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Six Tips to Walk Your Hyperactive Dog!
Is your dog pulling on leash during walk-times? Canine expert Sabine shares six easy tips to ensure walking with dogs becomes a breeze!
Walk times are, no doubt, our dogs’ favourite past-time and can brighten up the gloomiest of their days. As soon as you clip on the leash, they are all set and ready for another sniffing adventure. However, amidst all their enthusiasm, they sometimes forget about the poor, measly human on the other end of the leash. The leash pulling, zig-zagging, jumping to meet every dog, human, and pigeon can be quite stressful for us.
But did you know that the key to a successful and enjoyable walk (for your dog and you!) lies in how your walk begins even before you step out the door? If your dog is already hyper and jumping all over the place as soon as you bring out the leash and step out the door, the rest of your walk is going to be just as chaotic.
Here are six, simple measures you can take to ensure that your walks are less stressful and more enjoyable for you and your dog:
But did you know that the key to a successful and enjoyable walk (for your dog and you!) lies in how your walk begins even before you step out the door? If your dog is already hyper and jumping all over the place as soon as you bring out the leash and step out the door, the rest of your walk is going to be just as chaotic.
Here are six, simple measures you can take to ensure that your walks are less stressful and more enjoyable for you and your dog:
1) Drain excess energy
If your dog is bouncing off the walls, dashing around excitedly, or is using your furniture for agility before you even step through that door, you have already lost the battle. If your dog is not calm inside with only a few distractions, they will not be calm in the world outside with its many smells, sights and sounds. You will have to drain some of the energy before stepping out of the house. Play a game of fetch or tug-o-war, do some nosework games, have them chase a toy on a flirt pole.
2) Break the “leash equals walk association”
Before we address dogs pulling on the leash, we need to break the association that picking up the leash equals walks, every single time. To desensitize your dog to the leash, pick it up several times a day, hold it in your hand, walk into another room, place it on a table, pick it up again, carry it to the kitchen, leave it on the counter, etc. Repeat this for several days until your dog no longer reacts to the leash excitedly.
3) Attach the leash calmly
Have your dog sit calmly in front of you. Gently hold their collar with one hand (to stop them from running off) and attach the leash to the collar with the other. If your dog gets up, paws at you, nibbles your hand or chews the leash, stop what you are doing. Straighten up, wait for the dog to sit calmly, then try again. Patiently repeat this step until you can calmly attach the leash. This will take patience and consistency.
4) Address the leash chewing
If your dog chews on the leash, you can try one of three things:
2) Break the “leash equals walk association”
Before we address dogs pulling on the leash, we need to break the association that picking up the leash equals walks, every single time. To desensitize your dog to the leash, pick it up several times a day, hold it in your hand, walk into another room, place it on a table, pick it up again, carry it to the kitchen, leave it on the counter, etc. Repeat this for several days until your dog no longer reacts to the leash excitedly.
3) Attach the leash calmly
Have your dog sit calmly in front of you. Gently hold their collar with one hand (to stop them from running off) and attach the leash to the collar with the other. If your dog gets up, paws at you, nibbles your hand or chews the leash, stop what you are doing. Straighten up, wait for the dog to sit calmly, then try again. Patiently repeat this step until you can calmly attach the leash. This will take patience and consistency.
4) Address the leash chewing
If your dog chews on the leash, you can try one of three things:
- Become a statue, do not move or tug on the leash, and calmly wait for your dog to stop. Then praise and reward.
- Use the “DROP IT” command, i.e., release the item from your mouth, if your dog knows and reliably follows the command.
- Swiftly yank the leash from their mouth. It might not look nice but it does not hurt and most dogs get the message.
5) Teach threshold manners
If your dog is pulling on the leash and dragging you out of the door as soon as it is opened, it is time to teach them about threshold manners or just good old-fashioned manners. This is also a question of safety, for you, your dog, other people and dogs outside.
With the leash attached, ask your dog to SIT near the door, in such a way that you can easily open the door and are able to body block your dog to prevent them from dashing out. Wait for your dog to make eye contact, use the WATCH ME command if already taught, or just wait for it, then open the door. If your dog gets up, body block and immediately close the door again. Wait for your dog to SIT again, wait for eye contact again, then open the door. If your dog remains seated, wait for eye contact again, wait 3 more seconds, then use your marker word “YES” or your walk command “LET’S Go”. You do not need to reward your dog with a treat, the walk is the reward, what trainers refer to as a “life reward”. Have your dog follow you through the door calmly. If they pull or try to push past you, go back inside and start all over again. Yes, this is tedious, and frustrating, but with patience and consistency your dog will learn good threshold manners.
As soon as you are outside, ask your dog to SIT again as you have to close the door behind you. Follow the same procedure as before. If your dog gets up, you go back inside and start all over again.
These steps will teach your dog to calm down and to focus on you, even before you start your walk.
With the leash attached, ask your dog to SIT near the door, in such a way that you can easily open the door and are able to body block your dog to prevent them from dashing out. Wait for your dog to make eye contact, use the WATCH ME command if already taught, or just wait for it, then open the door. If your dog gets up, body block and immediately close the door again. Wait for your dog to SIT again, wait for eye contact again, then open the door. If your dog remains seated, wait for eye contact again, wait 3 more seconds, then use your marker word “YES” or your walk command “LET’S Go”. You do not need to reward your dog with a treat, the walk is the reward, what trainers refer to as a “life reward”. Have your dog follow you through the door calmly. If they pull or try to push past you, go back inside and start all over again. Yes, this is tedious, and frustrating, but with patience and consistency your dog will learn good threshold manners.
As soon as you are outside, ask your dog to SIT again as you have to close the door behind you. Follow the same procedure as before. If your dog gets up, you go back inside and start all over again.
These steps will teach your dog to calm down and to focus on you, even before you start your walk.
6) Finish your dog walk on a calm note
The last thing your dog will remember about the walk is how it ends. So you want your dog to be calm and not drag you back into your house. When you reach your doorstep, ask your dog for a SIT, wait for eye contact, then open the door, wait 3 more seconds before stepping back into the house. Ask your dog to SIT and then calmly detach the leash. The perfect end to a hopefully perfect walk – in your and your dog’s mind.
Taking your dog for a walk every day is a great way to strengthen your bond. It's something you and your dog will be doing together every day. If your dog pulls on the leash, rushes out the door, or jumps on people, take a pause and first learn and teach them what good and relaxed leash walking looks like. We are sure your daily walks will become much more pleasant after that.
Happy Pet Parenting!
Taking your dog for a walk every day is a great way to strengthen your bond. It's something you and your dog will be doing together every day. If your dog pulls on the leash, rushes out the door, or jumps on people, take a pause and first learn and teach them what good and relaxed leash walking looks like. We are sure your daily walks will become much more pleasant after that.
Happy Pet Parenting!
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