How To Stop Leash Pulling

April 14, 2023

Written by Laura Davis

April 14, 2023

Written by Laura Davis

HOW TO STOP LEASH PULLING

Out in public, we see dogs pulling on their leashes all the time. Eager to get out of the house and explore the world, dogs of all shapes and sizes habitually drag their owners behind them. In this article, we will discuss why dogs pull on their leashes in the first place. And then, we will see how we can correct this “bad habit” and replace it with the new habit of walking on a nice loose leash instead.

MY DOG IS PULLING ON THE LEASH – WHY?

With smaller canines, leash pulling seems harmless enough. If large and powerful dogs pull and lunge, however, someone can get hurt. Walking your dog should be a pleasant and relaxing activity. But severe leash pulling can turn this activity into a veritable nightmare. No one enjoys being in tow of an unruly canine. But pulling is not only unpleasant for the person on the other end of the leash: It is also harmful for the dog’s health. The repetitive pressure from the collar can injure their throat, and even cause tracheal collapse. But why do so many dogs pull on their leash in the first place?

1. Over-Excitement

There is no doubt about it: Dogs absolutely love going on walks. Apart from mealtimes, venturing out into the world together with their owners is one of the highlights of their day. For the average dog, these daily walks are an opportunity to take in all the scents, sights and sounds their environment has to offer.

In this state of over-excitement and the desire to explore, dogs are eager to move forward as fast as possible. The leash, however (and the slow-paced human attached to the leash) stops them from going as quickly as they want. This conflict of the dog’s desire to storm ahead, and the leash holding them back, is fertile ground for pulling to develop. Once puppies have learned to walk on a leash initially, many of them instinctively pull against the restraint. If this is not corrected, the habit of leash-pulling becomes firmly established. And before too long, pulling whenever the leash comes on has become a deeply ingrained habit.

2. Lack of Training

This leads us directly to our next reason for leash pulling, which is lack of training. Many owners have become quite used to walking their dogs on a constantly tense leash. They think that being pulled by their dog is normal. Even though these people may envy fellow owners whose dogs walk calmly beside them, they are convinced that their own dog could never be so well-behaved. These dog owners think that they will have to put up with pulling for the remainder of their dog-owning lives. But this is not the truth - it is simply a limiting belief. And we are here today to dismantle this belief, and to help every dog owner succeed in teaching loose leash walking to their four-legged friend.

3. Lack of Exercise

4. Leash Reactivity

Oftentimes, leash pulling leads dogs and their owners into a vicious cycle where walking the dog becomes an unpleasant experience. As a result, the dog receives less and less exercise – and pulls more and more strongly whenever they do get a walk. Which then, of course, leads to the owners not wishing to repeat this experience again in the near future. This is completely understandable.

But dogs absolutely need exercise and mental stimulation to be balanced and happy. Most dogs require far more of this than we might think. And if they do not receive enough physical and mental stimulation, undesirable behaviours like leash pulling are the result. After all, their pent-up energy has to go somewhere. Their frustration will seek an outlet. And it is up to us to ensure constructive ways for our dogs to release their surplus energy. Pulling us around on walks, however, is not one of them.

Some dogs are naturally very energetic, boisterous and lively. To some degree, such high energy levels are breed related. Many terriers, herding breed and working breeds, for example, have strong prey instincts, high levels of energy and endurance. Several of these breeds also have a short recharge rate. This essentially means that they can keep moving intensely for long periods of time. Then, after a short nap, they are ready to do it all over again. But breed is not the only factor: Age and individual temperament also play a role. So, if you own a high-drive canine, chances are that this dog will pull on their leash consistently – even if you walk them for 2 hours or more. Dogs like this need considerably more exercise, mental stimulation and structure in their lives than low-energy dogs.

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SIMPLE SOLUTIONS FOR LEASH PULLING

We have seen why dogs pull on their leash, and why this unhealthy habit is so deeply ingrained in many companion dogs today. And the reason we say “companion dogs” is that active working dogs rarely display this behaviour: They are either trained to walk to heel, or they are working in their respective roles without a leash. Farm- and flock guardians or active herding dogs, for instance, operate off-leash. More often than not, their owners do not take them out in public. But most owners of companion dogs want to enjoy taking them for walks with ease. Walking our dogs should be something we look forward to. It should be a relaxing, peaceful and fun activity – and an opportunity to strengthen the bond with our canine companion. And now, let us see how we can achieve this goal.

1. Building Engagement – The Key To Stop Leash Pulling

Building engagement with the handler is the first order of business for anyone wanting to address leash pulling. Most dogs live in a world of their own once they step out the front door: They are fully engaged with everything around them, such as different smells, people, cars, other dogs, birds. The only component of their environment these dogs are not engaged with is the person holding their leash.

