Leash Walking- Equipment tips

A great book on loose leash walking, or how to stop your dog from pulling is-

My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do? by Turid Rugaas

You can get this book on www.dogwise.com and other places too. Its very short and has lots of pictures.

I would advise against using any forms of positive punishment when teaching any behavior, but especially leash walking, as startling or hurting a dog actually increases their stress hormones in their body causing the dog to be more hyperactive and more likely to become aroused and reactive towards other dogs and people (weather they want to greet them or not).

(more written text to come.... stay tuned)

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Pets & Animals

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• how
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• clicker
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• leash
• loose

[pippimom]

I have a active, pulling foster dog, I try the u pull I stop change direction Q: how do I excise the dog, it takes 10-15 min to get to the mailbox and he just gets more focused on pulling each time we start again. I don't want to just let him gogogo and enforce pulling. but if I stop turn each time we are hardly moving distance, Help

[kikopup]

1- you could play fetch first, so you break that habit of over excitement about the walk

2- practice the leash walking games in the yard first, where the dog can succeed

3- go to a safe area, and have the dog on a dragging long leash, reinforce the dog for staying with you "off leash" first, once your dog is with you, then gradually hold the leash shorter and shorter until its the desired length. This way you can start out with 'pressure off the leash" is the norm and pulling is not

[kikopup]

Some dogs will pull if they are very anxious or unsocialized. These dogs will be harder to train because they are unable to learn as fast as a relaxed dog, because they are over their threshold. A good test is taking the dogs favorite treats on the walk, and if you stop and offer treats, and the dog doesnt eat them, he is very likely over aroused by being outside. WHat you can to combat this is working with the dog outside, practicing settles outside etc

[Slydogges]

Teach your dog to not pull on a leash and collar and you won't need such restraint devices.

[kikopup]

Not using a collar is not about restraining, its about keeping pressure off of the delicate trachea. A loose fitting back clipping harness is my ideal goal when the dog is never pulling, you could switch to a collar, but its not worth it, like if a car back fires and the dog panics and hits the end of the leash all that pressure on the neck when it could have been avoided.

[Slydogges]

Teach the dog to not freak out over simple distractions that occur in its everyday life. The freaking out over what sounds like a gunshot could have been avoided by proper training, not keeping the dog in a restraint device like a harness.

[kikopup]

i don't believe in using ANY equipment as a restraint device, only perhaps if you were building arousal or drive for dog sports. Toy dogs should never be in a collar, its just too dangerous. I'm with Turrid on this one, collars can just do too much damage to a dogs spine and neck.

[Namebadge11]

I just switched from using a prong collar to an easy walk harness with my reactive, fear-agressive dog and I'm already seeing improvements. I no longer have to feel bad about correcting her because it doesn't cause pain, and she seems more relaxed. Thanks so much for the video, it's helping tremendously!

[mysweetie4eva]

@BerlinTheShepherd thts because the dog FEARS the choke! what you are doing is cruel. what emily is doing is the humane way. the way that is good for the dog. if you train using choke chain methods then look up choke chain training methods. not emilys videos on how to train the dog kindly and build a better bond with your dog! i am not calling you a bad trainer but you are not using a method that builds the bond between you and the dog. you are destoying the bond.

[theguythatcouldfly]

I am trying to gather information to make a video on why face collars are a form of punishment that causes un-needed stress. Even if used correctly they seem cruel, and yet I often-times see them being mis-used to the point that I have to cause a scene. Does anyone, especially Emily, have any sources or good info for me to use? (Any help would be appreciated - even the Karen Prior site has a picture of a doctor-looking person next to a dog with a face collar on. -sigh-)

[ClickerMutt]

I love your approach to walking equipment. I am learning from an instructor with the same viewpoint and completely agree. We're really fond of the harness by halti because it doesn't have the martingale loop in front and avoids a lot of unnecessary pressure. I also agree with the head halter concept. I had used one on my border collie and he would repeatedly try to rub it off despite training, and I realized it put too much pressure on his tear ducts and causes one of his eyes to be drippy.

[ClickerMutt]

@507Cynthia most harnesses come with very detailed instructions and many are color coded to help you. The easy-walk harness by Premier has a lighter color strap that goes under the dog and the part with the clip goes in front. The harness made by halti is red and black and the black strap goes in front and the one with a silver circle ring goes on top. When in doubt check the manufacturers website.

[MsZoraZ]

My dog has long fur and looks really awkward in a harness...is there anything else I could do?

[507Cynthia]

HOW DO YOU PUT ON A FRONT CLIP HARNESS!!!!

[BerlinTheShepherd]

Well I use choke-chains and they are training my dog great..not for the choke itself but when they hear the chain links clicking they slow way down

[JiveDadson]

You can clip the leash to the D-rings of both the halter and the collar. That keeps the leash connection from pulling around to the side. I've got Easy Walker brand halters that work good that way.

Kikopup, your video on loose leash walking is great. I had one doggie that just wasn't getting it. I was clicking and treating, but not perfectly. I started clicking the instant he reached my heel, not worrying about whether he was going to go right by, and within minutes he caught on. No probs.

[AlmondBear]

I'm a big fan of having my students use an easy walk harness. But I also am a fan of the Gentel Leader Head Harness. When used properly it can be a great training tool. And some of the dogs I've trained are fine with it the first day. When working with an aggressive dog it also can be calming where it fits on the back of the head. I think it really depends on the dog which is better to use. Also if you have a dog who is very jumpy they can slide the paws out of the front clipping harness.