How Do I Stop My Dog From Pulling on the Leash?

1. How do I stop my dog from pulling on the leash?

My name is Josh Schermer and I run Downtown Pets a New York City dog walking, dog training and pet sitting company in Lower Manhattan. Some of my clients have the greatest dogs in the world and they love them on all levels EXCEPT when it comes to taking them for a walk. This of course is a big problem because let alone how fun it is to take a walk with your dog it is also essential for their long term health and happiness.

2. Why is my dog pulling?

First of all it is inherent in most dogs to try and be the pack leader and the pack leader walks in front. But have you always allowed your dog to feel like the pack leader both on the leash and at home? Does your dog walk through doors, into elevators and on the leash in front of you? All of these things tell your dog that it is your pack leader and that must be changed.

3. Why does my dog pull away from me as I try and pull him towards me?

There is a reflex action in a dogs brain that does this. There are products like the gentle leader that trick the dog by putting pressure on all side of it's head so it stays centered. But we only recommend gentle leaders for aggressive dogs and even then only if the dog does not try and continue to pull.

4. What type of leash should I use and how should I hold it?

We DO NOT recommend using retractable leashes but rather your typical nylon leash with a push lever. We put knots in our leashes starting a foot or so up from the clip and then every few inches afterwards. Hold your leash at the first or second lowest knot and ALWAYS hold it there. Your dog will grow to understand the boundary you have created.

5. What should I do when my dog tries to pull past me?

Start to utter sounds of disapproval like "ah, ah, ah" and stop dead in your tracks. Do that EVERY TIME your dog tries to pull past you. Between that and holding the leash at the lowest knot it should help.

6. What type of equipment do you recommend to use with the above ideas?

We recommend sensation harness' for most dogs.

I have fallen in love with a product called the "sensation harness" and it has had instant effects on all dogs we have used it with. It's different than your normal harness because you clip the leash on the chest. There are many benefits from the sensation harness and some of them are:

A. Dogs like the simplicity of it.

B. If on properly and your leash is held correctly, the dog can not pull past you.

C. Amazingly effective in bringing a dog back into your mentality.

D. Has not to this point been attributed with any possible health problems like all other dog training equipment have.

7. What should I use for an aggressive dog who pulls?

If you have an aggressive dog you should think about a gentle leader. If the gentle leader is on properly and you are holding the leash short and tight your dog has limited to no ability to harm anything. This is because when he tries to leap the gentle leader tightens and closes his mouth. BUT if your aggressive dog continues to try and pull the gentle leader even after many weeks it's NOT a long-term solution for you. Gentle leaders can cause problems to the eyes and neck if not used properly.

8. How long should it take for my dog to walk better?

Every dog and owner are different but if you are consistent with the above AND give your dog enough exercise you should see improvements within the first month.

Josh Schermer is the founder and owner of Downtown Pets, a New York City dog walking, dog training and animal welfare resource.

http://www.DowntownPet.com

Stop Your Big Dog From Pulling On The Leash

Anyone that has walked an unruly big dog knows the feeling. "If I stop paying attention for a second, I'll be bouncing around at the end of this leash like a cartoon character!" It's no fun, and it can truly be dangerous. But through leash training, you can gain control of your dog.

First things first. Determining the pack leader is even more important with a big dog, since they can overpower you. You don't want to get into a power struggle with your dog, so you need to teach him that you're in charge. This is something you should really practice even at home before you go for a walk. Try some of these suggestions:

• Eat first. The pack leader wouldn't let a lower dog eat before he did, so you shouldn't either. Finish your dinner, then feed him. And have him sit in front of the bowl before you fill it up. He will start to see that you control when he eats.


• Go through doorways, up stairs, and into elevators in front of the dog. Never let him lead. That will just reinforce that he's in charge. If he pushes past you, turn around and return to where you were, and try again.


• Never get into a situation where the dog is looking down at you (such as from the top of the stairs). This is a classic dominant position

Once you've worked on establishing yourself as the pack leader, you need to practice on the leash. Consider using a harness, as it will put less stress on the dogs' neck if you are forced to pull to restrain him. I also recommend using a 6' leather leash. Put knots in the leash about every foot. Then, hold the leash by the first or second lowest knot. This forces the dog to stay right near you, instead of getting ahead. From there, you can try one of the several leash training methods, such as stop-start, or keeping them guessing.

To read more about these methods, you can visit PeacefulPets [http://peacefulpets.wordpress.com].

Becca O'Malley is a pet lover, and writes for the blog [http://peacefulpets.wordpress.com]