The easiest way to start laying the foundation for a dog that looks to you for guidance is by introducing directional changes. To do this, you simply stop walking, turn around and walk back.in the opposite direction. If you ensure a little bit of slack in the leash, this movement will cause your dog to experience a sudden pop on the leash. Initially, no verbal cues are needed – just focus on repeatedly changing your direction. After a while, your dog will start to engage with you, simply because they are learning to look to you for cues.

Once they start checking in repeatedly to see where you are, you are well on your way to building engagement. Over time, you can mark these directional changes with the cue “Bella, let’s go”, for example. So, you stop walking, give the cue, and then give Bella a moment to comply. If she does, you praise her. If not, she receives a pop on the leash. Not by yourself, strictly speaking, but simply by reaching the end of the leash. Initially, verbal praise is enough. You need no food work in the beginning stages of building engagement, as you do not want to “bribe” your dog to pay attention. Rather, this engagement should be a result of your relationship and the effortless communication between the both of you.

Once you have built engagement, leash pulling will never again be a problem for you: Because all you need to pre-empt, and correct pulling is to change direction. Dogs that pull on leashes want to go forward – and not back. In combination with the short pop on the leash, this method ensures that you will determine the speed and direction of your walk – and not your dog. Our Ragnar Training Leash is an ideal tool for teaching engagement. In combination with our matching Ragnar Dog Collar, the leash allows the dog enough flex to explore their environment. And for teaching engagement, this slightly longer leash is ideal. At the same time, the Ragnar Training Leash can be used as a short leash. Once your dog has learned to avoid pulling, this tool also gives you the comfort of completely hands-free walking.

2. Teaching Heel Walking

In many ways, heel walking picks up where building engagement leaves off. At this point, your dog has learned to maintain a loose leash during the entire walk. They have realized that pulling gets them nowhere. On the contrary, pulling results in them having to turn around and walk back. Heel walking is not rocket science – it is only refined loose leash walking. Teaching a dog to walk in an approximate heel position can be achieved in 30 minutes. But here, we generously use food-rewards, at least initially. To teach heel walking, we recommend using a collar & leash combination or a slip leash. In combination with the short and robust Ragnar Leash, the Ragnar Dog Collar allows you to communicate with your dog gently but effectively. The Ragnar Slip Leash is another very safe training tool for teaching heel walking. This strong and durable leash will withstand any amount of (temporary) pulling whilst your dog learns this new skill. With the fully adjustable Ragnar Slip Leash, you can easily communicate with your dog.

3. Providing Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Every dog and their owner can greatly benefit from heel walking. Having a dog that stays in an approximate heel position for as long as we want them to is amazing. It allows us to enjoy our walks to the fullest, and it protects our dogs from harming their throats by pulling. Dogs thrive on structured walks on a loose leash. But this does not mean we cannot allow them to run and roam, or to sniff and explore to their heart’s content. On the contrary, we want to ensure they have plenty of opportunity to stretch their muscles, zoom through meadows and fields, and play with us and other dogs.

In balancing structured walks with plenty of time off-leash, we ensure that our dogs are happy and fulfilled. This, in turn, significantly lessens their desire to pull on their leash. And dogs that walk nicely on the leash are more likely to be taken on walks, hikes, and other outings. Because now, taking them outside has become an enjoyable experience for their owners. In this way, we create a spiral of success.

We want our dogs to look to us for guidance and direction. But we also want them to have fun. And the easiest way to do this is by teaching a cue such as “Free” or “Break” to release them from the heel command.

4. Addressing Leash Reactivity

Typically, dogs that engage in leash pulling do so fairly consistently. But some canines naturally walk on a nice loose leash for most of the time – until they see a cat run across the street, for example. Then, they start to lunge after whatever (or whoever) has triggered their reaction.

In many ways, these sudden and explosive bursts are more dangerous than consistent pulling: Simply because they can catch their owners unawares and rip the leash right out of their hands. Leash reactive dogs are also prone to wiggling out of their collars to speed after cats, other dogs, deer in the forest or joggers in the park. One of the best tools to prevent this from happening is our Ragnar Slip Leash. Equipped with two metal buckles, it allows the owner to safely hold the dog back, and keep them from escaping. At the same time, the Ragnar Slip Leash only contracts up to the point of your choosing. This makes it an extremely safe-to-use tool – not only for securing, but also for effectively communicating with leash reactive dogs. When applied with precise timing, a short pop on the slip lead can prevent, and correct, sudden pulling and lunging.

CONCLUSION

This wraps up our discussion on leash pulling. We have looked into the most common causes for this wide-spread phenomenon. And we have touched upon easy countermeasures we can take to correct this behaviour. By putting this knowledge into practise with calm consistency, we all can enjoy our dogs – and our walks with them – to the fullest.

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