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Leash Training
updated: Nov 10, 2012, 1:00 PM
Dear Poncho -
Our Beagle is fabulous with tricks: sit, stay, and high five. But even after several classes he's horrible
with leash-walking. Last week he pulled me down on a walk and I broke my foot. What's the trick to
getting him to calm down and enjoy his walk--without pulling so hard?
Thanks for any help!
Bartlet's Mom
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Dear Bartlet's Mom,
Coming from a canine's point of view, I'd say Bartlet IS enjoying his walks. It sounds more like you
might not be having the best time, especially if it's resulted in a trip to the ER with a new pair of
crutches as the consolation prize. Fortunately, I'm pretty up-to-date on the how-tos of making walkies
enjoyable for all and I'm happy to pass them along. Here are the four tenets of my Mutt Model:
Know Your Animal!
Inquisitive canines didn't invent leashes, humans did. But we pooches don't naturally grasp the concept
of walking next to the person holding the other end of the leash. That's something we have to be taught
how to do. If we haven't learned it, our lack of impulse control, plus our strength, sets the stage for the
perfect drag-you-down-the-street situation. This goes double for those breeds that have had the art of
pulling intentionally bred into them! We're also driven to go after what we want when we want it --
especially in the great outdoors. If we have to drag you along, well, fine!
Whaddya Want?
If having Barlet walk on a loose leash while being right next to you is what you want, then that's what
you'll want to teach him to do. One useful behavior to keep in your tool box is eye contact. Bartlet will
be less inclined to forge ahead, pulling you along, if he's accustomed to looking up at you for approval.
You can also try keeping him distracted by dropping the occasional treat on the ground. If he's looking
down for goodies, he's not pulling. Pretty convenient for you both.
Reward. Reward. Reward.
Reward what you want while keeping it simple--for both of you. Begin practicing in environments with
few or no distractions, then slowly add in one distraction at a time. For instance, start inside your home,
then move out to the yard and to your front walkway, then to the sidewalk.
Use higher value rewards for those times when the behavior is more difficult for him. Kibble is fine when
practicing inside your home, but use little pieces of chicken or steak when outside or in situations that
may be highly distracting.
Practice! Us dogs weren't born knowing how to walk on leash, and you humans weren't born knowing
how to use them. Practice is key when learning any new skill, especially one that can be very difficult for
us dogs, and one you humans so often want us to learn.
The Right Tools for the Job
Collars: Ideally, they should be used for licenses, ID tags, rabies tags, to attach a leash, and to match
your outfit. I highly recommend avoiding collars that are more correction-based, such as ones that
choke and poke. These pieces only focus on behaviors you humans don't want. Plus, they can be a real
pain in the neck!
Walking harness: I find the harnesses that allow the leash to attach in the front by the chest (instead of
up on our back).They tend to decrease our inclination to pull and they're more comfortable, too.
Leashes: Think short and sweet. A leash that's 4 to 6 feet long is ideal when you want your dog in close
proximity to you. The ones that are retractable tend to send us pooches mixed messages. Letting us
pull away on the leash tells us it's okay to do whatever we want, and then you yell at us to stop, or yank
us back to your side. It's confusing. I do think it's funny to watch people using the retractable leashes,
though. It reminds me of fishing.
Paws and Reflect
Focusing in on and rewarding what you want, practicing loose-leash walking while using fun techniques
to distract or reward Bartlet, and being consistent in what you are teaching him will surely help keep you
out of the ER, and bring about many good walking times together. Or, you can continue with the
suburban Iditarod.
_____________________________________________________________
Poncho Mayer is a 10-pound inquisitive canine who knows a lot about human and canine behavior.
He and his mom work together running the family business, providing dog-training services to other
inquisitive canines and their humans. For additional training and behavior tips, subscribe to their blog.
Let's connect!
www.inquisitivecanine.com
www.twitter.com/ponchothedog
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Got a question about behavior, training or daily pup life? Email Poncho directly at
advice@theinquisitivecanine.com
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