Lead Manners Training Sydney : Pulling on Leash

Lead Manners Training Sydney: Lead Pulling Can Be a Real Problem!

Dogs pull for many reasons but the most common reason for it is excitement.

Lead pulling can become a problem for an excited dog. It’s very exciting to be outdoors and all the sights, sounds and scents can be overwhelming. Your dog just can’t get to where he wants to go fast enough and becomes over-excited! This often leads to pulling the person walking them. But this doesn’t mean settling for walks where you are the one being walked. With training any dog can learn to walk nicely on lead, it just takes some effort…and patience!

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LOOSE LEASH WALKS – Join a Lead Manners Training Class in Sydney

1. TEACH IMPULSE CONTROL

In my opinion problems on leash rarely have much to do with loose leash walking.  Instead, the issues are rooted in impulse control, or better yet, a lack of it. Teaching your dog to wait before you step through the front door or let him off the lead, walk past other dogs on the street instead of lunging at them, leaving things if you tell him to… These are all very important skills for good manners. They also teach impulse control that will calm your dog down and make your daily walks a lot more enjoyable. 

Here are some great examples of “everyday impulse control practises”

• Asking the dog to sit and wait for your cue before eating his meal
• Waiting for the dog to sit and wait for your cue before jumping in and out of the car
• Waiting for the dog to sit and wait for a cue before getting out of the crate
• When coming home from work, waiting for the dog to have all four paws on the ground before giving her attention

2. SWITCH TO A HARNESS

Have you ever noticed your dog pulling more when he has his leash attached to his collar? A properly fitting harness, like Easy Walker, will decrease pulling and give you better control. These kinds of harnesses discourage pulling without gagging or choking your dog. In these harnesses, the straps rest low across the breastbone and this steers your dog instead of harmfully correcting them.

3. EXERCISE YOUR DOG BEFORE GOING ON A WALK

If your dog has not been adequately exercised the desire to pull ahead is stronger. A dog with a lot of pent up energy cannot focus, walk slowly or listen to you. A good off lead run in the back yard or a game of fetch will expend some of that energy making it easier to walk nicely on lead.

It’s also good to understand that walking on lead is NOT exercise for a dog. It’s good for them, don’t get me wrong, but us humans walk really slowly from a dog’s perspective. And we aren’t only slow but also pretty boring, mostly walking in a straight line.  Walking is essential for a dog’s wellbeing and it also adds to their social skills and provides mental stimulation. But its not an exercise, so exercise your dog first.

When your dog is still learning to walk nicely on a leash, all of your walks are actually training sessions.  And all training sessions should be short and fun. There is no point in trying to take your untrained dog for a long walk. Everyone involved will only end up frustrated and you will be tempted to give up.

4. LEARN THE RIGHT TECHNIQUES AND TRAINING METHODS

Sometimes, a basic obedience class just doesn’t cut it. You might benefit from more intensive training concentrated on a single skill, loose leash walking. Join a leash manners class that focuses on practising and perfecting loose leash walking.  Work with your dog in a controlled and positive environment while learning new skills!

Eazy Dog Training runs lead manners classes in Sydney Park, Sydney Olympic Park and Glebe!