Why is my dog pulling?
Nothing sucks the fun out of a dog walk than a dog who pulls on the leash relentlessly; I’m talking, shoulders coming out of sockets.
There are numerous myths and misconceptions as to why dogs pull, some more outlandish than the others. Today, I want to take a look at the behavior of pulling, why it happens, and what we can do about it.
What’s the hurry?
One of the main reasons for dogs to pull on their leash is that dogs naturally walk faster than us. In order to keep tension off of the leash, your dog has to alter their natural gait to match your much slower one. Our dogs don’t instinctively know that we walk slower, so choosing to check their speed is not something that automatically crosses their mind.
When we’re out on a walk with our dogs, one of the main benefits of these outings is the opportunity for our dogs to sniff and explore. The world is chalk full of smells, sounds, sights, and other adventures for your dog to survey. Dogs learn a lot about their world through smell, and find a lot of value in the opportunity to sniff.
Mental enrichment, something sniffing provides a lot of, is a great way for our dogs to exercise their brain in a productive manner, which can be more satisfying to our dog than the actual walking.
The leash, attached to an ambling human, is a barrier to our dog’s ability to adventure. In short, our dog’s have important dog stuff to do, and we’re holding them back!
It’s the harness, right?
A common myth that is circulated is that harnesses promote or even teach pulling. While a harness can be more comfortable for the dog to pull against than a collar (no neck pressure, and what not), harnesses are not responsible for pulling.
In fact, a harness is one piece of equipment I routinely recommend for dogs when we are implementing a loose leash walking training plan, as we are protecting the vital, sensitive structures in their neck. At the end of the day, we can teach our dogs to walk ‘nicely’ no matter what kind of equipment we are attaching our leash to.
No more pulling.
If you want to reduce the amount of pulling you are dealing with on your walks, here are a few tips that I’ve had great success with:
Utilize a longer leash. The dogs naturally quick gait and their desire to explore are normal dog behaviors, and aren’t something we can (or should) smother. By giving our dog a longer leash, we can allow them to walk naturally and explore more, within the confines of that leash. Standard leashes are 6-feet in length, but I would encourage you to try a 10-foot leash (I personally use a 15-foot leash routinely) to see the difference it can have on the enjoyability of the walk for you and your dog.
Change your route. If your dog is pulling to access things in the environment (people, other dogs, bunny rabbits, etc.) try walking in a different environment. Manipulating the environment can make all the difference in your dog’s ability to walk with less intensity, and can often be a simple fix (with big pay off.)
Teach the dog how to walk. Look, if you don’t like how the dog is currently walking, you need to communicate that to the dog. I’m not talking about yelling “no” or jerking on the leash to convey your frustration, I’m talking about teaching the dog how you would like them to walk. Dogs don’t come pre-programmed with a competition ready “heel” behavior (wouldn’t that be nice), so it’s your responsibility as their guardian, to teach them a different way to walk. I like to teach my dog to walk with “slack” in the leash, so they are still permitted to explore and walk in front of me (yup, this is totally fine to do) so long as they are not putting tension on the leash. That way, my dog gets what he wants/needs out of his walk, and I don’t have to visit my physiotherapist about chronic shoulder pain.
Balance it out.
Everything in life is about balance, and dog walks are no different. We need to ensure that both ourselves and the dog are getting what they need out of the dog walk.
Expecting your dog to walk in a military heel position while maintaining constant eye contact with you might ensure the dog gets their miles in for the day, but it removes all opportunity for your dog to sniff and explore. On the contrary, if we let our dog walk however they want, we might come home feeling frustrated, and physically and mentally exhausted. We should not compromise our own needs/desires for that of the dogs, and visa versa!
Some ways we can ensure our dog gets a chance to explore during outings in a way that suits us:
utilize a long line and go for a “sniffy walk” in an open field or on trails.
teach your dog a cue that means “we’re walking nicely” and a release cue that tells them to “do their own thing.” My release cue is “break” and communicates to my dog that he can walk as he sees fit (within reason), but when I cue “with me” this tells my dog to stay close and pay attention (I use this for passing, near busy roads, etc.)
Leash pulling is a common problem for dog guardians, but it’s not because your dog is trying to be “the alpha", or is being “bad.” Nope, your dog is likely just being a dog, and just doesn’t know there is another way to walk.
Ensure your dog’s needs are being met (either on the walk or elsewhere) and then teach them how to walk, so you can both enjoy your outings with each other!
If you’re in Prince George, we can help you with your dog’s leash manners during our “From Pulling to Strolling” workshops, designed to teach your dog to walk politely, no matter where you go!
Stay awesome.
Vanessa
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Vanessa Charbonneau, is the author of Dog Care for Puppies: A guide to Feeding, Playing, Grooming and Behavior. She owns Sit Pretty Behavior & Training, employing force-free training techniques, and specializing in working with fearful, aggressive, and reactive dogs. Charbonneau lives in Prince George, BC with her husband, two daughters, and one dog.