Is Your Dog Walking You

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. Every time your dog begins to run or walk ahead of you, quickly turn around and begin walking the other way. When he obeys and returns to your side, be sure to follow up with praise and/or 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.

Your first couple of walks may actually be just a few steps, back and forth. Don’t get discouraged, repeat the process as many times as necessary until your dog understands what you want him to do. The idea is that you want your dog to be paying attention to you and your movements. 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 have a dog training collar that has both positive and negative tone reinforcement, now would be a great time to put it to use.

Always Be Consistent

Now that you’ve made up your mind to leash train your dog, always be consistent. If you don’t establish consistent rules, your dog will become confused. Treat your leash walking exercises as you would any other obedience 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. Once you’re confident your dog understands what’s expected of him, begin taking longer walks in less familiar 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.

Don’t be stingy with the praise and treats! Dogs instinctively want to please their owner and love being rewarded and praised for obeying. Be generous with your praise and offer rewards when your dog is doing the right thing; he will be encouraged to continue payinging attention to you.