Stop Your Dog Pulling on Leash and Start Walking Together #53

We’re looking at how to train your dog to stop pulling on leash. You have probably heard me talk about the importance of exercise for dogs. But, for some of you, taking your dog for a walk is not enjoyable, and you just want your dog to walk nicely. I’m covering what might have led to your dog’s lead pulling, what you can do to fix it, and how you can start to enjoy going for a walk.

In the episode you'll hear:
• About my trips to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and why world-renowned animal trainers
Bob and Marian Bailey taught us to train chickens.
• The importance of mechanics and reinforcement in training any animal.
• How pulling ahead of you on lead can be rewarding for your dog.
• Why your dog inadvertently learns that it’s important to be in front of you.
• All the good things that are out in front that can create pulling on lead.
• How to be intentional about a reward zone and why to know your pants seam.
• The best mechanics to use for loose leash walking.
• What better behaviour to train for success with walking on leash.
• How to hold the leash, how to reward your dog, and why to circle.
• The layers of training walking on a leash and how to rehearse success.

Resources:
Blog Post: How do I Stop My Dog from Pulling on the Leash? -
Podcast Episode 40: Using a Head Halter on a Dog, Why My Approach is so
Different -
Game: Learn How to Play ItsYerChoice (IYC) -
Podcast Episode 42: Behavior Chains: Are You Teaching Your Dog to be Bad to be Good? -

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Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.

Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.

A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.

Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 82 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
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[magpiesneedle]

Hitchcock, lady bits, dude. My kind of woman. Not the only reason I’m a subscriber 😂

[SSS-sdcf]

I didn't believe this methond until I trained my dog with it and one day he came and sat beside me when I called him. I was like, wt@ is this coming from? It was one of the most fun moments I had with my dog. Love it!

[islandsbanshee]

Susan is so fantastic she changed me from a “balance or nothing” school of thought to positive training and I’ve seen my dog blossom with her help and i haven’t even bought her course, just her YouTube videos and free materials make a world of difference. She’s a saint for not gatekeeping this life saving information.

[suemyles]

I would so enjoy seeing a pet owner with their dog do these techniques

[melissaames]

My trainer in Taos NM is a Karen Pryor grad, and she suggested your videos for training our 2 sibling dogs. The male came to us at 8 weeks, and the sister spent 4 months (between 8 weeks and 6 months) in total isolation, shut off from human contact. Both are fear based dogs. We have made amazing progress with both, and your videos are helping move us forward. They are now 4 years old. It's been a long road, but we're crossover trainers and losing the only tools you know as training methods and replacing them with reward based training has required so much patience. I would never go back. Thanks for giving us a perspective of the dog's brain, and how they experience their training and their lives in our world!

[sidurirob]

What a gift you are to the dogs and dog lovers of this world! Every time I watch one of your presentations that covers a behavior I'm having trouble with I'm reminded to slow down. Little steps very often gets you there. ❤❤❤ your work and your generosity is amazing. Thank you so much!

[MistyRoads]

A few months ago, a skinny, starving Australian Shepard showed up by our front steps. He responded to my voice and followed me up the steps and onto our porch. We have a wrap around porch with rails all the way around and a gate at each set of steps. I closed the gate once the dog was on the porch. From that moment on, he was mine. I bathed him, fed him, took him to the vet, got him through Parvo and now want him to be the best he can be. He has filled out a little and grown about 3 inches. He is approximately 10 months old. He has taken well to everything I have taught him thus far, except for walking out on leash. Oh my word, he is a major puller. I’m 70 so he can’t be pulling me. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found your channel and this video in particular. Time for us to walk in loops. I will check out your training program and see if I can fit it into my budget. Thank you for these videos!

[kirstycampbell]

Oh my god Susan Garrett THANK YOU! We've worked hard over the last week with these steps and perch work and already there is a HUGE difference in my puppy's loose lead work, engagement and recall. Our reinforcement zone has changed to by my side and she's not pulling. Thank you thank you thank you 🤗👏🐾🧡

[AndreaFrost-vxvi]

First watched this episode about a year ago, when I joined Recallers, and recently started doing what I call "rally walks", with loose leash, sits, downs, on both sides and finally my dog is SO much more attentive to staying by my side (I think the "rally walks" were inspired by a much later, more recent Shaped by Dog episode, plus rehabilitating my fractured fingers and his explosions at other dogs on leash (fingers were a consequence of him NOT walking calmly on loose leash, but at least he was on leash and didn't pull me over either). We do tons of "U turns" (turning into the dog) as well as pivots. Good skills to have for us to walk in a busy city!

