Walking to heel / walking on the leash. Another training hot topic. So many dogs pull when out walking on the leash, and it can make a walk frustrating and make us feel tense, flustered and exhausted. How do we combat this, without setting up a battle between handler and dog? A few tips, all positive reinforcement-based: 1. ALWAYS have treats with you when out for a walk - and plenty of them. Reward your dog very often at first - even as much as every two or three steps when they are walking to heel or alongside you. As the period of time that they walk beside you increases, reduce the frequency of the treats but always be praising them. The sound of your voice, coupled with the leash, builds the connection between you. 2. As with all training, reward ANY and ALL attention your dog gives you, whether that is listening to you, making eye contact with you or any other kind of positive interaction. When your dog receives rewards or praise for giving you his attention, he will want to do it more frequently and stay close to you. 3. Change it up! Keep your dog on her toes. Change the speed at which youre walking. Stop, slow down and change direction. This will keep your dog from being able to anticipate your movements and trying to get ahead of you. Every time she stays with you, reward her, verbally and with a treat. 4. RELAX! Your dog can feel any tension or anxiety you may be feeling, through the lead. Just as gripping the steering wheel tightly when driving gives you less control and less ability to feel the road and react accordingly, having constant tension and pressure on the leash will set up rigidity and a battle between you and your dog. Give him some length in the leash. Let him occasionally stop and sniff, and explore his environment. If you do not permit him to do this, you are inhibiting his natural instincts and he will likely pull more rather than explore and come back to you. When he moves away to sniff a scent or mark his territory, allow him to do so and then reward him immediately he comes back to you. 5. Be vigilant. If you have a relaxed but firm contact with the leash, you know what your dog is doing because you can feel it. You need to be looking ahead, anticipating any distractions she might encounter and making an informed decision on how to deal with those distractions given your dogs character and behaviours. If you encounter a distraction that your dog pulls toward and refuses to come back, turn and walk in the opposite / a different direction. When she catches back up to you, reward her. 6. Take a break. When your dog least expects it, stop. Have them sit or down. Make sure they are engaged with you. Reward whatever commands you have given that they have obeyed and, when you are ready and your dog is focused on you, start walking again. Most importantly and, as always, remember to have lots of patience and give lots of praise. It takes time to build up good communication and a strong bond with your dog. But if you put in the effort, you will be rewarded in spades :-)
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:04:01 +0000
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