One of the most common problems we encounter is a pulling dog on the lead. This is an extremely disruptive behaviour exhibited by the dog that discourages us from going for walks. By focusing on the effect of a tight leash, we often forget the cause of this behaviour.
Where to start?
At the outset, it is important to establish whether the pulling on the lead is due to a lack of training or whether it is already a behavioural problem. It is worth looking at when the dog pulls on the lead. For example, is it at the sight of a passing person or dog, or perhaps the dog pulls throughout the walk? Let’s analyse our walk outings, as perhaps we are inadvertently stimulating the dog, making it unable to cope with its emotions. Observation is the start of the journey, but it’s also worth going back in history.
Having had a pet from an early age, it is worth answering the question of what its socialisation process is like. Do we allow our dog to approach every dog and human?
Mistakes of youth
One of the main causes of pulling on the leash is poorly carried out socialisation. Often when we hear about socialisation we immediately have in our minds meeting every dog or human on the estate, is not a good idea. In this way, we teach the dog from the first days that I am the so-called other ends of the leash, instead of an attractive companion for excursions. It is therefore worth making a distinction between socialising and good socialising.
We often take our dog to clearings, paddocks, and meadows where he can run around with other pets. The dog learns from the patterns, so when it recognises the route, it rushes as fast as it can, because that is the only place where it has freedom. However, we must remember that we can never be sure if our pet is comfortable there. Often what we perceive as fun is not. Just because a dog is pulling us towards another dog does not mean he wants to greet him, and just because they are wagging their tails does not mean they are happy. By learning about a dog’s body language and communication, we will change our point of view 180 degrees!
We correct the mistakes and leave out the good things
With a puppy, we try to set boundaries on what he can afford and what he shouldn’t do. We reward him for doing things outside and ignore slip-ups. Building on the pattern of learning cleanliness, we can apply the same principle to learning a loose lead. Toddlers display a number of desirable behaviours that we do not reward, such as following the caregiver or paying attention. It is worth reinforcing these behaviours so that our four-legged buddy presents them more often! By ignoring them, we achieve the opposite effect.
Poorly chosen walking accessories
Few people realise, but pulling on the leash can result from a leash that is too short! Often by walking our dog on a 2-metre leash, we do not allow him to explore the area freely. At 2 metres, our pooch won’t explore much, so he tries to wrestle with us to see as much as possible. Often the guardians of small dogs choose such a leash, it is worth remembering that a small dog – just like a large one – has the need to explore the area. There are many long leashes on the market that are adapted to the size of the dog, such as special lightweight snap hooks or the material the leash is made of, it is worth looking into, as this small change may prove to be the key to success.
Automatic or traditional leash
Now that we know that leash length matters, it’s time to answer the question of whether an automatic leash is a good option. Yes and no. Such an accessory is convenient for us humans because nothing gets tangled under our feet. However, from the dog’s point of view, you have to pull in order to go forward. We don’t feel it, but our pet does. That’s why, once the leash has been pulled all the way out, the dog still pulls. Such a leash, like any other, simply has to be learnt but to start with, it can make it challenging to learn to walk on a loose leash because it is tight all the time.
Anxiety, fear, insecurity!
If we observe our dog when he pulls on the leash, we can notice that sometimes it happens at specific moments. Sometimes our pet speeds up by pulling away when he sees another dog behind the fence. It may also start to speed up when it hears a loud sound. This is a signal to us that the tugging on the leash is due to fear. In such a situation, the best thing to do is to let the dog run away from the area in question. And at home, think calmly about how you can help him in this situation. It is advisable to seek the help of a specialist who will put together an individual plan for the problem.
Summary
As we can see, one problem can have many causes, and those mentioned in the above article are not all, but the most common reasons why a dog pulls on a leash. This is why it is worth seeing a specialist who will assess the dog and choose a suitable plan of action. A poorly chosen method will not only fail to solve the problem but, in extreme cases, can make it even worse!
