3 Reasons Your Dog Is Pulling Onlead
3 Reasons your dog is pulling onlead!
Dogs who pull can feel very frustrating, after all, many of us got dog to go on long walks with. However a dog who pulls may be very tricky to enjoy on walks and we may find it very frustrating to train as they pull our arms out or our Whippets kangaroo up at everyone in sight!
You have Accidentally Made “walkies” into Disneyland!
This is something I have seen so often when working with clients. They have called me in because their dog is pulling onlead. I often ask owners to explain their dogs reaction to walks or observe it in person…And more often than not the picture set is a dog who gets SO excited to go on walks. As soon as that lead comes out, its chaos! Excitement, jumping, squeaking and pulling the second equipment goes on!
Their dog sees that transition as one of excitement, making the outside world THE reward, and the human hanging off the end of them, just something they need to drag around! As soon as that equipment is on they’re charging outside the front door ready for action, no focus, nothing. Setting the tone for the rest of that walk!
If this sounds familiar try:
-A new spot for your walking equipment, it is easier to create calm from a neutral location.
- Reward moments of calm as you put their walking equipment on
- As soon as the lead is on, you are training! Don’t let them drag you out the door
-Train indoors with their lead on so they learn it is part of a training picture
-Wait for offered attention before you leave the house, wait for them to look at you and mark and reward
You haven’t actually taught your dog to walk nicely!
So often the problem is very much simply a case of many owners starting to train lead walking out on walks. It sounds like the most logical step after all, grab some tasty treats and take your pup out! However the world is FULL of distractions. And if you have not already taught your dog lead walking patterns and skills, they certainly can’t learn to do that out on a walk around distractions. That is skipping the foundations and asking them to work around a high distraction level, when they don’t even understand the game.
Try:
-Teaching your dog to walk nicely in your house
-Teach your dog to walk nicely in your garden
- Practice going in and out of the garden onlead
Reward your dog for:
-Being on a slack, loose smiley lead
-Use high value rewards if around big distractions
-Keep training sessions short and sweet
-Be consistent
You have accidentally taught Yo-Yo Pulling!
Ever had that feeling? Where you are walking your dog , they pull forward. You either stop, turn or get their attention, they come back, walk nicely for that treat, grab it and go back to pulling. As they yo yo back and forth and you get dizzy and ultimately frustrated…as usually they are too!
We have often accidentally reinforced this as they have learned it pays off more to walk off, get called back and walk nicely for a stride or two to get that treat and then pull away again.
How can we fix this?
-When your dog is walking nicely, reward them for that consistently, reward for each step or two initially. You are not wanting the reward to end the behaviour of walking nicely.
-Reward on the ground behind you instead, then as they are eating step ahead, they can only then catch up to you to give you the opportunity to mark and reward nice walking again.
-Change directions frequently on your walks while they are walking nicely to keep them engaged with checking in with you as you may change your mind regularly!
Lead walking can be challenging for many dogs, be sure to try and ensure their needs are being met when they are not doing lead training. Offlead, a long line or trips to a paddock can ensure they have opportunities to be free which lowers stress and increases attention.
This also helps your dog to have connection with you when outdoors.