[sharonbroadway]

I watched this again today and looked close at my mechanics. Boy was I making mistakes! We practiced in the garage, living room and back yard then out for our walk. What a difference! We are a work in progress but on the right track!! Thanks again 😊

[garilou]

Works great! I love that you make no concessions because you might be teaching to beginners: you already ask for perfection. Right from the beginning

[allenwatson]

A couple golden tidbits in there. Thanks!

[diintheuk]

Wow thanks Susan! This works! I started using this method with my 3 month old wild Vizsla pup 4 days ago. She didnt know how to sit next me, and she pulls like ceazy. But this method works! Day 1 she was sitting next to me, and D4 this morning we were able to walk my back garden next to each other for 3 minutes or so. I will come back in a months time to report back.

Day7: My 3 month old puppy succeeded (for the first time ever) in relaxed leash walking next to me outside my house. We walked past about 5 houses & back...4 times. I can't believe this is happening after only 7 days. I wonder where we would be in a month's time. I can't wait....😊

[CamilleGG]

Lol- loved the Hitchcock reference! 😆 (speaking of which, the other day I asked somebody who feeds hummingbirds regularly if they ever try to gouge anyone's eyes out with those long beaks. She said "Um...

I was only double-checking! 🤓😳

[Calinas_Agility_Partner]

So, I've been working with a GRIN dog (Golden Retriever in Need) and I was having some luck with him. This is a different dog from the one I mentioned in a different comment. The GRIN dog was a puller, but then he stopped pulling so much, but walked in front of me. I watched this video again and specifically changed where my rewards were.
I started with him on leash and put him in a sit and pulled a reward from my right side. He wanted to move forward, but I didn't reward that. I made sure he was by my side and then I treated from my right side and really touched my seam. It seemed to click for the GRIN dog.
We took a step forward and I rewarded him. Then another step and rewarded him. Then I took two steps then rewarded him. Very briefly he was a little confused and wanted to be behind me. I called him to me and treated in the zone. Lots of praise as well. I was amazed when we were able to take several steps with him in the zone. We think he had some training before, but he really did catch on quickly.
Now, I have to admit that last night he saw a dog and pulled me. The other dog owner was really nice about it and nothing bad happened. So I do have some work to do, and I do have a plan.
Tonight, however, I was lucky because there was a person walking on the other side of the road and the dog looked at her, but I just stopped and he put himself back in the zone. Then I saw two kids. One was one a bike and another was on a scooter. The dog did better at staying in the zone! Then I pushed it a little farther and walked passed a dog in a fenced in yard. It was another GRIN dog, whom both the dog I was walking and I know. This was actually a challenge for both dogs because I have relationships with both of them, and the dog in the yard is a little jealous of the fact I was walking another dog. But both dogs did beautifully. I had to "ignore" the other GRIN dog (he was safe!) and talk to my boy I was walking, and he did really well. The *big* test for the dog I was walking will be seeing a dog on leash walking on the other side of the road, but now I am more confident that we can get there! I was so excited after our walk tonight!
I know I didn't follow every step outlined in this episode, but I have been working with the dog for a little bit. I just fixed some of my mechanics, which really helped. If I can get the dog to the point where he can sit while another dog is walking by, that would be huge! I just din't want him to pull because obviously that makes him harder to adopt out. I can teach the new adopters what I've done with him and how I have successfully handled him. I will also emphasize how important it is for the adopters to continue with the reinforcement I've started. The dog is a really nice dog. I'm so glad the weather is starting to get nicer so we can continue to take walks.

[Cncparkhomeservices]

Susan, you are brilliant, just keep flooding this subject, I cannot stand all the horrible techniques on YouTube that are used including e-collars, yanking the dog, slip leads, prong colllars etc etc, my clients often ask me and I just cannot stress enough to them that so much on YouTube is bad, I say do you think it's kind what you see, if you don't then it's not, if you ever have any more tips to tell clients on how to navigate YouTube then please let us know. I struggle with what to tell them sometimes!!!

[cherrymansk]

I always come to your channel to find something different. Thank you!

[kayrosswog]

Always such good info! You are giving away your secrets for free...more people need to listen up!!!❤️😊

[leahherrera]

I’m so happy I found this channel. I’ve been following some of the methods from other trainers on dog walking and feel like we’ve hit a wall. My pup isn’t pulling as bad, but it’s still not great and it’s frustrating for me and I don’t like feeling like I’m hurting him. I can’t wait to try this method! Thank you for providing this content.

[DavidMcQueen-hf]

Hi, Dave here from New Zealand, just wanted to thank you for your videos I have a 11 week old German Shepherd and your videos are helping me immensely, so once again thank you very much.
Kind regards Dave