A reader asked me recently, how to manage their young spaniel when they need to keep them safe on a leash, but have not yet completed their leash training.
My reader rightly recognized that walking the puppy on a leash while they are pulling ahead allows the puppy to practice the unwanted behavior which is counter-productive.
And they are right.
It is definitely not a good idea to let a young dog practice unwanted behaviors. Whether its ‘pulling on a leash’, jumping up on strangers, or any one of a number of typical puppy misdemeanours.
However, many people need to take their dogs from A to B on a leash at least occasionally before they are fully trained. And so a certain amount of compromise is inevitable.
The first step is to recognize the scope of the problem
Getting from A to B
Many people set themselves an almost impossible target. They want to achieve all of these things at one time
- Reach a destination on foot
- At a specific time
- With a dog that is not leash trained
- Without endangering the dog
- Without rehearsing leash pulling
It is almost impossible to get a dog that is not leash trained from point A to point B on foot, if there is any time limitation on your arrival at B, if you want to have the dog on a normal collar and leash and to avoid the dog practicing dragging you along the sidewalk
Your options
Until heel training is well established there are some options you can consider, and that people will suggest to you, that will help you manage your dog to keep them safe and minimize leash pulling.
They are somewhat limited. And they all have their drawbacks. So we’ll have a look at them in turn. Then I’ll describe my own system which hopefully you’ll then be able to adapt to suit your lifestyle
Some options
- Limit regular leash walks until heel training is well established.
- Drive rather than walk, where possible
- Carry your pup short distances if they are small enough
- Allow yourself more time
- Consider a head collar as a temporary solution for very large puppies
- Use a different restraint system for pre-training outings
Limiting leash walks
The first, and I feel most important, option is to limit leash walk outings. Especially on a regular basis, until your young dog is walking nicely on a loose leash.
Yes, you do need to socialize your puppy. But as long as you have a yard or garden where they can run around and play, a five month old puppy does not need a daily walk to the dog park.
So try to limit leash walking while you focus on heel training. It’s only temporary, and this stage will pass.
Drive and carry
Limiting leash walking means driving or carrying your puppy more than you might like. And I appreciate that it’s better for the planet and your waistline if you walk.
But again, this is a temporary thing. And once you’ve got that training underway, you can walk as far as you like.
Allow yourself more time
Whenever possible, when you have to leash walk an untrained or part trained puppy, set off early so that you can avoid moving forwards when the puppy is pulling.
Changing direction each time the puppy pulls helps to avoid convincing the puppy that pulling is the best way to go forwards.
Use a different restraint
Some puppies just get too big to carry even a short distance. And a lot of people will be quick to suggest that you use a head halter to prevent pulling.
My own feeling is that head halters are quite aversive and unpleasant for dogs to wear, and that those who use them tend to come to rely on them, rather than training their dog to walk nicely. So I don’t recommend them, and you can read more about that in this article: Headcollar Vs Body Harness
An alternative, is to use a different restraint system for training than the one you use for restraining the puppy before they are trained, so that the puppy does not associate the equipment you use in training session, with the action of pulling. This is what I do.
My system for preventing leash pulling
I am lucky to have outdoor space at home so I don’t have to exercise my puppies in public spaces before they are leash trained. But just like you, I need to socialize my puppies.
For these outings, trips to the vet etc, I use a body harness with distinctive thick leash attached to the back clip.
I carry my puppies wherever possible, in and out of the vets office for example. And yes, Labrador puppies are heavy!
We lived in a village for many years, where there were some great places for socializing puppies within easy walking distance. Local food stores, pet shops, and pubs for example.
But I never walked my puppies to those places. Instead I drove, or carried them when they were very small. Parked outside, carried the puppy inside, or stood outside where passers by and shoppers could stroke and pet them.
I was within walking distance of the school my children attended too. But again, when I had a puppy with me I would drive there, and carry the puppy at the school gates where the children could pet them.
When I train my puppies to walk to heel, I do so off leash first.
No leash at all.
And when they are quite fluent at walking along next to me for some distance without a leash, I have them wear a traditional collar, and gradually start to clip a leash onto that. This is the system I teach in Core Skills.
I introduce pulling triggers (walking through gateways, doorways, to the car, past animals ) very gradually, and allow myself a lot of time to do this.
Only when the dog is practiced at walking on their collar and leash, will I re-introduce a body harness. By then, their memories of pulling on a harness are in the dim and distant past.
Making a system work for you
Loose leash walking is one of the biggest challenges many people face when they want to get out and about with their puppies. And many people get this wrong and end up with a chronic pulling problem.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
While there is no perfect solution, you should be able to adapt my system well enough to get your puppy out and about without spoiling your hard work on leash training.
Minimize those leash outings as much as you can. When it isn’t safe to let your puppy trot after you, carry your puppy for as long as you can.
Teach them to walk to heel without a restraint (see our Core Skills course for more on this) and when you do add a restraint choose something they haven’t worn before.
You might also find this article helpful: When Your Dog Will NOT Stop Pulling On The Leash
Good luck with your training!
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