One of the more common problems with dogs is that they want to escape. So when they are on the leash they will try to pull away from the leash. In some cases, especially with puppies you will see them trying to pull their owners along for the walk, instead of the other way around; this can be exceptionally irritating to you. This behavior many times leads to breaking the leash and having a dog roaming the neighborhood getting into all kinds of mischief.
Sometimes dogs pull on the leash because they are overly excited. When this is the case, a simple thing you can do to calm them down is to simply stop walking. Wait a couple of minutes and then continue on your way. Give your dog an opportunity to calm down and he will be much more relaxed. You might find your dog pulling on the leash if it wants to confront another dog. This comes from your dog wanting to show dominance, so the simple way to solve this problem is for you to show your dog that you are the dominant one.
In order to have a well trained and under control dog when walking him with a leash, you’ll need to take your time and slowly teach your dog that you are the leader and he must follow your guidance when on the leash. The best way to do this is to command your dog to sit while walking him (when he has the leash around him). Don’t continue walking until your dog has followed your order. This will slowly teach your dog that you remain in control when he has the leash on and that you are the leader.
If your dog keeps rushing off ahead, give the leash a gentle tug and tell your dog to sit. Repeat this process until your dog starts to realize that he isn’t allowed to race off ahead. If your dog simply isn’t understanding or learning this concept, return to your home and stay there until your dog has calmed down. You can then continue walking a little more, hopefully this time in a calm manner. Repeat this process until your dog understands the rules.
Making yourself seen as the leader is the best way to control your dog while walking. You can do this by stopping multiple times throughout the walk and making your dog sit each time your stop. Try to do this at least 5 – 6 times each time you go for a walk. By doing this your dog will realize that you are the leader and he will follow your commands.
Once your dog starts to follow your commands exactly as you have asked, give him some praise or a little treat. Don’t get carried away, just let your dog know that he’s doing a good job.
