We love sharing training tips with our community and what better way to learn than collaborating with our two-legged friends at The Goody Pet. Like us, they are a pawsome community of pet lovers and Pete Decker, the Lead Editor, has kindly contributed this post.
The best part of spending time with a dog is going for a walk. Whether that's a gentle stroll through the park or going for a jog after a long day at work, having a four legged friend by your side makes such a difference.
We want to make sure everyone knows the best practice when it comes to walking a dog on the lead. These tips are especially useful if you’ve just got a dog and you’re a first time owner. Both you and the dog need to feel safe, happy and confident while you’re out and about.
1. Prevent pulling
If a dog keeps pulling at the lead, it might be possible that he or she is not enjoying the walk.There could be a number of reasons behind it; you are either too slow or too fast or you are not using the lead properly.
To prevent the pulling, keep the lead as short as possible and don't make sudden movements. If you keep up the energy in the walk, it will be a lot more interesting and safer for your pooch.
2. Prevent frequent sniffing
While your dog might be a perennial sniffer, it could lead to a bad habit if they stop every time they see something unknown. You can teach your doggy to reduce sniffing by keeping a firm hold on the lead.
Whenever you feel that there’s too much sniffing, pull the lead gently so that they know when to stop. You can condition your dog not sniff around too much if you keep doing this.
3. Train pup to walk by your side
Dogs should ideally walk on your left side. If they are constantly making to and fro movements, it will not be easy for you to keep them by your side. When you are using the lead, keep it at a length so that you can gently pull the pup to your side, thus modelling the way you want them to walk beside you.
You can also use tiny treats to tempt your furry friend to be by your side until they learn the correct manner of walking. However, keep the treats to a minimum because it might become a habit.
4. Keep your walking sessions short
If your puppy has recently been introduced to the idea of a lead, you would do better by keeping the walking sessions short and fun-filled. Do not stretch to an hour or more because your dog might lose interest and might actually start pulling and pushing away. Notice changes in behaviour and act accordingly.
5. Introduce new people slowly
A pup new to a lead might not take to the idea initially. There might be struggles and these can be heightened if your dog meets lots of new people in a short space of time. Everyone loves to greet a new puppy and make a fuss of them, but make sure that your pup doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
These 5 simple ways could prevent your pooch from getting into uncomfortable situations.
Author Bio
You can find more of Pete at his website The Goody Pet.
Pete loves to share his passion for pets through snippets of interesting and helpful information, in this post he provides some helping training tips for on-the-lead walking.
This article is for information only, and should never replace any advice, diagnosis or treatment from your veterinary surgeon or canine behaviourist. Always contact your local vet or out of hours vet without delay if you have any concerns about your dog or their behaviour.
If you're looking for some dog care support from a local, trusted dog lover or want to spend time with a pawsome local dog check out BorrowMyDoggy.
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