If you are the owner of a dog, you would frequently have come across the problem of the dog pulling you. If you have resorted to different tactics to face this problem and have not met with any success, here are some valuable guidelines that are sure to work out with your dog and make them stop pulling.
One of the best ways to stop dog pulling at his leash is to train your dog in the heel command. The first step is to adorn your dog with a collar and a leash. Make it a point to position yourself at the right side of your dog, which will make both of your heads in the same direction.
Put your left leg forward first and try to walk in a straight line. You have to walk on the right side of the dog so that it appears as if you’re walking together. As soon as the dog starts walking ahead pulling you with him, you have to stop abruptly and not resort to pull him towards you.
Your dog will also learn to stop pulling. When you do this, there is no need to teach any particular command for your dog to pick up this technique.
Being impulsive in your moves, will train your dog to be aware of where you are heading. If you make sudden twists and turns in conflicting ways each time your dog starts pulling you, he will slowly learn to concentrate on where you are going.
Never twist the leash when it is already stretched. Instead, twist it prior to your dog reaching the end of the leash and then persuade him to come up to you. Remember to give him a pat on his back and give him a biscuit or some tidbit which will encourage him, when he comes back to you. Never reprimand him; be patient with him. This way you can get to stop dog pulling.
Once you’ve decided that you are going to take a firm stand to stop dog pulling, make sure you never relax any methods adopted. Each time he tries to pull you to him, take some steps, which prevent this from happening. On the other hand, your occasional lenience will only bring confusion into his mind. So, the best policy is to stick by your rules.
Never give up on leash walking practice, even if it appears tiresome and your dog seems to go back to his old ways of pulling you along. Remember, stop dog pulling is not something you can achieve in a day, it requires a lot of patience and effort to bring your dog to heel. Each time he obeys you, smother him with love and affection and all his favorite things to make him realize the importance of what he has done.
When the above mentioned methods fail to deliver any positive results, then you’ll need to resort to other options available in the market. Some devices like gentle leaders, prong collars, easy walk harness, head halters, etc. are known to give good results. Of course, get proper guidance from a professional before experimenting with any other methods that you try out to stop dog pulling.
Still having problems with your dog pulling? Check out how to Stop dog pulling. Alex Benson is the chief editor of Secrets of Dog Training guides a dog help site which gives free dog training tips and covers some of the best dog training guides available on the net.
