Why Your Dog Pulls
Dogs are always weighing their options of how to get what they want. You have taught them that if what they want is over there, pulling will get them there. Pulling becomes the work they must do to get what they want — kind of like how you go to work for 2 weeks before you get paid. They keep pulling because it keeps getting them where they want to go. And when they get there, they get to be more comfortable. A double reward.
If you give me a hammer it does not mean I can build you a house. Tools — flat collar, harness, e-collar, slip leash, prong collar, head halter — can be extremely helpful or cause more problems than they help. The tool is not the guaranteed answer.
The Real Problem Is Unmet Needs
When it comes to meeting your dog's needs, many dog owners fall so far short that behavioral problems arise. Lack of satisfaction is a major problem in many pet dogs. Dogs don't look and act the way they do for no reason. Selective breeding for purpose has been going on for thousands of years.
So is it fair to ask the dog to ignore who they are all the time? Or might they be more interested in doing what we want if we do a better job of meeting their needs?
What to Do Instead
What if we stopped going for the walk and played their game? Stop going for the walk. Spend quality time with your dog — playing, training, having fun, learning, exploring. Satisfy them and educate them before you ask them to perform.
Think about the consistency and repetition it took when you learned basic math. Luckily, dogs can learn these skills much quicker than you did. It's not hard to get most dogs walking nicely in a week or two. The harder part is teaching the human the mental and physical skills to communicate it well.
Building Skills in a Safe Environment
What if you and the dog built a skillset in an easy "classroom" environment — together? This takes a little longer. It expects that you will do a little more work than you wanted. But it works for the most dogs and owners.
Over the last 10 years, every time I found a dog that didn't fit the mold, I found a new mold.
It Is Perfectly Acceptable To
- Slow down the walk
- Skip the walk entirely for a while
- Stay in safe, easy training areas
- Play instead of walk
- Train instead of walk
So that you can build your skills little by little — together. The walk will always be there, whenever you're ready.
An Honest Note on Tools
Flat collar, harness, e-collar, slip leash, prong collar, head halter, choke chain — it does not matter. If you give me a hammer it does not mean I can build you a house.
Want or need one of these tools? Use it. Don't want one? Don't. Just don't be harsh to the dog or to the people who make different choices.