The age old question of what is the best way to stop my dog pulling on a lead.
The answer for me is very simple, but for someone who is struggling and has struggled for a long time to stop their dog pulling so much on their walk is pretty frustrating!
In a world of information overload it only takes you a simple google or youtube search to break your brain. How can you watch 3 x 10 min videos, all with loads of views and get 3 different answers???
So what is the answer to the best way to stop a dog from pulling? It is simply spending time to train your dog.
Yes, occasionally changing to a different harness or face halti thing or any other money costing contraption might help some people, but it's rarely that simple for most.
When I go to initial training sessions I'm more often than not greeted with at least 3 or 4 alternative ways the client has tried to stop their dog pulling on the lead! What you attach to your dog is irrelevant.
Here is some of my personal words (Non ChatGPT) of "wisdom" to add to the confusing and emotionally argumentative word of dog training...
Your dog pulling is not the issue. It is the final/end result of a dog that is over stimulated, frustrated and un focused on you.
I can guarantee that if we take a look at the steps leading up to the dog pulling on your walks, we will find the same things are happening over and over. These things are already setting your dog up to pulling.
Ready for me to sound like I'm watching you prepare to take your dog for a walk? Don't get creeped out, the following is consistent at virtually every private session I go to, regardless of the dogs age or breed. Regardless of the region. Regardless of if the home has 1 person or 10 people living there.
You're still at this point focused on the fact your dog pulls on the lead on your walks, but let's go backwards...
When I mention "over stimulated" for the rest of this dogblog, it means -
- Over excited
- Over anxious
- Focused on anything other than you
- Triggers completely take over the dogs focus
- The Human becomes irrelevant
- Waving a treat in front of the dog's face and it ducks its head out of the way to stay focused on the target!
Almost every dog that pulls on a lead is over stimulated at even the sound or sight of their lead or harness. Most of the owners of these dogs can't even put a shoe on without the dog getting over stimulated. I also guarantee most of these owners can no longer say the word "walk" in their homes, and now either spell it out or call it the "W" word. (The dog is clueing onto this too!)
This dog goes onto the lead over stimulated, then all it takes is a microscopic bit of momentum toward the door and the dog is pulling and over stimulated.
Then you get to the door and the dog is so over stimulated that it has its faced wedged at the opening of the door, ready to shove its face through the second the door opens slightly. You are non existent to this over stimulated dog and and you haven't even left your home!
Your dog is now finally at the footpath and guess what - still over stimulated! Your dog is over stimulated by the world and you are irrelevant to this over stimulated dog. This dog is already pointing in the direction of your usual walk and the pulling is happening whether you like it or not.
Dogs think differently to us. We know that if the dog just stopped pulling it would be a much nicer walk for both of you. The dog doesn't care about the pulling. They just want to see the world. When dogs feel resistance they tend to just pull against it more. They can get into a habit of pulling because that's what they do on their walk, that's what they have always done of their walk. They don't understand that they don't have to pull.
So what are some things we can try to stop the pulling?
Desensitise your dog of the thing you walk it on. Pick up the lead/harness etc. throughout the day and don't walk the dog. Once your dog starts to react less to the initial stages of the walk, they will be more calm and the chances of the dog being able to be more focused on you is going to be higher.
Add a few extra walks in EACH DAY! Yes, walk your dog more often but forget about the big walk you usually do and simply do some good engaging walks around your home. Add plenty of sits, drops, stays etc. to remind the dog that being engaged with you can also be just as fun and exciting as the rest of the world. These walks can literally be for just a few minute's until your dog has calmed down and regained its focus on YOU!
Allow your dog time to calm down before going past each trigger. Put the lead on dog and wait until it calms down a little and looks at you. Just stand in silence until the overstimulated dog calms down and remembers you exist and looks at you. Then do this at the front door. Then do this once you get outside the front door. Then do this when you get to the foot path. And so on. An over stimulated do is so hard to communicate to.
Don't pull against the dog on your walks and stop having a planned route. Go to an open area and walk in zig zag motions. As soo as the dog pulls in it's focused direction change your direction and praise as soon as the dog chooses to follow you. The more you do this the more your dog will likely start to naturally gravitate to you because your dog is more calm and you are worth focusing on.
Try a long line lead. These can be a game changer to pulling dogs. The amount of times I have had a pulling dog and swapped it to a 5 metre lead and let the dog have the full length and the dog only walks 2 metres away and simply stops is amazing. Most dogs pull because there is resistance, but when there is no resistance the dog has no idea what to do. They know they are on a lead, but have no idea what to do with their "freedom" and the focus comes back to you! Praise them when they look to you and call them back and they will probably do so.... this is also called RECALL TRAINING! Long Lines are the best and the best are Australian made Long Lines made with Australian made webbing by an Australia dog trainer who does Recall Training Classes in Australia - Buy one here!
If you walk your dog on a harness and they pull, trial walking them simply with a lead to their collar. A lot of dogs will associate the harness with pulling as that's what they ALWAYS pull on. Changing to a collar walk can often have no association with pulling... and visa versa. This can somethings help a little with some dogs. I really really don't like Halti's or face things as most dogs hate them, which is why they'll drag their faces across gravel and grass to get rid of them. They can also instill even more fear to an already anxious dog. resulting in even more reactivity on a lead... more on this in a future dogblog.
If you want to have a dog that trots calmly next to you, gazing up at you like you are the most important thing in their world, be the most important thing in their world. Be kind to your dog, keep your dog calm, reward your dog often when they do the things you like. Engage with your dog more often even if it's for a few minutes here and there throughout the day. Do lots more engaging training with them. 10 x 2 minute engaging training sessions throughout a day is better than just one 45 minute walking battle!
Shorten your walks but do more of them each day where possible!
Slip leads can also help, but depending on the emotion state of who you speak to or come in contact with about them might determine your thoughts on them. I've spoken to people who love them, and people that hate them and think they are cruel and made to choke. I have ZERO opinion of them. Make up your own mind.
Choker chains? Yes I understand you have had a German Sheppard since the 80s and Yes I know you are a member of a German Sheppard club. I understand you've always used them. But if you're not this person, Put a choker chain on a dog correctly and have it walk on a lose lead it will not choke the dog. Put it on a dog incorrectly on a dog that pulls and it will choke the dog. Seek actual knowledgeable guidance before using one.
Reach out to a local dog trainer or dog club and seek advice there. Watch some videos and trial one thing at a time and be consistent at it! Don't trial 4 different things within 1 walk. It won't do anything but make your walk even more confusing and frustrating for you and your dog.
I have only ever used a lead attached to a collar. From Working Kelpies to Deaf Dalmatians. The trick was training them to be calm and focused without getting OVER STIMULATED by random triggers.
Jump on social media, look at some shorts or videos, read the comments, get involved in the arguments, work yourself up, destroy your mental state and go back to your real life more frustrated, moody and less happy. Notice how I don't have a lot to do with social media and videos etc... I refuse to let the general public affect the way I am as a Father, Husband and Dog owner (I'm not a Pawrent) The less active I am on social media the happier I am! Ok this dot point was just a vent on how much I dislike social media and what it has turned the human race into. Dogs are better than humans.
Give your dog a pat for me!
Cheers, Scott
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