Dog Health Blog

Dogs love to go for walks. Without question, walking and
providing your dog with an adequate amount of exercise is
extremely beneficial for their overall health. For some
owners, however, it’s more of a chore than enjoyment. As a
result, as with many chores, a dog who does not know the
proper way to walk on a leash will get less walks.

So what is the “proper” way for a dog to walk on a leash?
You want your dog walking by your side with enough slack in
the leash to be able to step over it. That’s the goal.

Going for walks with an untrained dog is often fraught with
uncontrollable pulling, quick bursts of running and a
constant starting and stopping circus of smelling. Proper
leash walking by the dog will clearly make walk times more
enjoyable for all.

Recognize that you as the owner taught him to walk
improperly on a leash, and as such, you can train him to
walk properly.

Below are a few pointers to assist you in this training:

* Correct leash length. All professional dog trainers
agree. The proper and most effective leash length for
training of your dog is six feet.

* Think about how your dog thinks and feels. Dogs do not
like to feel pressure. Some dog owners may have
inadvertently taught the dog to “pull” by keeping the leash
tight, even if the dog is walking right beside them.
Anytime a dog feels pressure, he is going to instinctively
pull on the leash in an attempt to relieve the pressure.
The owner has to teach the dog that walking beside them is
pleasant not hurtful. Constant slack in the leash is what
the owner is after.

* Encourage your dog to look at you during walks. Rarely
are leash corrections (dog walking beside owner with slack
in the leash) successful unless the dog is looking at its
owner. Looking at you reminds him you are still there.
Dogs are easily distracted. In order to get the dog to look
and make the correction, a message has to be sent to him
through the leash. Usually all this requires is a gentle
flick of the wrist. If that does not work, then lure him to
look at you without pulling the leash. When he does, pat
him on the back, draw him towards you and smile. To
continue to encourage proper leash behavior, anytime during
your walk that your dog looks at you, do this same
behavior; pat him on the back, draw him near you and smile.

* Love your dog constantly and consistently. The owner is
the one a dog wants to be closest too. Always let your dog
know how much you love him and how much you want him there
by your side. Whether on walks or just relaxing at home,
love your dog constantly. This will carry over into your
training.

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