Why aren’t more people teaching their pets to walk nicely on a leash? I rarely see dogs with good leash etiquette, even though it seems like this very basic conduct would be the first focus of everyone who takes their dogs anyplace. I promise that a dog that doesn’t pull is the exception, not the rule, even though that may be overstating things.
I believe that part of the issue is that people just sort of expect their dogs to know to stay close to them when they go for walks together. However, if you’ve ever taken your dog on an off-leash stroll, you are aware that most dogs walk very differently from most people. We usually proceed with a purpose, knowing where we are heading and moving at a steady speed.
On the other hand, if given the freedom to roam around, the majority of dogs will run ahead, pause to sniff, fall behind, sprint to catch up, and repeat this cycle for all but the longest hikes. During extended walks, they may begin to accompany us simply out of exhaustion; but, the sight of an unfamiliar bird, bunny, or friend ahead on the path will prompt them to begin a new race ahead, fall behind, or run to catch up sequence.
Additionally, we typically walk quicker than many dogs do, but not as quickly as they trot. It’s terrible that they have to continuously change their gait—walk, trot, walk, trot—to match our boring plod! However, it’s not quite as annoying as the fact that we rarely take the time to smell.
In actuality, most people become just as frustrated with their dogs’ leash etiquette as their dogs do with people’s ignorance of their needs and desires. When dogs are frustrated and have no fun activities to do while out for a walk, they tend to get disinterested in their humans’ attempts to lead or control them. This might result in the purchase and usage of painful dog training equipment like prong, pinch, or choke collars.
Sadly, the majority of dogs I see wearing these collars are still pulling and ignoring their owners, therefore I refer to them as management tools rather than training tools because no one seems to use them in a way that would teach the dog to cease pulling! Simply put, compared to a flat collar, the owners have a little more clout.
Don’t wait any longer if you and your dog are having trouble walking together. Invest in a few one-on-one or group dog training sessions with a non-coercive trainer who can teach you how to make your dog’s stroll with you worthwhile. You’ll be happy you did, as will your dog.
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