Does your dog pull on the lead? (stock) (Image: Getty)
A dog trainer has revealed the ‘only tip you need’ to stop your pet from pulling on the lead – and owners claim it’s a ‘game changer’.
Southend Dog Training has turned to social media to share his method for managing your pets on walks and guaranteeing you both benefit from the outdoor activity.
In his video, he stated: “If your dog pulls on a lead, listen to this. Do this one thing and it’ll change how your dog walks.
“Instead of pulling back, yanking or restraining, pull up.” He explained this will assist in slowing the dog down whereas drawing the lead back only generates a desire to pull more.
He continued: “When a dog is being training in bite work, it’s often being pulled back creating restraint. To cause the dog to drive forward harder. We unintentionally apply this technique to dogs when we want them to stop pulling forward.
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“We unintentionally frustrate the dog. Pull up on a short but relaxed lead and then relax and your dog will slow down.”
Building on this, he advised owners against exciting their dogs up before a walk, suggesting it’s preferable to ensure their pet is settled before venturing out the front door.
Responding to his post, one user remarked: “My Springer Spaniel is terrible for pulling. I’ll try this tomorrow.”
Another user commented: “I think my dog is broken I’ve pulled up since the day I got him. That lead is never relaxed. He waits nicely at the door and gate then thinks he has.”
A third user remarked: “I tried this, but makes no difference especially at the starts of walk when he’s super excited I feel like I’ve tried everything.”
One more user suggested: “Teach your dog the ‘stop’ command. Walk a few paces, when it pulls say STOP. And do exactly that. Then walk. Repeat. Walk.”
A final user stated: “I’ve got a German shepherd puppy 1 year old. Every time I get his lead out he goes crazy making it difficult to put his lead on.”
It comes after a dog trainer cautioned owners against giving into their pets when they make ‘complaining’ sounds.
A dog trainer from K9 University Dog Training has taken to TikTok to share some vital tips for pet owners, advising them to resist responding to their dogs’ particular sounds.
In a video, the dog trainer outlines “three different sounds your dogs make, what they mean and how you should respond”.
The first recommendation is to not give in when a dog makes a ‘complaining’ noise, often accompanied by pawing or scratching.
The trainer cautions: “This behaviour should never be rewarded by letting them have what they want otherwise it’ll exacerbate the issue.”
When it comes to a dog’s whining or crying, which might prompt an owner to offer comfort, the trainer suggests the opposite approach.
He added: “This is a sign that your dog is anxious or stressed. There are two different sides to this – there’s a whine that’s self-soothing and there’s a whine that can escalate into a bigger reaction like barking or lunging.”
The final sound to be aware of is howling, which the trainer says is usually a sign of separation anxiety: “They’re lonely and trying to find the rest of their pack.”
