Controlling Your Dog on a Leash

Sometimes, getting your dog to cooperate while on a leash can seem like an impossible task. There are many dogs that could care less about a leash and will be extremely stubborn about leash training. Typical behaviour includes backing up and trying to slip the head through the collar, stopping completely and lying down, thrashing about wildly, screaming, submissive, urination/defecation, etc. So what can you do to get your dog to cooperate while on a leash? There are several things that you can do to help yourself and your dog become better trained in this process. Leash training is something that is difficult in some cases and may need intervention by someone professional.

The most important thing is to begin at an early age. I cannot stress how important this is. When you teach a puppy, it becomes easier later in life for you because it is less of a struggle. At a young age, the puppy has not had any chance to get away with bad behaviour and will learn much faster. If, even at a young age, you are struggling with the leash training, you can always opt to have a professional trainer help you. At older ages, leash training becomes much more difficult due to the development of bad behaviour and what your dog thinks he/she can get away with.

In older dogs, the most important aspect of leash training is making your dog aware that you are the one that is in complete control. They need to know that they cannot get away with anything and that bad leash behaviour is unacceptable. To do this, move the leash higher up on the neck, just behind the jaw. Now, when you walk him/her and you begin to see undesirable behaviour, simply give the leash a good tug. You should see a positive response to this action. Every time you see your dog act up on the leash, continue to pull on the leash (short quick tugs that are firm enough to get your dog's attention). This should help immensely in training your dog to cooperate on a leash. As stated earlier, if your dog knows who is in control, which should be you, then the likelihood of them acting up is less. If you are still unable to train your dog on the leash, you should consult with your veterinarian for recommendations or speak with a professional trainer.