So what do I do when my dog is pulling?
We’re on Day 3 so let’s recap what we’ve been working on:
- Walking your dog every day- by now your dog should have started to feel like this is routine and it should be taking away some of the excitement for them. Remember dogs thrive on routine and when you consistently provide calm and engaging walks, they will start to make it part of their everyday life too.
- Asking them to wait- every time, every door. Your dog should be waiting to come outside and even to go back inside. This lets them know they earn what they want by first listening to you! It also creates a safety barrier for dogs who tend to bolt.
- Asking for focus on demand- Keep working on this command for 2-3 minutes every day, multiple times a day. At least in the morning and at night. An easy way to do this is at feeding time. Use their kibble to get their focus before you actually feed them. They’ll be sure to give you their attention and it doesn’t take too long!
Now that we’ve recapped and you’re on the right track- you might still be saying, but Randi- I’ve just been drug around for 3 days now! Remember, we’re training for a marathon, not a sprint- so don’t get discouraged!
However, if you’ve been consistently drug around here’s where we’re going to really work to change that. Since every dog is an individual, you’ll have to try each of these techniques to see what works best for your dog. Some dogs do best with a combination of them, others do best with just one repetitious behavior. So try them all and then keep doing what works!
- First, I want you to take a deep breath and check in with yourself. Are your shoulders relaxed? Is your head held high? Are you breathing calmly? All of these things make up the energy that you are feeding directly to your dog down the leash. Be sure you are staying calm and your energy is positive when working through these challenges.
- When your dog is pulling, stop and ask for the look command to bring them back to you. Slowly progress from them stopping and looking at you, to walking and looking at you, all while maintaining a loose leash.
- If your dog has suddenly turned deaf and can’t hear you asking for their focus, quickly turn around and start going in the other direction. Simultaneously tell them ‘heel’ or whatever command you’ve chosen. Frequent direction changes that interrupt their focus and pulling in one direction forces them to follow you again, rather than you following them. Be sure to mark them with a ‘yes’ when they change direction with you and when the leash is loose.
- Start asking them for repeated, simple obedience commands. A sit here, a down there, or a sit and stay to the end of the leash. With the stay, make sure they return to a sit when they make their way back to you. Doing this takes their mind off of dragging you around and makes them have to think more.
- Try jogging with them. When you can’t beat them- join them! Some dogs just need to burn off a little steam. I am by no means a jogger– like I can’t jog down the street. But I find when I do jog for little spurts with Rooster and pair it with a direction change when I’m ready to start walking again, it helps burn some of his energy and also gives him what he wants- to be able to just go!
Okay so you’re ready for Day 3 and to really start changing the pulling mindset armed with new techniques, right?! Get out there, have some fun and remember I’m always here if you need me!
