Dog trainer shares simple method for teaching your pet to walk on a leash without pulling (with remarkable ease)
In the world of canine training, one skill that every dog owner should aim to master is walking their furry friend on a long leash. Ella Camps-Linney and Alistair Mackenzie, the co-owners of Kirby Dog Training, have shared valuable tips to help you achieve this.
One common mistake dog owners make is pulling on the leash. To correct this, it's essential to hold the leash loosely and redirect the dog's attention with a command or a treat. If tension arises on the leash, lure the pup back to your side and start again.
Another common error is lunging or darting. This can be addressed by practicing lead mechanics and reward placement at home before attempting training. If there's tension on the leash, lure the pup back to your side and start again.
Not paying attention is a third common mistake. To fix this, make sure to reinforce the dog frequently at first, but gradually increase the duration and distance between treats. Let your dog stop and sniff, but reward them generously when they look up at you after sniffing.
Our dogs' sense of smell is much stronger than ours, and they use sniffing to make sense of their world. So, it's crucial to allow your dog to stop and sniff occasionally. Reward your dog generously when they look up at you after sniffing.
When it comes to rewards, variety is the spice of life. Rolling treats on the floor or giving dogs the chance to catch treats can help mix up rewards. They also recommend reinforcing the dog frequently at first when teaching it to keep the leash slack, but gradually increasing the duration and distance between treats.
Equipment differentiation is important for loose-leash walking practice. According to Camps-Linney and Mackenzie, Pasha uses a back-clip harness for practice and a front-clip for non-training sessions.
Lastly, it's important to note that there is advice available on how to stop a dog from pulling on a leash. Bring plenty of treats for training and hand them out generously when the dog is walking by your side or when the leash is slack.
In addition to these tips, Camps-Linney and Mackenzie also address issues in leadership at Lockmast. They recommend improving clarity in messaging, setting specific, measurable objectives, and fostering active participation and feedback to address the three most common errors: poor communication, lack of clear goals, and insufficient team engagement.
With these tips in mind, you're well on your way to training your dog to walk properly on a long leash. Happy training!
){kind=link}