Is Your Dog Taking You for a Walk

Spring is here and that means nicer weather and more opportunities for taking your dog for walks. Are your dog walks resembling a marathon – with you in 2nd place behind your dog? These tips are for you!

Mixing It Up

Abruptly changing the direction you’re heading in may be enough distraction to make your dog understand that he needs to follow you. Each time your dog begins to yank on the lead or run in front of you, quickly change direction and start walking in a different direction. When he does the right thing and returns to your side, immediately reward your dog with praise and a small dog treat. Tempting as it is, don’t scold your dog for tugging on the leash. Just redirect his attention by abruptly changing direction.

To begin with, your walks may only be a few steps at a time. That’s OK! You may need to repeat this process several times. You want your dog to carefully watch your movements; thereby following you and not the other way around. If you repeat this technique several times, and consistently give treats and praise, you’ll find your dog will begin to pay attention to you and stop trying to play tug of war.

If you already own a dog training collar that offers both positive and negative tone reinforcement, now would be a good time to use it.

Always Be Consistent

Now that you’ve made up your mind to leash train your dog, always be consistent. Without consistent boundaries, your dog won’t understand what is expected of him. Treat this as you would any other training session.

Practicing your dog’s new skills in a familiar place, such as your driveway or backyard, is the best way to start to your training. After your dog has mastered his new leash walking skills, you can experiment with longer walks in unfamiliar places.

Keep Up the Good Work

As with all dog training, teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash is an ongoing process. Don’t be discouraged if your dog isn’t instantly getting it. Patience and consistency will pay off in the long run. Don’t assume that the training ends when your dog starts walking beside you. You’ll want to continue to use the distraction technique occasionally to keep him on his toes and reinforce what you’ve taught him.

Be lavish with your praise! Dogs love being rewarded for doing the right thing. Heap on the rewards and praise when he is obeying you, and he will pay more attention to your actions.