Pulling on the leash: one problem, many reasons
“How do I train my dog not to pull on leash?”
We hear this question all the time since puling on leash is such a common problem. The answer, however, might surprise you.
All dogs are different and the motivation for pulling on leash varies with each dog. In any case, however, training is not the first thing we do. Our first step is to look at the reasons for this behaviour.
In this article we will try to understand why dogs might pull on the leash and offer you useful articles and resources. We trust that every dog can enjoy their walks on a loose Smiling Leash with their human guardian. Yet only by understanding the needs of our dogs and reasons behind “problematic” behaviours, we will be able to get closer to the solutions before we attempt any sort of training.
So let’s dive into the many reasons behind pulling:
Is it equipment? Many dogs will pull to try to avoid discomfort or pain (collars, restrictive harness models etc.). We recommend using an H-type harness and a long (3 m or more) classical leash.
More information on equipment:
The importance of a good harness fit
Why do we only support the use of a correctly fitted H-harness
Is the walk too exciting or stressful? Maybe the dog is finding the environment too challenging and we simply need to walk in calmer locations for a while.
Is the dog getting stimulating walks? Many dogs get exactly the same walk every day, without any variation. A change in routine might be key.
Are they exercising their brain? Are they engaging all their senses during the walk (sniffing, observing, exploring)?
Find out more: Why do you take walks with your dog?
Is the dog getting too many walks or are they too long? Recent studies on dogs and exercise highlight this problem specifically.
Find out more: A quality walk does not mean a long distance walk
What type of exercise is the dog getting? Aerobic and anaerobic exercise types have very different effects on the dog.
Find out more: What is healthy movement for your dog?
What is the age of the dog? Walks must be adjusted to the age of each individual accounting for bone and muscle development in puppies and young dogs as well as ageing bodies that can’t walk as far as they used to.
Is the dog healthy? As with the wrong equipment, any type of discomfort or pain can make the dog pull.
Is the dog getting enough opportunities to observe in a calm way during the walk? Observation is a big part of understanding the world around you. To find out more, we invite you to read about and try out Calm Sessions.
Is your dog getting enough social contact? Dogs are very social animals and they need contact with other dogs. Pulling might be a consequence of seeking this social interaction. Read more about social walks here: Social walks
As you can see, there are plenty of things that could be causing the dog to pull on the leash. It is our responsibility as dog guardians to adjust the walks to the needs of each individual dog. Often, a simple change in walking eqipment or a calmer location will make all the difference and your dog will start walking on a loose leash.
Only when we know that the dog and the human are getting the right type of walks will we consider some loose leash training. Our team has learned from Turid Rugaas and we always recommend reading her book “On talking terms with dogs: Calming signals”, to be able to assess all those messages the dogs send us constantly. For example, calming signals help us understand if a dog is finding the environment too challenging. We also recommend her book "My dog pulls, what do I do?" for more tips on loose leash training.
Of course, it is unreasonable to expect that a dog will never, ever pull on the leash. We wrote about it here: Unrealistic expectations
