Ok well let me start by saying there is no one answer for this problem, as with all dog behavioural issues it depends on the dog! What I can do is give you some do’s and don’ts which will help in most cases and what to do next if things don’t improve…

Equipment

We all want our dogs to enjoy their walks, for that to happen they need to be happy and comfortable in
the equipment we use. If anyone recommends any quick fix equipment, such as a halti that will stop
your dog from pulling I can tell you from experience that it will not work long term, it may lead to other
problems and will make your dog miserable which kind of defeats the object of taking them for their
daily walk! These quick fix methods also don’t deal with the root of the problem, which is; why your
dog is pulling in the first place?! Be very careful about attaching a lead onto a collar around your dog’s
neck, especially if your dog pulls as it can lead to neck and spinal injury for your dog.
I would recommend the following equipment;
• A well fitted harness; the fleece lined ones are very comfortable for dogs. You can buy them
from www.dog-games-shop.co.uk
• A long lead, ideally 3 metres plus as this gives your dog the chance to explore and sniff with out
having to pull you to do so. You can buy them from www.sheilaharper.co.uk

Please DO NOT USE;

• Choke chains or half chokes. They can cause injury and will make your dogs walk very
unpleasant. Anything that tightens around the dog’s neck leads to a lack of blood and oxygen to
the brain, which affects a dog’s ability to learn. I know I wouldn’t be able to enjoy a walk in that
situation. If they can’t learn they will make poor decisions such as continuing to pull on the lead.
• Halti’s, they prevent a dog from having natural movement and communicating effectively with
each other. They can also cause pain and discomfort by putting pressure on the nose.
• Short leads, the shorter the lead the more the dog tends to lean away from the handler. It also
means they cannot communicate effectively with other dogs.
• Flexi leads/extendable leads, dogs can become tangled in them when meeting each other which
can cause big problems, I’ve also known people lose their grip or be pulled over when the dog
reaches the end of the lead.

Type of walks/environment

Think about where and when you walk your dog. For example if you walk in a busy park at lunch time
when there are lots of people and dogs they are far more likely to be over stimulated, which will lead to
them becoming hyperactive and pulling on the lead. Try to keep your walks calm and relaxed,
remember that if you are stressed and anxious this will be passed down the lead to your dog! The
most valuable piece of dog training advise I’ve ever been given was to work on myself first!
Dogs first sense is smell, while humans enjoy having a good look around dogs enjoy a good sniff! I so
often see owners dragging their dogs up the road or jogging with them, it is so important to let a dog
use their nose and explore what’s around them. This will tire a dog out far more than walking or
running quickly as they will be using their brain. Dogs when given the chance usually prefer to have a
slow potter around and a good sniff!

Respecting the lead

It’s really important that your dog learns to respect the lead, but like wise that applies to you too! You
must NEVER yank or pull your dog’s lead. It has to be a partnership and once your dog understands
that it will develop the trust in your relationship. Your dog must also learn that they can’t pull you. If
your dog does pull just stand still, wait for them to acknowledge you (by turning around for example)
and then carry on walking. This will require patience as like any method that actually works it won’t
change things over night. If you want your dog to walk in another direction never just pull him with you.
Think about your body language and invite them to come with you, in the direction you want to go.

Reason’s behind why your dog pulls

There can be many reasons why your dog pulls on the lead, understanding what they are can help you
solve the problem. Quite often a dog pulling on the lead is the symptom not the cause of the problem.

Stress;

Has your dog just moved into a new home recently? Have there been any changes in the household, a
new baby for example? Have there been any other changes to their routine? If so it could be that your
dog is feeling a little stressed which can lead to hyperactive behaviour which will then of course cause
pulling on the lead! In cases where the lead pulling has started to happen recently and around the time
of some changes in the dogs life, you must allow the dogs stress levels to return to normal as often this
can be enough for the problem to disappear or improve. Try to understand that dogs like us will
behave differently when there have been changes in their life or stressful situations, we must allow for
this.

Education/learnt behaviour;

Could it be that you dog has never been taught to walk on the lead with out pulling? If every time they
pull, you go with them they will see that their behaviour is working! If you allow the dog to go to the
end of the lead but then stop they will have to start thinking of other ways to walk on the lead. Many
dogs just need some of your time and patience to learn, it will be rewarded in the end.

Further reading and education;

My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do?

By Turid Rugaas, there is a book and DVD which I can highly
recommend but only after you have addressed the above points.

On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals

By Turid Rugaas. This is a fantastic short
workbook and DVD that will show you the basics of dog body language. It has some amazing images
and is really easy to understand. It will allow you to have a better relationship with your dog on and off
lead, as you will be able to read them far better with a greater understanding of what they are feeling.

Both of the above are available to order online from eBay and Amazon.

Final Note

As I’ve said already there is no one answer for any dog behavioural issue. Please beware of any quick fixes or anyone who tells you one way of approaching this or any issue, that will work on every dog.
Just like humans, every dog is different and you have to get to know your dog and what they like and don’t like. If you have tried all of the above advise and your dog is still pulling on lead, or you have another issue with your dog please feel free to contact me / 07956 769719 or
find another suitably qualified behaviourist, for more information on finding a trainer in your area go to; www.intodogs.org