Every puppy owner dreams of relaxing walks with their dog calmly by their side on a loose leash. The reality is often quite different, as pulling on the leash is one of the most common problems for dog owners.
In fact, one study even found that leash pulling is even the most common cause of humans being injured by dogs.
“In most cases, this is self-inflicted because the dog learns through success,” says dog trainer and author Katharina Schlegl-Kofler.
When out for a walk, if the dog pulls towards a scent mark, the owner often follows automatically. “This unintentionally teaches the dog: If I pull, I get to where I want to go,” she explains.
Schlegl-Kofler recommends that with puppies and young dogs, owners should only take short walks on the leash. Depending on the situation, you can stop and wait until the leash becomes loose before continuing.
Leave a Reply