Loose Leash Walking.
Almost every client who walks through my training building door has a “leash-walking” problem.
There are a couple of reasons for this.The primary reason is that the owner and dog do not have a good system of communication.The dog is much more interested in the exciting smells he/she is experiencing along the walk and controls the walk by pulling the human along like a ski-boat.
The second reason why dogs pull on the leash is because of the “opposition reflex”. We all have an “opposition reflex”. If someone grabs your arm and yanks you forward, your body instantly counters that force by opposing it or pulling backwards to maintain your balance. When you pull back on a dog’s collar, the dog counters that force by pulling forward.
By beginning a training program that teaches dog and human to communicate, the dog is going to respond to the human more and more, even out on walks. By building a toolbox of useful cues that the dog will respond to you will have something to work with on your walks that will replace the pulling behavior. The more you practice with your dog, the more the dog looks to you for direction. Think of this as educating your dog.
Teaching your dog “heel” position and how to move in “heel” position will also greatly reduce leash pulling on walks.
Having good equipment on your dog like a well designed front-attach harness can significantly reduce pulling on the leash. A head halter like a Gentle Leader or a Halti will also help to make your walks more enjoyable. But if you want your dog to walk nicely on a flat collar, this is something that has to be taught.
Positive Reinforcement Training changes dogs. Knowledge is power! Start training!