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Loose Leash Training The Most Effective Way To Train Your Dog (part 3)
Walking Toward A Goal
On any walking route, certain places are especially attractive to dogs. When dogs near those places, their excitement increases and the urge to pull is strong. You can use those places both as walking goals and training rewards.
Start toward the attractive goal, such as a bush or clump of grass where all the neighborhood dogs leave Âpee-mailÂ. As soon as your dog starts to pull, stop walking. Stand still one second so the dog is fully stopped, too, then turn around and neutrally (non-grouchily) walk your dog five paces farther from the goal. Remember that spot, because that will be your starting line for this training session.
Stand there for a second, then start walking toward the goal again and repeat the lesson. The instant you feel leash tightness, stop walking, pause for one second, then retreat to the start line again. After that happens a few times, your dog will figure out how this game operates, and will be able to take a couple of steps closer to the goal each time. When you finally reach the goal, encourage your dog to sniff, and give it a few minutes to enjoy that spot.
Be Unpredictable
Sometimes the Stop-N-Go method (or Tree Method) doesn't always work on every dog at first because your pooch may not be paying attention. This happened to me personally with my third puppy. At first I tried the Stop-N-Go technique. Although I found this method worked well for my other two dogs when they were puppies, it had little effect on my larger, more energetic Retriever.
Looking for a workable method, I reasoned that if I wanted my dog to pay attention to what I was trying to teach it, then he should behave in an interesting way. This is when I came up with the crazy walk, so to speak.
This is best done in an open space, not a narrow sidewalk. The crazy walk is erratic. I would take one step straight ahead, one 45 degrees to the left, one backward, two straight ahead, one side-step to the right, and so on.
At the same time, I also varied the length of my steps and the time interval between them. When the dog is sufficiently puzzled that it starts paying constant attention, I gradually start increasing the number of steps straight ahead. Eventually, the side and backward steps are eliminated.
It may take several weeks of training the crazy walk for your dog to learn that pulling doesn't get it where it wants to go. After it's learned to not pull, your puppy may still become excited at times and resume pulling. Use the crazy walk at these times to remind your puppy that it needs to pay attention to you, instead of pulling.
BONUS : Loose-Leash Training: The Most Effective Way To Train Your Dog (Part 4)
When on-leash, your dog needs to learn to walk with you, not against you. To keep the leash loose, the dog needs to stay tuned to your verbal and hand signals, and pace itself to your speed.
Michelle Kirk, a local pet sitter in Pacific Beach of San Diego, California, uses a training clicker (a small plastic device that makes a clicking sound when you push a button) and treats to teach dogs to walk on a loose leash. Start in a quiet area without many distractions. Begin walking, but stop when the dog reaches the end of the leash, before it actually starts pulling.
Stand still, watching for the moment the dog shifts its attention back to you. ÂAt the first sign of the dog turning its head in your direction, click, Michelle says. ÂThen walk slowly backwards as the dog approaches you to claim its reward. Hand it the treat when it reaches you, then turn in a different direction and start walking. Repeat this sequence any time the dog goes to the end of the leash.Â
Michelle notes that it's important to stop before the leash becomes tight. This way the dog learns to check in with you when it feels slight leash pressure. After you teach this in a quiet place, practice walking in new areas with gradually increasing distractions.
Regain Attention & Reward
One of the top dog training centers in San Diego, California teaches its students to make it rewarding for their dogs to walk near them. When the dog gets to the end of the leash, the trainer stops walking, then encourages the dog to come back to him. When it does, the trainer makes a happy fuss over the dog and gives it a treat.
Then the trainer encourages the dog to walk a few steps at his side and rewards it. After that, he allows it to relax, sniff and check things out, showing the dog places that might hold interesting scents, repeated as often as necessary.
Tip: A Quick Note About Collar Choices
A lesson on leash walking wouldn't be complete without making a few collar recommendations. In essence, there are two basic collar types  those that constrict when the leash is pulled and those that don't.
Obviously, the preferred collar we recommend for loose-leash training (or any training for that matter) is the non-constricting type, simply because they cause less discomfort and no potential injury to the dog. They are made of leather or fabric, and they fasten around the dog's neck with either a buckle or quick-release snap.
When on-leash, your dog needs to learn to walk with you, not against you. To keep the leash loose, the dog needs to stay tuned to your verbal and hand signals, and pace itself to your speed.
Michelle Kirk, a local pet sitter in Pacific Beach of San Diego, California, uses a training clicker (a small plastic device that makes a clicking sound when you push a button) and treats to teach dogs to walk on a loose leash. Start in a quiet area without many distractions. Begin walking, but stop when the dog reaches the end of the leash, before it actually starts pulling.
Stand still, watching for the moment the dog shifts its attention back to you. ÂAt the first sign of the dog turning its head in your direction, click, Michelle says. ÂThen walk slowly backwards as the dog approaches you to claim its reward. Hand it the treat when it reaches you, then turn in a different direction and start walking. Repeat this sequence any time the dog goes to the end of the leash.Â
Michelle notes that it's important to stop before the leash becomes tight. This way the dog learns to check in with you when it feels slight leash pressure. After you teach this in a quiet place, practice walking in new areas with gradually increasing distractions.
Regain Attention & Reward
One of the top dog training centers in San Diego, California teaches its students to make it rewarding for their dogs to walk near them. When the dog gets to the end of the leash, the trainer stops walking, then encourages the dog to come back to him. When it does, the trainer makes a happy fuss over the dog and gives it a treat.
Then the trainer encourages the dog to walk a few steps at his side and rewards it. After that, he allows it to relax, sniff and check things out, showing the dog places that might hold interesting scents, repeated as often as necessary.
Tip: A Quick Note About Collar Choices
A lesson on leash walking wouldn't be complete without making a few collar recommendations. In essence, there are two basic collar types  those that constrict when the leash is pulled and those that don't.
Obviously, the preferred collar we recommend for loose-leash training (or any training for that matter) is the non-constricting type, simply because they cause less discomfort and no potential injury to the dog. They are made of leather or fabric, and they fasten around the dog's neck with either a buckle or quick-release snap.
