It could be very hard to prevent your dog from lugging that leash while walking him. Only having a dog leash will not help solve this problem. If you bought a dog harness or a leash, you need tips to handle it too. No doubt an automatic harness is safe for controlling dogs, but the main problem at hand won’t be solved. The automatic harness is merely there to prevent sudden shock and can harm the trachea of the dog in severe cases. The best it can do is to retain your dog, and the method is not advisable for your dog. In order to have the best, here are 10 leash pulling training tips using a dog harness for you.
Your dog is expected to tug on a collar or leash because of something called the dog’s opposing reflex, when your pup is in the opposite direction, intuitively he will try to tug, no matter what. Your dog might tug the harness too because he’s too enthusiastic or lacks focus. To avoid this difficulty, and for correction of this behavior, here are. Some recommendations are below to help you not drag your dog with a dog harness (instead of a leash).
- Choose the right Hardware
In dog leash tugging training, the appropriate equipment can make a huge difference. Buy a harness with a strong, dependable leash, which should be about 4-6 ft. long. This length gives your dog the flexibility to walk and allows you to control him closely without any restrictions. Don’t use a shrinking leash as it may be harmful to your dog.
- Use a non-pulling harness
While you can teach your dog not to pull a conventional harness as well as a leash, it may take longer than usual. If your animal is a powerful puller, you also risk more. Select a no-pull grip from the start, which simplifies and saves leash pulling effort. Ensure that the harness is properly secured on your dog before taking him out. Let your dog become used to the harness for a while. These tips will prevent the dog with the harness from running about your house uncontrollably.
If your dog is uncomfortable, make sure it fits well, thank him for his patience, and make him feel comfortable to assist him in getting acclimated to the harness. You may buy several varieties of dog wear, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. There is a kind of balance of each product that you have to find. Choose the one you know will be comfortable for your dog and will be easy to stay with for your particular dog.
- Teach basic commands
This is a blend of two commands: sitting and staying. The ‘sit’ command first trains your dog to be secured at a place. To do this exercise, start with a treat for your dog. Hold the reward, move your dog’s nose closer, and move your hand gradually, so your dog’s head will also move along with your hand. If the dog takes the position of a natural sitter, give the command ‘sit.’ Give your dog a treat as he masters this activity.
When the instruction ‘sit’ is finished, teach them the command ‘stay’. Open the palm of your hand to your dog and then command ‘stay’ when your dog is in a natural stance sitting down. Continue the workout by going away from your dog gradually, and then say “stay.” Give a treat or love to your dog for an excellent job. Repeat until the exercise is finished.
- Make him tired before training
It is best to utilize your dog’s extra energy while playing or exercising before you begin your leash pulling training. Through his leash, he won’t be inclined to get the best of his walk. Play tug-of-war or have some random activities for a while because this game can make your dog-tired fast. Begin the walking order with your right hand holding the dog leash. Allow your dog to remain on your left. Hold the treat in front of him, tempt your dog while you walk, or teach them to sit with your left hand. Give the instruction “heel”. Don’t forget to appreciate your dog when he obeys your command.
- Quiet spot for training
Certain dogs can easily over-stimulate. Find a place that does not have distractions for your first few training walks. For some dogs, loud noises, automobiles, and people can be stimulants and will not allow your dog to concentrate on you. Choose a calm route without a great deal of traffic or stroll a few times to teach your dog to do some basic training.
- Do not Reward Immediately
In training, you are teaching your dog to keep in control of the situation all the time. Let your dog not walk. Do not leave your dog. Stop when your dog puts some tension on the leash. You send a message that leash pulling is fine when you keep on going, following a steady pace. You’re praising your dog for negative behavior when he begins to pull. Your dog will also stop walking when you stop walking. This may be a challenge for a stronger canine, but you have to continue. Use your weight entirely until it stops tugging in one location. Just let the dog settle down for a few moments to record that the walking has halted.
- Don’t appreciate bad behavior
Use the basic physical and verbal information to make your dog know that he is not conducting correctly. For example, just tell us “No” or “Stop” before you stop walking when he starts dragging the leash. Before you stop walking, you can drag your feet a little. In this way, your hefty steps and pulling of your feet will be associated with a pulling stop that can lead to him slowing down or walking by your side. Don’t hit or slap your dog—it’s not a good solution to solve or to address any problem in behavior.
- Short Training Sessions
Keep your workouts brief. This helps you and your dog to remain focused on training and prevent annoyance that comes with longer training sessions. Choose short walks in the area and take your dog more often for these walks. This is also a fantastic technique to keep your mind focused because you’re in a familiar region that isn’t so interesting as to explore new paths.
- Do not force things up
Certain dogs are going to take longer to learn to leash. This can be frustrating for you both, so take an occasional break during your stroll. You can concentrate on the training again after your recovery. Keeping consistent and not sending your dog contradictory messages is crucial. Every time he starts to pull, try to correct his behavior at that time and reward him when he listens to you. Keep it regularly on foot. At some point, if you give up your training, your dog must remember all he’s learned yet again.
- Reward at the end
Always have a bag of goodies on the stroll with you. While he is walking next to you without pulling or misbehaving, treat him well for his appropriate behavior. This is crucial during the first few training sessions. Stop walking if your dog begins to get away and yank the leash. Call him and say that he should sit down. Pay tribute or love to your dog when it comes to sit or listen to your orders otherwise. Begin your walk again after that.
Conclusion
Training your canine can be a challenging task, and most of us are scared of doing it, but by using these 10 leash pulling training tips using a dog harness, you can train your dog quickly. But if you are willing to show some patience, then your dog will respond to you with positive inputs. Leash pulling training is an important training that every dog should understand. Even if you cannot make your dog learn this technique, you can always hire a professional dog trainer.