Stop Dog Leash Pulling

As with anydog trainingthe key factors for success are rewarding the appropriate behavior and avoiding the inappropriate. To help your dog learn that pulling his leash just doesn't get him what he wants.You are going to have to not follow when the leash is tight and he is trying to pull you. This might mean that you will have to stop walking your dog for a little while but this is better than reinforcing his pulling habit. Since pulling has worked for your dog up until now, training him otherwise will not just happen from one day to the next. It will take repetition, practice and lots of good yummy treats. Here are some other helpful tidbits for teaching your dog to walk with a looseleash.

• Walk quickly and turn constantly which will cause your dog to pay more attention to you since he doesn't know where you are going to go. The more often you change direction the more he will have to stay focused on you.
• After you become accustomed to walking quickly and turning often, watch for the moment when your dog turns to follow you, click and treat when he catches up to you.
• You might want to stop walking for a couple of seconds after clicking to let your dog understand what he did right. Make sure that the treats are highly motivating to help keep his attention focused on you.
• Always begin practicing something new in a distraction free environment and progress to including more distractions once you dog begins to understand and perform what it is you are trying to teach.

For these exercises you can attach a six-foot leash to your waist or belt. This will allow your hands to be free to click and treat for correct behavior. What you want your dog to understand is that pulling doesn't get him what he wants; in fact, it makes you go the other way.

• The quicker you walk the more your dog will have to stay focused on you and where you are going.
• Using the clicker and treats will help your dog to understand faster than any other device exactly what it is he is doing right. Make sure to always mark the action of him being next to you when leash walking with a click and treat. This will help to reduce the amount of time necessary to teaching good leash behavior.

Your dog has learnt over time that pulling is the way to get around and if you hope to end this habit you will have to use lots of repetitions and lots of delicious treats. You want your dog to choose the treat more than over pulling. Use new ideas and make your training times fun and before you know it your dog will be walking calmly by your side. Adding Lenght to your walks