 ABOUT LEASH PULLING PROBLEMS Leash pulling is a popular problem among dogs and owners. How often do we hear things like: "My dog pulls like a madman...as soon as we go outside, he goes crazy and I can't control him!" or "Whenever my dog sees another dog or person, he freaks out lunging like a maniac. I don't know what gets into him!". Actually, pulling on the leash is a learned and reinforced behavior that we owners must take responsability for. For the love and sake of our dogs, let's learn how to deal with this issue appropriately, by teaching proper leash walking methods before the problem gets out of hand or by remedying to the situation if it has already gotten out of hand! Health problems associated with pulling and jerking the leash: -Injuries that can damage the thryroid gland, the neck and the back -Injuries/damage to your dog's skeletal structure -Blindness, poor sight or even brain damage can occur because of constant jerking This is definitely a cause for concern. We all care about the health and well-being of our companions, and with this information now available to us, we can work to remedy the situation. A well-fitting harness is the best way to ensure your dog's health wil not be affected by the pulling and jerking injuries discussed above. We must also train ourselves to stop jerking and pulling our dogs, and teach them how to walk properly on a leash. This must be done through positive reinforcement only or it will never work. Your dog can learn just about anything through positive reinforcement. SOME REASONS WHY DOGS PULL -Your dog gets something he wants when he does. He gets you to follow him. You must learn not to follow. Stop and freeze. -Your dog is trying to avoid pain. That's right, pain! When you are correcting him ( ie. pulling or jerking the leash while yelling NO in frustration) you must first slacken the leash right before you perform the jerking motion. This slack means that pain is coming right up. So, to avoid this, they pull more and more on the leash. -You are stressing out your dog. You are irritated at your dog, you are yelling or cursing at him, you are exasperated etc... Your dog wants to pull away from you as much as possible because of the stress you are causing him. You must avoid being the one your dog wants to get away from! This is teaching the dog to be afraid of you, and you are supposed to be his best friend, his guardian! -Your dog's stress level is high. HERE IS SOME GOOD TRAINING EQUIPMENT TO USE -Body harness: This takes the pressure off the neck and is much more comfortable -Leash: A 6ft soft leather leash or one made of cotton webbing is best. These are easy to adjust from long to short and vice versa. -Collar: It should be broad and made of soft material ( some are quilted ). It should not have ANY choking effect. Harnesses are better but a good collar can be a good choice. HERE IS SOME EQUIPMENT YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM -Head halters: These are very uncomfortable and annoying for many dogs. It is uncomfortable to be pulled around by the head! -Chokers ( or any collar with a choking effect ): These are very uncomfortable, painful and damaging to the neck. Dogs being choked must gasp for air so they are unable to get enough oxygen and blood circulation is interrupted. Dangerous and very painful. Dogs also associate this awful pain with whatever they are focused on at that particular moment. This very thing is a frequent cause of dogs becoming fearful of other dogs or agressive towards them. -Pinch collars: They are also very painful. They bruise and redden the skin. -Harnesses designed to tighten when your dog is pulling: These cause pain and they restrict your dog's movements which is very uncomfortable and unnatural. -Very short leashes: Very restrictive and puts pressure on throat and neck. Your cannot walk, look around and smell freely. In a nutshell, simple is best! You don't need to go around buying all kinds of gadgets and training aids. All you need is a good body harness and leash, and of course, your dog's favorite treats! You want your dog to be happy and comfortable when you go out for walks or have a training session. We shouldn't treat our dogs badly just because we are too lazy, tired or don't have time to train them properly in the first place. There is no reason why our loyal friends should pay for that. If you would like to work on this and other training issues, join a Dogzoogle class or become a member of Dogzoogle ( coming soon! ) and have access to our online training programs, must-have information and demonstrations. |
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