If you ALLOW leash pulling, then you AGREE with leash pulling (Photo: terrier pulling on the leash)
Does your dog pull on the leash? Drag you toward other dogs? Every tree and bush? Every cat and squirrel?
Your dog has learned that pulling forward is allowed.
What we allow, we agree with.
Every time you leave home and your dog pulls ahead of you and you follow — you AGREE that this is how we walk as a pack.
If you allow your dog to pull on the leash (by following him down the street on HIS walk,) you AGREE with the way he is walking. He will continue to walk this way until you train him to walk nicely on the leash.
This same principle applies to every aspect of your relationship with your dog.
If you allow your dog not to listen to your “Come!” command, then you agree that when you ask him to do something, he can simply ignore you. This is super dangerous, by the way — recall saves lives.
If you allow your dog to ignore your “Come,” command, you AGREE with that behaviour of ignoring you (Photo: off-leash dog stands looking at his owner)
If your dog jumps on you and you allow it, then you agree with it. The following day, when it’s raining and you’re wearing your favourite white sweater, don’t get angry and push your dog off because he put muddy paw prints on your top. You TAUGHT him to do that yesterday. He shouldn’t “know” not to do that when you’re wearing THAT sweater. And he won’t know not to jump on your nephew three days from now, or your own children (or grandchildren) three years from now.
Be consistent with your dog and expect anyone who interacts with your dog to follow your rules. You will encounter strangers who want to pet your new puppy or rescue dog. They may not mind if your dog jumps up. Heck, they may even ENCOURAGE your dog to jump up. Don’t let that happen. Speak up.
Stranger: “Can I pet your dog?”
You: “Sure. She’s in training. Please only pet her when all four feet are on the ground and she’s calm.”
If your dog struggles not to jump on people, or consistently jumps up when strangers use the baby-talk voice (you know the one!) feel free to answer: “No. Sorry. She’s in training,” and keep right on walking.
You don’t need to set your dog’s training back a step so that someone else can fulfill THEIR needs with YOUR dog.
If you pet this excited dog, you are AGREEING with EXCITEMENT and JUMPING UP (Photo: an excited mini Doodle pulls on the leash with both front feet off the ground)
TIP OF THE WEEK: It’s not how far you walk, it’s HOW you walk that matters.
Remember that quote from Madmen? “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”
Being pulled around by your dog IS a CONVERSATION. They are saying “Let’s go this way now.” If you move in their direction, you are answering as a follower, “Okay.”
If you’re tired of being pulled, STOP walking. Take a deep breath and try this.
Get your dog’s attention — say their name, make a kissy noise, or wave a treat near their nose. If you CAN’T GET THEIR ATTENTION, MOVE INSIDE YOUR HOME. Go to step 2.
Say your dog’s name, and the word heel. “Sally, heel.” Start walking. You should still have her attention on you, not the ground (sniffing.)
As soon as she is in position, beside or slightly behind your knee, say “Good heel.”
Change direction BEFORE Sally gets distracted by a scent (rabbit, squirrel) or sight (another dog — or your cat, if you’re working inside) Don’t forget to say the command, “Sally, heel.”
If Sally keeps heeling, say “Good heel.” If she doesn’t, use a leash correction to remind her “Hey, we’re walking where I want today. I’m actually really sick of having a sore back and we’re trying this new awesome way of walking.”
You don’t need a lot of space for this activity. Think of it as a ten foot by ten foot square. Sometimes you will turn toward your dog, and sometimes you will turn away from your dog.
Leadership is a feeling. It comes from within. Anyone can do it! (Photo: toddler walks terrier — the terrier is following/heeling)
PRO TIP: There should be NO tension on the leash during this activity.
If I were to offer this toddler any advice, it would be to relax their right arm. When you work with your dog at home, don’t make an L-shape with your arm. Your arm should be relaxed and by your side.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time to teach your dog to heel. Try five minutes a day for a week inside your home and tell us how it goes in the comments.
Be sure to have fun with this challenge. Dogs and people learn better when they are having a good time.
The reason it’s easier to practice INDOORS is because OUTSIDE has WAY MORE DISTRACTIONS. It smells AWESOME to your dog outside. This means that YOU have to compete to be extra awesome in the eyes of your dog when you are outside.
Inside there are less distractions. Work up to heeling outside gradually. You will reach your goal!
Have fun with it!
Alyssa
Photos by: freestocks (terrier pulling on the leash,) Matt Bradford-Aunger (off-leash dog stands looking at his owner,)
Honest Paws (an excited mini Doodle pulls on the leash with both front feet off the ground,) and Robert Eklund (toddler walks terrier — the terrier is following/heeling.)