Wondering how to stop a dog pulling on the lead when you’ve already tried everything?
The solution is to find a good, qualified dog trainer.
Sounds simple, right? But we both know it’s sometimes not.
If your experience is anything like mine, you might’ve already done some private dog training, and maybe you even had multiple different dog trainers too.
It’s frustrating, but I guarantee you that there’s a trainer out there who’ll be able to help stop your dog from pulling on the lead. It’s just a matter of finding them.
And then once you’ve found the right trainer it’s up to you to commit to an appropriate training schedule, so that your dog can successfully learn a new behaviour.
Why you need a good dog trainer more than anything else to stop a dog pulling on the lead
I spent a year trying to teach my dog to stop from pulling on the leash with very limited success.
We’ve tried everything you can find when researching this topic on the internet:
- Changing directions
- Stopping when they pull forward
- No-pull harnesses
- Low distraction walking routes
- ….
I eventually even had to buy one of those super strong leashes and a new collar because our original set broke due to the ongoing pulling behaviour.
So, clearly I’m not the authority on telling you how you can stop your dog from pulling on the lead, right?
Well, no, but I can share my experience with you.
Because as it turns out, all year long, I was making a small mistake that I wasn’t aware of.
When I finally enrolled into dog training sessions again, I met a new trainer and within a minute of watching us, he noticed the mistake and told me how to fix it.
It took a few weeks of dedicated training walks with a changed behaviour on my end, and I kid you not, now suddenly my dog can walk on a loose leash.
So, I’m just here to tell you that there’s hope. And that maybe it’s easier to find a new helpful trainer rather than trying different methods that can be found on the internet.
Why do some dogs pull so much on the lead?
Your dog’s age, breed, and the environment you are walking in are just two of the factors that play a role in their pulling on the lead.
It depends where you live, whether you’re in a park with few distractions or walking down a busy road with cars and people everywhere.
So, the reasons vary and because of this not every training method can be successful for every person and their dog.
Because of this, the best way to stop a dog from pulling on the lead is by seeking out professional help. A qualified dog trainer can observe you and your dog and provide you with custom tips, tailored to your circumstances.
Finding the right dog trainer
Dog training in Australia is an unregulated industry, which can sometimes make it difficult to find the right trainer for your specific circumstances.
On top of that, all dogs have individual personalities, and even amongst the same breed they can show different characteristics.
So, a training method that worked for one dog might not work for another.
If you don’t know where to start, ask your vet if they can recommend a local dog trainer.
Don’t buy training tools without professional help
There are many different training tools available to purchase that claim to help stop a dog pulling on the lead.
Here are some of the most popular ones:
- No-pull harnesses
- Halti Headcollars
- Martingale collars
If you have a strong dog, you might also need a strong leash for while you train your dog to stop pulling.
However, please be aware that all training tools are best used under the instruction and guidance from a professional.
Even the simplest dog training tools such as a flat collar and a leash will work best when they’re used with a specific training methodology, which you can learn from a qualified dog trainer.
