How Do I Get My Dog To Stop Pulling On The Leash?
Leash Pressure Method:
Loose Leash Walking
One of the most common questions dog owners have is "How do I get my dog to stop pulling on-leash?" The answer is: Leash Pressure. Dogs have 3 languages: body language, “food lure” (the use of treats as motivation), and verbal (“sit”, “no”, “down”), but when a dog is stressed or overstimulated, food lure and verbal language is not sufficient. We found that leash pressure is the ultimate answer - a sensation that the dog can feel and not ignore in high stress situations. This method is the concept of non-verbal communication whether it be basic obedience or proper heel position when walking.
First Steps
The first step to getting your dog to stop pulling on leash is to establish the proper relationship between you (the handler) and your dog. To do this, we employ 3 different movements for proper heel positioning: the AWAY-turn, the V-turn, and the S-turn. After your dog begins to naturally sit in a heel position from practicing these various turns, you can begin using refined leash pressure techniques. Tap taps and pops are two examples of refined leash pressure to micromanage the dog’s head and ensure they are in the perfect heel position with focus on the handler. By using different combinations of these techniques and following through with consistent movements, you will quickly be able to acclimate your dog to properly walking on a leash.
3 Different Types of Turns
The Away-turn: When the dog is far ahead of you, the away turn utilizes small taps to redirect the dog's attention by guiding the dog in a circle and back into a heel position.
The V-turn: When the dog is just ahead of you, doing a V turn by marching your knee in front of the dog and making a sharp turn forces the dog to pay attention to the handler and naturally places them back into a heel position.
The S-turn: When the dog continues to break heel position and walk ahead, begin to walk backwards and allow the dog to hit the end of the leash. Use small taps and continue walking backwards to guide the dog back into a heel position using an “S” like motion with the leash.
Turns and circles are used in on-leash walking to further structure and intervene in a way that matches the dog’s intensity. They are designed to teach the dog where the heel position is, redirect, and to slow the dog down when they are in a heightened state. Once the dog is back in the heel position and not pulling on leash, we begin to cover ground again.
For example, when a dog is excited on a walk, instead of simply stopping in our tracks and making a correction, we implement a correction within the movement to maximize efficiency. Turns and circles are conducive to further the understanding between the dog and the owner that the dog must pay attention to the owner before continuing onward.
Next Steps - “Tap Tap” vs. “Pop”
Tap Taps: Utilizes small finger pulls on a leash to GUIDE the dog's head and general direction of focus. The tap-tap cadence is a simple 1-2 of taps in the desired direction that you want your dog to follow. This pattern and rhythm continues until the dog focuses on the desired direction.
Pop: A CORRECTION where the leash is pulled quickly and with adequate force. The pop is an immediate action swiftly followed by a relaxed leash. Only to be used when necessary to redirect the dog’s focus and behavior.
A "tap tap" utilizes gentle nudges on the leash to guide the dog into place and micromanage where they are looking so they do not fixate on anything long enough to generate a reaction. opposed to a "pop", which is a more firm corrective snap of the leash and is used when the dog lunges or barks.
Using the "tap tap" method serves as a constant reminder to the dog that they are supposed to be in a heel position and paying attention to the handler. Tap taps are generally used to de-escalate stress. Many trainers go straight to the pop method, which can be effective in the short term. In the long term pops can increase distrust, stress, and fear which will result in less control overall during walks. Tap taps should be used during walks or anytime you want to guide the dog's head or body in a different direction or position.
After using the tapping method, if the dog continues to fixate, lunge, or bark, a *pop* is a necessary correction to show the dog they are doing something wrong. Pops need to be valid and should not be overused; only used when it needs to be communicated to the dog that what they did was highly inappropriate.
Why Use The Leash Pressure Method?
Leash pressure is the answer to amending the pulling on leash because it establishes trust, structure, and routine within walking. This technique gives us the ability to communicate with our dogs non-verbally. This is essential in high stress situations or in loud environments where our dogs potentially will not be able to hear or respond to us. It allows owners to guide the dog without overcorrecting and damaging trust.