Why is teaching our dogs to not pull on lead so challenging?
π DOG’S INTERNAL MONOLOGUE VS HUMAN REALITY:
THE GREAT LEAD PULLING DEBATE
DOG’S VERSION π “Let me check my pee-mail… EMERGENCY RESPONSE NEEDED! ZOOM”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “My Apple Watch just called emergency services due to ‘erratic movement patterns’
DOG’S VERSION π “Why do humans have a setting called ‘stroll’? Is their battery dying?”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “This was supposed to be a relaxing evening walk, not Olympic training”
DOG’S VERSION π “Left side sniffs are SO different from right side sniffs”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “We’ve crossed this sidewalk 47 times in 10 meters”
DOG’S VERSION π “Social etiquette requires me to alert ALL DOGS within a 5-mile radius of my presence”
HUMAN’S VERSION π”Pretty sure we just got listed on noise-complaint apps”
DOG’S VERSION π”BREAKING NEWS: Dog spotted 3 blocks away! Immediate investigation required!”
HUMAN’S VERSION π”My shoulder just made a sound I’ve never heard before”
DOG’S VERSION π “This is clearly an emergency! That leaf moved 3 blocks away!”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “It’s the same leaf we’ve passed 47 times today. It’s still just a leaf.”
DOG’S VERSION π “I must inspect this pole – it contains crucial messages about neighborhood squirrel activities”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “Great, another 10-minute investigation of the same pole we sniffed 5 minutes ago”
DOG’S VERSION π “I’m saving time by getting to our destination faster!”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “We’re literally going in circles because you keep getting tangled around trees”
DOG’S VERSION π “Must maintain my reputation as fastest dog on the block!”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “We’re the laughingstock of puppy training class”
DOG’S VERSION π “This bush definitely contains a portal to another dimension”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “It’s the same bush you’ve thoroughly inspected every day for the past 3 years”
DOG’S VERSION π “Stop. Sniff. SPRINT! Stop. Sniff. SPRINT! This is the perfect walking rhythm!”
HUMAN’S VERSION π “My Fitbit thinks I’m having a medical emergency with these erratic speed changes”
Loose lead walking can sometimes feel like trying to pilot a furry tornado down the road and is one of the most frustrating behaviours for our dogs to learn as well as for us to teach β but why?
- We want to be able to just enjoy a walk round the block or to the park
- Our dogs want to explore and investigate
- We walk much slower than our dogs naturally do
- Our dogs donβt walk in straight lines like we do
- We know what we want our dogs to do but our dogs donβt
- Teaching takes time and patience
- We have unrealistic expectations of what lead walking should look like from social media
- We donβt consider how challenging locations are for our dogs
Tips for teaching our dogs to not pulling on lead:
- Decide what we want our dogs to do on lead (rather than what we donβt want)
- Practice short lead walking sessions with few distractions
- Make it as fun as teaching any other skill
- Gradually build up places you can lead walk to more challenging locations
- Give our dogs dedicated time to sniff when lead walking
- Avoid telling our dogs off but make lead walking fun
- Avoid practicing on the way to the park initially as our dogs get excited to get there
- Reward lead walking with things your dog enjoys to build your new skill
- Reward in the place you want your dog to walk
- Be patient with your self and your dog as skills take time to develop
- Don’t compare yourself to what you see online – your walk can be what you want it to beΒ
Want more support to develop your loose lead walking?Β
Checkout our group class options:
Dog Training Class for Everyday Life
Puppy Training Life Skills Class
Or our personalized sessions at your home, local park our our training venue
Or give Eleanor a call on 07940979936