You’ve probably heard people joke, “Are you walking your dog, or is your dog walking you?” An untrained dog may pull on the leash or try to dash off to chase a squirrel. Fortunately, these problems can usually be corrected with a little training.
How Training Makes Walking Your Dog Easier
Just like children, dogs don’t innately understand the rules of social conduct. During leash training sessions, your dog will learn how to walk calmly at your side without pulling or sniffing every patch of grass along the way.
What You Can Do About Pulling
Pulling can increase your risk of falls and injuries ranging from strains and sprains to fractures. When your dog begins to pull, one of these methods may be helpful:
- Make an About Turn — change directions when your dog reaches the end of the leash, then offer a treat or praise.
- Don’t Move — stop as soon as your dog begins pulling, and start walking again once it stops.
- Try a Harness — a no-pull harness gently reminds your dog not to strain against the leash.
When training your dog to walk properly on a leash, keep these things in mind:
- Positive Reinforcement Is the Best Choice — praise and rewards are most effective.
- Patience Is a Must — mastery may take weeks or months.
- Try Some Pre-Walk Exercise — help your dog expend excess energy first.
- Don’t Use a Retractable Leash When Training — it may reinforce pulling behavior.
- Consider Obedience Training — commands like “leave it” and “slow” are particularly helpful when walking.
Walk Your Pet Month, observed every January, is an excellent time to work on leash skills. Learning how to walk on a leash will make walks more pleasant and help your pet avoid injuries from cars and other animals.