We all have that friend, relative, or rival
who walks their dog with expert leash-wielding skills. They aren’t being pulled
down the block, tied 'round trees, or tangled up with the friendly neighbor dog
who’s also out for an afternoon stroll. I don’t know about you, but I silently
envy the person and pet that can walk side-by-side without breaking a sweat.
And I have to admit, good leash walking
skills are important for more than just showing off your pet-parent talents.
“From a relationship perspective,” explains
Sarah Fraser, a certified professional dog trainer and co-founder of Instinct
Behavior & Training in New York City, “if your dog is walking nicely on a
leash, it likely means that your dog is paying more attention to you, making it
easier for you to provide direction and guidance as needed along your walk.”
A leash-puller can also run the risk of
accidentally breaking away from your grip, which can pose multiple dangers to
your pet if he or she continues to run, not to mention the danger for yourself
if you end up face-first on the sidewalk. Having proper leash manners minimizes
the risk that you will be pulled over in a moment of overzealous leash yanking
and will make the time more about walking and less about tug-of-war.
“Teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash
allows you to take her more places and for longer walks, because it’s more
comfortable and enjoyable for the both of you,” Fraser says.
Tips
for Better Walking Behavior
Whether your dog is big or small, here are
six ways to improve your dog’s behavior on a leash:
Adjust
your attitude.
First, ask yourself: “What would I like him
or her to do instead?” Instead of teaching a dog to stop pulling, think of it
as teaching your dog how to walk nicely beside you.
Remember
it’s all about the rewards.
One of the easiest and most effective ways
to start teaching a dog to walk properly on a dog leash is to reward the dog
for paying attention to you and for being in the desired position (next to you
or close to you) when out for a walk.
“As the dog learns that walking next to you
is a pleasant, rewarding experience, she’ll spend less time pulling and more
time walking nicely beside you,” says Fraser. Try using very special treats in
the beginning, like small pieces of boiled chicken or roast beef, to really get
your dog’s attention, she advises.
If you are worried about spoiling your pup's
meals you can use pieces of dehydrated dog food or freeze-dried dog food from
your pup's daily meals. That will help you to make sure you are not overfeeding
your dog while also supplying them with tasty incentives for good behavior.
Play
the “follow me” game.
Hold on to your leash and take several
backward steps away from your dog. The backward movement is inviting, so your
dog is likely to turn and follow you. Say “yes!” as your dog approaches you,
then immediately reward him or her with a treat.
“The game helps your dog focus and move with
you,” says Fraser. Then back away several steps in another direction. Once
again, says “yes!” as your dog approaches and reward him or her with a treat.
Repeat this pattern eight to 12 times, until your dog is actively pursuing you
when you move away.
Practice
on your regular walks.
Once you’ve started your stride, each time
your dog looks up at you or walks next to you, says “yes!” and immediately
reward him or her with a treat.
Reward
often.
“Frequent rewards will help your dog figure
out more quickly what behavior you’re looking for and make the learning process
easier for her,” Fraser explains.
“The trick to making this work is using very
special treats at first, and keeping your rate of reinforcement high, which
just means that you are marking and rewarding often—maybe every 4-5 steps at
first—for any and all ‘good’ leash behavior.”
Over time, you can thin out your rate of
reinforcement, rewarding your dog less frequently throughout the course of the
walk, Fraser adds.
Consider
additional assistance.
“If your dog is already a practiced puller,
consider purchasing a quality front clip harness to provide extra control on
walks,” Fraser recommends. But if your dog already pulls hard with a no pull
dog harness, consider working with a certified, positive reinforcement-based
trainer.
Finally, remember that walking on a leash is
a skill that takes time and practice for both the pet parent and dog, so
celebrate incremental improvements and successes!
Hope this can help you protect you and your
pet. If you enjoyed it and would like to see more news, do not hesitate to
visit Happy & Polly website on https://happyandpolly.com.
Comments
Post a Comment