The walk is an essential routine for the dog, since it depends on it that he can socialize, sniff, relieve himself and, ultimately, enjoy the well-being that corresponds to him. However, sometimes it may happen that our dog doesn't let himself be put on the leash or stops in the middle of the road and don't want to advance
In this article on our site we will show you how to positively associate the leash, harness or collar, as well as some tricks to encourage your dog when walking down the street. Don't know what to do when your dog doesn't want to walk on a leash? Here we answer all your questions, take note:
Why won't my dog let himself be leashed?
There are different situations that can cause a dog to not let itself be put on the leash. It may happen that we find ourselves before a puppy that has never walked before or an adult dog that is afraid or shows aggression, perhaps due to a bad experience in the past.
Except in serious cases of aggressiveness, in which case a visit to the dog trainer is mandatory, we can follow a very simple procedure that will make our dog associate the leash in a positive way. Before you start working, you will need to get the workmaterial:
- Choose a reinforcement to reward your dog: snacks or treats specifically for dogs are generally used, however, some prefer toys and even caresses. Choose a reward that you think will work when working with him.
- Buy a different strap to work at home: it is important that the strap we use to work at home is different from that of the walks, since the second one will probably be badly associated.
How to make a dog accept the leash?
Once you have everything ready, it's time to start working following this step by step:
- Stand in front of the dog and hide the treats and leash behind your back, both in different hands.
- Show the dog the leash, hide it and reward him.
- Repeat this procedure until the dog shows interest in it, sniffing it or similar.
- Once your dog does not react negatively to the leash, start with the approaches.
- Extend the leash slightly towards your dog, without buckling it, then reward him.
- Repeat this process gradually until the dog allows you to bring it up to the ring.
- Once your dog allows you to bring the leash close to his neck or to the ring, you will fasten.
- Show the strap, buckle it gently, and then unbuckle it again. Then reward him.
- Follow this procedure gradually increasing the time you have the leash on.
- Once your dog allows himself to be put on the leash, gradually reduce the giving of treats.
During this entire process we must pay attention to canine language, to know if the dog is interested in chorea or if, on the contrary, it shows signs of fear or stress when working with it. Likewise, we must carry out several short sessions a day (between 3 and 5 minutes), bearing in mind that the process can take several days or up to two weeks, depending on the cause that causes the dog to not want to put on the leash.
What if my dog doesn't want to put on the harness or collar?
In the event that the dog does not allow the harness or collar to be put on, the procedure to follow will be the same as that detailed above. We simply have to change the strap for the chosen walking tool, working in the same way with the reinforcements so that it associates it in a positive way.
Walking a puppy on a leash for the first time
The puppy's first walk is always exciting, however, if our little one sits or doesn't know how to walk in the street, it can become tedious. For this reason, it is always advisable to teach him to walk inside the house beforehand, so that he knows what to do outside the home.
If we have already managed to get the puppy to associate the leash in a positive way, we just have to start practicing. We shouldn't expect him to walk properly or to walk calmly by our side in the first contact, on the contrary, it is more likely that he sits down or pulls hard
We will start by simulating small walks at home, for example in a hallway, in which we recommend applying these guidelines and tips:
- Encourage him to advance with your voice, pronouncing his name in a cheerful and dynamic way.
- Constantly reinforce your puppy with your voice when he moves forward, so that he understands what you are looking for
- Stop when the puppy pulls hard on the leash, call to him and change direction.
- Don't yank on the leash to guide him, rather say his name and then gently tug
- Make sure all family members follow the same guidelines.
- Avoid using choke, semi-choke or electric collars.
Don't forget that in the street the puppy will discover a lot of stimuli, so it is likely that he will be more agitated and curious. He acts calmly and serenely, always following the same guidelines
What to do if my dog stops when we walk?
It may happen that, during the step, the dog refuses to move forward, sitting down or even lying down. How should we act in these cases? The answer is not simple, since depending on the cause that provokes this behavior we will have to adapt the work in one way or another.
In some cases, the problems that arise during the walk are due to a secondary problem, such as fear or anxiety, while in other situations we are talking about adult dogs that do not know how to walk on a leash. If this is your case, discover on our site how to teach an adult dog to walk on a leash.
Below we will show you 3 infallible tricks to make your dog move forward in the street:
- Practice at home: As you would with a puppy, it can be very beneficial for your dog to work at home, as it is an area with few stimuli that will allow you to concentrate easily. That will help him understand what you expect from him. He be very patient and practice regularly
- Practice obedience: Obedience is essential for the safety of the dog and for good communication with him, but it is also a tool valuable for working on this problem. We can teach the dog to come to the call, in this way we can encourage him to move forward.
- Motivate your dog: Many dogs decide they don't want to walk as there is no benefit to walking. We can motivate them to go to a specific place (like the park), with toys or prizes.
To promote a good response from the dog and concentration, it is essential to take walks in quiet areas or choose times with fewer people. At first, we will take short walks, but we must gradually make them longer, as the dog is more willing to walk.
During the walk we will allow them to freely sniff their surroundings, since it is a positive behavior that relaxes them, but we should also allow them to interact with people and dogs if they wish. The goal is for you to enjoy an enriching and positive walk, so that you want to walk on a daily basis. Throughout the process, we must not forget the importance of reinforcing with the voice and with caresses, since this will encourage him to repeat the desired behaviors.
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