If your dog is pulling on his leash, maybe he needs a longer one!
When our Golden, Simon, is in freedom mode - doing his business, playing with pals or visiting the neighbors - we use a sturdy retractable Flexi leash. This has really helped. Not only does he get the space he needs, but I don’t have to follow him through the bushes or over walls.
Long Walks: Heel Mode
When we take long walks though - in heel mode - I use a short leash and often have to do battle to keep him at my side. There is a good and simple solution for this that a trainer taught us, but it takes constant work.
Of course you should consult a dog trainer before practicing this method with your dog.
A Check Choke Collar
First, we got Simon a light choke collar. This seemed harsh so later we replaced it with a check choke collar, a more humane version of the choke collar which, by design, limits how far the dog can be choked.
With a standard, short dog leash we then headed out to the park and got started. First I placed the collar up on Simon’s neck to just below his ears. This is a critical step. If the collar is too low, the training won’t be effective. Be prepared to repeat this step many times during training. Then I took the leash in both hands, leaving just a little slack between Simon and I. This is also important. Don’t hold the leash too tightly. You need to leave a little slack while he is heeling, and remove that slack when he is not.
This got his attention without hurting him
When we started walking, Simon of course kept getting ahead of me, and each time he did I quickly snapped the leash back. Its important to do this with some force. Don’t be overly gentle. This got his attention without hurting him. The sound of the chain collar is especially useful for correction.
As long as his head stays at or near your knee, he is heeling. Praise him and/or give him treats. Of course I spoil my Golden; others don’t believe in lavishing praise or treats.
We practiced this a lot. In fact we still practice this today. The key is to yank the leash quickly and sharply, and not to steadily pull. The dog won’t pay attention to the steady pull and will only choke. The sharp yank does not choke him and boy does he notice it.
Walk at Different Speeds
Another technique is to walk at different speeds to force the dog to pay attention to your movements. First I walked quickly, yanking the leash forward if he did not keep up. Then I stopped suddenly, and of course yanked the leash back if he kept going. Your dog may seem overwhelmed by this at first but its good practice. Just don’t go overboard with the force or angle of the yanks.
Something else we tried is sudden turning. I walked at a normal pace for a few seconds, than quickly turned and went in the other direction, yanking the leash if Simon did not keep up.
Just don’t go overboard with the force or angle of the yanks.
Goal: Keep his Attention on You
The goal in all of this is to keep the dog’s attention on you. So, if you find him looking anywhere but up at you, you may also want to give him a yank. We worked on that awhile as well but never as much as we needed to. If the dog is not looking up at you, he is distracted and will never heel perfectly.
Getting your dog not to pull on the leash is a big job. Good luck!
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