Walking your dog is one of the most engaging activities you can do to bond with your furry friend. They just love doing it, and it’s also good for us to clear our head and get some fresh air.
However, walking can get a bit complicated if your dog is not trained, as he will constantly move ahead of you and pull on the leash, causing problems for both of you.
In this article, we will talk about 4 tips you can use to stop your dog from pulling on his leash.
1. Start In An Uncrowded Environment
To start with, it’s probably best to start taking your dog in an environment where there is not a big crowd.
This is an important step to follow. If your dog has no discipline, then he will be distracted the whole time and will not be able to focus on anything.
It will reduce the amount of stimulation your dog receives, and it will also help him accommodate walking a lot better.
Make sure to walk him for a few weeks before switching up to a bigger environment, such as a park.
2. Teach Him To Behave
Now that we have established that it’s better to start in an uncrowded environment, it’s important to teach your dog how to behave.
Our furry little pets can be a bit mischievous sometimes, and it’s important to address that because having a dog who constantly misbehaves is frustrating.
Use your knowledge to establish what is appropriate and what is not. Boundaries are necessary in this instance.
For example, if you want him to follow a little bit behind you, or if you need him to be on your right side when you’re walking, make sure you train him to do what you need.
Try to stick with this routine as it will help your dog memorize faster how to behave properly.
3. Use Treats To Make Him Behave
If you follow the tips that have been laid out so far, then it might be good to try out this one as well, as I believe this is the most important one.
In case your dog is not behaving properly, then it might be a good idea to give him some treats, or if it’s summer, you can give him the treats that will keep him hydrated to show that good behavior is rewarded and bad is not.
This will teach him that misbehaving and aggressively pulling on the leash when he sees a car, or a dog, will not be rewarded.
4. Do Not Let Him Get Distracted
For the last tip, it’s important not to let your dog get distracted when you’re on a walk.
If he sees something interesting, like another dog or a car, and tries to push you in that direction, it’s crucial not to let him.
Your next step should be to immediately pull him away and go in another direction.
Remember, it’s easy to distract dogs from something by pointing them at something else, and this method might be the most useful one if you encounter other loud dogs or noisy vehicles that might upset your canine friend.
Why They Do It
Before we talk about the tips, we need to first address exactly why dogs like to behave this way.
When you first start taking your dog out in a brand new environment, everything is exciting for them.
There are so many things they want to explore and see, so their excitement can push them a bit over the edge, and it can result in them pulling on the leash.
Because it is not normal for dogs to be on a leash, this can occur pretty frequently if not addressed.
To Conclude
Keep in mind that not all of these tips will work on every dog, as they are all different and need to be treated accordingly, but they are definitely worth trying.
Next time you take your dog for a stroll in the park, remember these tips, as they might save you a ton of headache, and also help him behave properly.