Quick Fixes for Common Problems: Pulling on the Leash
This is the fourth installment in a series on quick fixes for the most common behavior problems I encounter as a professional dog trainer.
Thor enjoys his morning Sniffari at the park
Leash pulling is a very common problem. There are very, very few dogs who are good at nice walking straight from the womb. Even little dogs, with short legs, seem to find a way to out-pace the Long-Shanks and hit the end of the leash.
Let me preface this week’s topic by saying that good leash manners require training. Full stop. There are some things we can change right away to help (that’s what this post is for), but nothing teaches your dog to walk nicely on a leash other than teaching.
If good leash manners require training, what can we do in the meantime? Do we just have to be miserable and sore until the training takes? Absolutely not!
Quick Fixes for Leash Pulling: Equipment Choices
Long-Line
Good leash manners require that most dogs walk slower than they would otherwise. They only have 6 feet in which to move and have to reduce their pace to match ours. Pulling happens when they don’t reduce their pace.
If I’m working with a puller, one of the first things I do (after establishing some foundation behaviors) is get them on a 25 foot line.
The longer your leash, the less often your dog will pull. Less pulling means less frustration for you and your dog.
Read more about how to do a long-line Sniffari here.
Note, some cities have regulations regarding the maximum leash length allowed on city property. Research the location and applicable laws before venturing out with your dog.
Harness
To avoid injuring your dog, it’s crucial to use a long-line in conjunction with a body harness. I like the Balance or Ruffwear Front Range. Clipping the leash to the chest ring will give you some extra leverage to stop larger dogs; clip to the chest or shoulder blades for smaller dog.
Read more about why I recommend these harnesses (and not the Easy Walk) here.
“What about prong, chain, or e-collars? Won’t those stop the pulling?”
These tools increase the dog’s stress level and create bad associations with things in the environment so I don’t recommend them. Read more about that here.