How to Stop Your Dog from Pulling on their Leash

Walking can provide you and your pooch with the best mental and physical health. But leash-puller can pose multiple dangers to them and can make the walking time just a tug-of-war. Human companions may also be responsible for this pulling behavior as dogs have different temperaments. They want to learn about their environment. Dogs can drag you down the trail to interact with the passing animals and things. Dogs like to go and explore wherever their smelling sense takes them. Hence, in the eagerness to explore and hurry to reach the site, your dog can drag you down the sidewalk when you head out for a walk. If it happens, you surely want to know how to stop pulling a dog on a leash. Then, here is the solution that you should practice.

The ways to stop your dog from pulling on the leash are;

Use of correct tools

Using the right tool, like the chest-led harness, can make a difference when walking your dog. In the chest-led harness, the leash attaches to a clip on the dog’s chest instead of the collar. Dogs have an ‘opposition reflex,’ i.e., a natural affinity to push in the opposite direction of applied pressure on their body parts. A chest-led harness works on this “opposition reflex” by changing their path instead of pulling against them.

Avoid bad behaviour

Dogs learn the world rules from their human companion, and unintentionally we can reinforce bad behaviour in our pooch. Like when a dog starts leash pulling, we allow ourselves to pull along. So, slack the leash a little bit whenever your dog pulls you, don’t move, stand still for a minute, and don’t start walking until the dog returns to you. Praise him for returning, give him a good pat, and then resume walking. Repeat this process whenever your dog starts pulling until he masters the notion. Don’t yell or punish your dog on a leash. Otherwise, he can develop a negative association with the leash.

Random direction changes

Reversing or changing the direction against the pull can be an effective way to avoid pulling. Walking on a straight path or a concrete trail is usually boring for dogs as they learn about the creatures around them through their nose. To incorporate good leash behaviour, you need to little loose the leash, stop near the trees or shrubby places, and allow your dog to sniff—mental stimulation by sniffing or marking his territory. After a good sniff and a little stop, command your dog to move on. Admire your dog or give them a treat each time when he joins you at your side.

Be patient

Staying calm, consistent, and patient can be the most challenging part of the training. Dogs are adept at understanding their companion’s emotions, so they never make them fearful or use harsh words with them.

The wholesome discussion on how to stop your dog from pulling on a leash is being patient and consistent in leash-on training, using the right tool to control while going out, and encouraging the excellent reward for obeying the commands.