Training Leashes For Dogs Challenges- Guide To Happy Walk With Dogs 2024
Training leashes for dogs that pull
Running, exploring, and playing unleashed in an open area is a great dream for dogs. dog owners must go through training leashes for dogs to enjoy walking outside with their dogs. So if you are a dog owner and want to know when to leash or off-leash your dog and how, read this article.
leashes for dogs
Most dog owners prefer walking in streets and public parks with leashed dogs for several reasons:
1. To ensure control over the dog and safety for both dogs and people, especially in crowded places.
2. To avoid losing the dog due to uncontrolled running.
3. To avoid dogs eating and sniffing everything around them, which may expose them to great danger.
4. It’s actually illegal to walk with your dog unleashed in some places and facilities.
Types of leashes
Leashes have many types according to the material, shape, and purpose of use. Choosing the right leash is according to the dog’s breed, age, size, and walking place. Here are the most commonly used leashes:
Leather dog leashes for training (flat leads)
They are the standard dog leashes and are considered the most widely used leashes for dogs. Standard leashes could also be made of nylon or sisal. Flat leads will attach to the dog collar by a metal clasp. Leather leashes are the best to start training leashes for dogs.
They are usually 1-2.5 meters long. Dog owners use the leash by attaching it to the collar on dog’s neck via a metal clasp.
Its advantages are that they can be washed and doesn’t irritate the dog’s skin. But despite all these advantages, it’s inflexible and not suitable for wide-neck dogs and also maybe not good for dogs with respiratory problems.
Slip leash for dog training
Slip leashes are used as a leash and collar at the same time. It consists of two parts; a long rope with a metal ring. Be careful not to strap the slip leash very tightly over the neck to avoid choking. So they are not good for long use.
Dog owners and trainers commonly use slip leashes in dog training because they provide good control over the dog. They are ideal for training dogs not to pull.
Harness leashes
These leashes fit around the chest with a clasp at the back. They are perfect for dogs with problems with trachea or breathing difficulty. But with time it may cause another problem of hair loss on the back and chest. So it may not be a good option for training leashes for dogs with hair loss problems (alopecia) or lesions in chest sides.
Retractable leashes
retractable leashes allow you to modify the length of the rope so you may let your dog move around you freely without any difficulties. It’s easy to adjust and use.
Unfortunately, it’s not good for large breeds and is not advised to be used in dogs with pulling behavior. These leashes are not the first option to start training leashes for dogs.
Bungee style leashes
They are a popular choice for active dogs and military dogs. The elasticity of the leash makes it easy for dogs to move around without straining caused by sudden pulling.
Martingale leashes
Just like the slip leash, this one can act as a collar and leash. The lead is tightened to the neck size of the dog by a separate loop so the dog can’t pull hard or slip out of the leash. It’s the most suitable leash for pulling control and ordinary training leashes for dogs.
Training leashes for dogs
This process takes a few steps to follow so you can enjoy the on-leash walk with your dog:
Introduce the collar, harness, and leash to the dog
The first step in training leashes for dogs is to choose the suitable leash for your dog according to dog size, wanted material, dog health condition then let the dogs wear them for short periods many times in the house while giving treats and playing around to get used to them.
Using treats and sounds
Make a particular sound (like clapping or clucking tongues) and when the dog comes to you give it treats while wearing leashes. Then after coming to you take a few steps back and repeat the process so the dog comes to you again.
don’t forget the treat so you make a connection in its memory between treats and walking with leashes on.
Commands teaching (basic cues)
You can start teaching your puppy the basic cues from a young age. This training is based on positive encouragement. If the dog follows your command reward it with their favorite treats, food, or good words like “good dog” in happy voice. Avoid punishment as your dog will get confused “ what did I do wrong?”. Training dogs is like training a 2-years old child.
Essential commands for dogs are: sit, watch me, down, stay, wait, come, drop it, no, heel, leave it, bed, leash, quiet, shake.
Inside walk
Take your dog for a short walk from one room to another while wearing the leash ( with the help of treats from time to time) so they get over the restricted feeling of leash around them while walking.
Take the dog outside
Here comes the real step in training leashes for dogs. After you make sure that your dog is fine with the leash on while walking. Try to take it for short walks in a calm area. The dog will face more challenges like smells, sounds, and sights that will distract it at first so when the dog tries to run or walk randomly or sniff anything grab the leash and treat the dog when following your instructions.
