically to pull in the opposite direction of pressure. 

• Always be unpredictable: A useful and easy tactic is to be unpredictable while walking your dog. Whenever your dog begins to pull, you should turn in the opposite direction. Shower your pooch with praises each time they adhere to your command and obeys your request by walking next to you. 

• Reward good behaviour: Using small, yummy dog treats to reward your beloved canine friend while training them to leash walk will go a long way. You can start by rewarding the progress they make each day - the moment your pooch exhibits the right behaviour and soon your pooch will understand that calm leash walking is rewarding and yummy! 

• Make small stops on the way: Walking in a straight line can be boring for anyone. The same goes for your dog. Make your pooch’s walk interesting by incorporating small stops during the walk. When you let your dog stop and sniff the new smells, it will act as a positive reward for them in exchange for walking by your side. 

More than anything, be patient and consistent for slow and steady wins the race! If you are looking for expert dog trainers to train your pooch proper leash walking without pulling then you can reach out to our experts at Zigly.