YOU LEAD AND I WILL FOLLOW

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YOU LEAD AND I WILL FOLLOW...

We all know how excited your pooch becomes when they hear the word ‘walkies’ or you retrieve their harness/lead for a walk. It’s this excitement that drives them to pull on their lead, after all, they just want to get to where they are going quicker, much like children pulling you along, when they are excited.

They want to achieve their ultimate goal of playing ball in the park or going to the woods or beach for a run and by pulling, and you allowing them to pull, they are moving forwards and therefore closer to their goal. This gives them a clear signal that pulling works.

The first thing you need to do is ensure your pooch is comfortable, a collar and lead or harness and lead are both viable options however, do not use equipment that can cause restricted movement in their shoulders as this can have a serious impact on their gait, always do your research beforehand.

The next step is to start training, we highly recommend familiar, quiet surroundings, if you have a garden, this is the perfect place to start. There is no need for a lead at this point, just use a tasty treat to encourage them to walk towards you, wait for them to sit next to you and then reward them. This may take a while but most dogs will realise if they follow you and sit next to you, they are rewarded.

Try not to say anything, just let your dog figure out when they follow you and sit, they receive a treat.

As your pooch becomes accustomed to following you and sitting when you stop you can ease off on the treats but remember to praise and encourage them or use their favourite toy as a reward. This kind of training needs time and patience but eventually your dog will understand what is needed of them; you will be able to change directions and still they will follw. Once this stage has been mastered you can introduce the lead. The aim is to have your dog walk by your side with no tension at all. If they do start to pull, just stop, no words, just stand still. If training has worked, they too will stop and sit by your side, if they don’t, simply walk a few steps in the opposite direction, the objective is to have them follow you. When they do, give them plenty of praise to encourage this behaviour.

The next step is to put into practice on your walks, remember you are looking to achieve your pup walking beside you without tension on the lead, just take your time and if they are struggling, take the training back to a point they were comfortable with and build on this until you are both happy. Never pull your dog back or scold for pulling.

Your pooch will soon learn that pulling on the lead will not get them there quicker, in fact it has the opposite effect! You will need to be consistent for this to work, which will involve teaching anyone who takes your dog out for a walk to do exactly as you do, encouraging your dog to be well behaved and not be confused.

Of course, not all dogs can be easily trained, some can have behavioural problems, especially if they have been mistreated or abandoned. We would suggest you seek advice from a professional dog trainer, who will have more of an insight into your pooches’ mindset.

As with all dog training, patience and positive affirmation are the key to a successful relationship with your dog, training should be fun to encourage your pooch to behave. Never work them too hard or cause unnecessary stress as this can have a detrimental effect after all, the training is to benefit you both.

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Award Winning On Location Dog Photography by Nigel Wallace, as featured on BBC and ITV Would you love images like these of your dog? If yes contact me on T: 07720 834868 E: wallacenigel@ymail.com www.nigelwallacephotography.co.uk