When the dog constantly tugs at the leash
The dog quickly learns to tug at the leash in order to reach his destination faster. When the dog is young and there is no such thing as containment, he will literally fight with his leash, bite it, or lie down and refuse to go on. When the dog gets older. he becomes stronger, and pulls so much on the leash that it's impossible to control the dog. Oftentimes, owners cease taking their dogs out for a walk because of this. An insidious, vicious circle begins: lack of exercise leads to boredom, which in turns results in behavior problems, making the dog all the more difficult to control. Solving this problem means giving the dog a reason to want to walk by your side, and thus hate tugging at his leash. (In some cases, if dogs hate the leash, the command will have to be renamed). It is dangerous, not to mention irritating, to have a dog tugging at his leash during a walk. A dog that doesn't understand the command "HEEL" will first have to practice it without a leash. However, if the dog tugs while in full knowledge of the command, a particular technique must be applied.
To solve the problem 01 a dog that tugs at his leash and understands the command to "HEEL”.
In this case, the dog knows the command very well. Still, he lags behind, or passes you. In both cases, this results in excess tension on the leash. In such cases:
- Give him the VW "HEY”.
- Give the leash a sharp tug and stop walking. The dog must deduce that if he pulls on his leash or passes you, he will go nowhere.
- Remain immobile, and wait until the dog stops tugging before saying 'GOOD!'.
- Counter each attempt at tugging by using the VW 'HEY + SHORT SPRAY", if need be,
- The VW must be used at the exact moment the dog commits the error of tugging.
- When the dog has taken a few steps without tugging, congratulate him, and gradually in crease the number 01 steps required to get congratulations.
How to do the exercise in stressful situations: If the dog can walk on a leash for ten minutes without tugging at ¡t, it is time to expose your dog to challenging situations where your dog will be tempted to tug at the leash. The aim here is to make sure the dog will never again tug at the leash, no matter what happens.
- Drop a treat in front 01 you, or next to YOU. The moment the dog pulls on the leash to reach it, give the VW "HEYI + SHORT SPRAY.
- Take back the treat, and drop it once again. 1I the dog remains in place, congratulate him (SR 'SOUND + GOOD!'), pick up the treat, and give it to him. If not, give him the VW "HEY! + SHORT SPRAY" once more.
Practice this exercise for short periods, until the dog executes the task to perfection. Here is another way to do the exercise:
- * Let a friend offer food or a toy to your dog. If the dog tugs at the leash to reach it, the person must withdraw the reward and turn his back to the dog. At the same time, give him the VW "HEY! + SHORT SPRAY. If the dog doesn't tug, the person then approaches him and gives him the reward, while you congratulate him (SR "SOUND + GOOD'"). From now on, when the dog is walking on a leash with you, he will not tug if he spots some food.
- * In order to be able to eventually approach another dog, go to a place where the dog feels comfortable to practice. If the dog tugs at the leash to go see the other dog, use the VW "HEY! + SHORT SPRAY". Then, attempt the exercise on a busy street. With time, you will be able to approach another dog without having your dog tugging at the leash (a behavior problem).
Note: There are many more reasons why the dog tugs at his leash: lack of socialization, fear, anxiety, territorial aggression, and dominance. If the dog tugs only if he sees another dog, person, or object that scares him, and you are sure that it is not caused by a simple desire to play, consult Section 4.
