How To Stop Your Dog PULLING On The Leash

Summary

In this video, a dog behaviorist works with Sandy, a golden retriever with severe pulling issues on walks. The goal is to transform Sandy from a strong puller to a dog that walks nicely on a leash. The trainer focuses on building engagement and leadership, using directional changes and positive reinforcement to establish a connection. By the end of the session, Sandy shows significant improvement, walking calmly and responsively with the trainer, demonstrating the power of proper training techniques.

Takeaways

• 🐾 The trainer is working with a golden retriever named Sandy who has a pulling issue during walks.
• 👮 The trainer usually works with death row police dogs but is helping a friend with this case.
• 🕒 The goal is to transform Sandy from a strong puller to a dog that walks nicely on a heel in about 30 minutes.
• 👶 Sandy's pulling has made walking difficult for the owners, especially with young kids, affecting the dog's exercise and behavior.
• 🔄 The initial step is to build engagement with Sandy, who is currently not responding to the trainer's movements.
• 🧶 The trainer uses a slip lead for directional changes to start building engagement and responsiveness.
• 📈 Progress is evident as Sandy begins to check back with the trainer and show signs of engagement.
• 🍗 No food rewards are used initially; the focus is on building a relationship and communication for engagement.
• 🔄 A long line slip lead is introduced to give the trainer more time to make directional changes and enhance engagement.
• 👀 The trainer emphasizes the importance of eye contact and will later reward Sandy for making it naturally.
• 🎖 The transformation in Sandy's demeanor from anxious and energetic to calm and relaxed is significant, indicating the success of the training.

Q & A

What is the main issue with Sandy, the golden retriever?

Sandy is one of the worst pullers the trainer has ever seen, making walks a miserable experience for the owners and causing a lack of exercise for the dog.

Why is the trainer helping with Sandy's case?

The trainer is helping with Sandy's case as a favor to a friend, despite typically working with death row police cases on a volunteer basis at shelters.

What is the trainer's initial goal for the session with Sandy?

The trainer's goal is to transform Sandy from an extreme puller to walking beautifully on heel within about 30 minutes.

What is the foundation of the training approach used with Sandy?

The foundation of the training approach is building engagement with Sandy, as he shows no engagement with the trainer at the beginning.

What tool does the trainer initially use to work with Sandy?

The trainer initially uses a training lead to get a feel for Sandy and then switches to a slip lead to start building engagement through directional changes.

How does the trainer plan to build engagement with Sandy?

The trainer plans to build engagement by using directional changes and praising Sandy when he follows the command, along with using lead pressure from the slip lead to correct him when he doesn't engage.

Why does the trainer switch to a long line slip lead?

The trainer switches to a long line slip lead to give himself more time to make directional turns and allow Sandy to reach the end of the lead, providing more opportunities for engagement.

What is the significance of building engagement before teaching heel work?

Building engagement is crucial because it establishes a relationship and communication with the dog, making it more responsive and willing to follow commands without the need for bribery or extreme correction.

How does the trainer handle distractions during the training session?

The trainer uses minimal lead pressure to bring Sandy's attention back to him when distractions occur, reinforcing that looking up to the trainer brings positive outcomes.

What is the trainer's strategy for reinforcing eye contact with Sandy?

The trainer plans to appreciate and reward eye contact behavior over time, using praise and potential food rewards to condition Sandy to associate eye contact with positive outcomes.

How does the trainer ensure that Sandy remains a happy and relaxed dog during the training?

The trainer focuses on leadership, engagement, and relationship building, ensuring that Sandy understands he is not being abused or in pain, but rather is learning to work together with the trainer.