Training leashes for dogs that pull
Pulling dog owners (especially Alaskan, chinook, or Siberian dog breed owners) are searching for the best leash to use to stop dogs from pulling. Here are some good options for leashes to stop dog pulling:
Martingale leashes:
are the first option and the best leash for training dogs not to pull. Martingale leashes have the advantage of slight tightening when pulling to stop the dog from running. It has a limitation of tightening around the dog so it doesn’t cause choking or any danger to the dog when running.
Flat leashes:
These are commonly used for training leashes for dogs. They are not as effective as martingale leashes to stop pulling but with good training, they provide the owner an appropriate control over the dog’s movement.
Use of halters for training leashes for dogs that pull
Halters are used over the dog’s nose (just like horses). Controlling head movement is the key to controlling body movement and limiting the dog’s movement.
The closer the equipment is to the head the more effective it is to control dog movement and stop pulling. So the best equipment to stop dogs from pulling in order are; Halters followed by martingale leashes or slip leashes then flat standard leashes.
The front-hook Harness could also be used to control the pulling and restrict the dog’s movement.
Off-leash training for dogs
Some people would love their dogs to have free outside walking and stretching experience. But letting your dog move outside the house free without leashing is a big step that should be preceded by good off-leash dog training to avoid many hazards.
Some dog breeds are more amenable to training (Border Collie, Retriever, Shepherd,…), on the other hand, breeds with high predatory instinct ( Siberian husky, Alaskan, coonhound,….) are difficult and dangerous to get off-leash training.
Pet owners must take the leadership role with dogs, dogs are pack animals that follow their leader dog ( their owner in this case) and they can feel the leadership in voice, behavior, and body language so you must be confident, calm, and firm when dealing with your unleashed dog.
The requirements before unleashing dog training
The basics for unleashing dog training have common aspects with the requirements for training leashes for dogs.
- Try to use a long leash before unleashing and watch your dog’s behavior and its reaction to your commands when running a long distance away from you. Does it respond to the recall command/ If your dog doesn’t respond to you and goes deep in exploring and running you should reconsider unleashing now.
- Test unleashing in a safe place as the backyard or fenced places preferred with no children around.
- Don’t forget to reward your dog with treats if obeys your commands and is a “good boy”! Treats are always a good motivator and crucial factor in training leashes for dogs and unleashing as well.
How to know if your dog is ready for off-leash
Off-leash training is -just like training leashes for dogs-a hard and challenging process that takes time. It may take weeks to months to have your dog ready to go free outside the house. You also might continue training your dog and behavior adjusting even after unleashing.
Assessing a dog’s behavior is important to know if your dog is ready to walk without a leash or not. Here are some behavioral signs to be assessed:
- The response of your dog to obedience training. And does it obey your commands?
- The dog’s reaction to surrounding people, children, other dogs, and animals.
- The prey drive of your dog is active and chasing small animals in the streets or not.
- Any bad behavioral changes that appear on your dog after an off-leashing walk like biting, aggressive barking,..
Hazards and risks of off-leashing
Before starting off-leash training and letting your dog run freely, you should consider the hazards and risks of letting your dog free without leash control in public places;
- Your dog may panic about anything around like a car horn or any loud voice and run away fast.
- The dog may get lost, hit by cars or even fight with other animals causing hazards to itself.
- Dogs usually are curious and may sniff or eat anything on the ground. This may lead to food poisoning and sickness.
- The dog may attack people or children and it would be hard to control it at this time.
- Surrounding people may get afraid of your dog and worry about its behavior. Even if your dog is friendly, some people can panic about unleashed dogs.
- You should that some places don’t allow unleashed walking of dogs in public places so be aware of the laws in your area and district.
What to do if your dog runs unleashed away during an outing?
You can never guarantee your dog’s behavior even with heavy training.
Stay as a leader
Your dog expects you to be an alpha leader. So if your dog runs away from you stay calm, don’t be angry or fearful, and recall it with a firm, even-toned sound and wait for it to come back to you as trained.
Don’t run after your dog
If you chase your dog, it will think you are playing and run faster. So it’s better to stay at your place and just wait for the dog to apply what you trained it to do.
Make them see the treats
Get your dog’s attention by showing them the treats bag. Treats are very effective in these cases.
Walk away
Turn around while recalling your dog. Dogs are curious and may follow you.
Pet tracker
Dog-friendly GPS tracker placed on the dog’s collar is a good option for you if you want to walk with your dog unleashed. This would help you to find your escaped dog faster and easier.
Conclusion
Although the unleashing outing is an amazing experience for dogs and dog owners, you are responsible for the safety of your dog and your dog’s behavior with surrounding people and animals in public places. So make sure to make professional training leashes for dogs and to use the leash on your dog if it has a history of running away and is not ready yet to be totally free.
Read more
Home remedies for whooping cough
