Are you having trouble walking your dog on the leash? You’re not alone. Lots of people have dogs that sniff or mark practically everything they walk by. Sometimes it feels like your dog is walking you!
If your daily walks are turning into a tug of war between you and your dog, these tips may come in handy.
Add structure into your walks
Doing things like changing pace, direction, and route will mentally engage your dog and keep him or her reacting to what you do next.
Limit the amount of slack for more control
This is a good idea especially at the beginning of a walk, when you want to establish who’s in charge.
Incorporate training into the walk
During your walks, make opportunities to use Sit, Wait, Stay, and Leave It commands. It’s good practice, good for engagement between you and your dog, and a good opportunity for praise (and treats!).
Give yourself goals
For example, every third house you pass, incorporate a Sit command. The next day, change it to a different command. It keeps the experience fresh and different. If they are cooperating and being good on the leash, give them some time to sniff around!
Dog walking takes discipline. But by filling walks with fun challenges, you’ll find that you can get more exercise done in shorter distances and less time. There’s nothing better than a tired, happy, healthy dog!
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Tags: Dogs
