This is an article from close friend, Richard Heinz, The Miami Dog Whisperer:
WHO'S WALKING WHOM? - DOG WALKING ANYONE CAN DO!
One of the most important things to do when you get a new puppy, or adopt an adult dog from a shelter, is learn how to properly walk your dog on a leash so that the experience for both you and your dog is both enjoyable and serves it’s purpose.
When you walk your dog on a leash, you may think you are doing it to help the dog go potty outside, or get the dog, and yourself, some exercise. All of these reasons are valid, however, there is a bigger purpose, walking your dog on a leash serves.
Dogs are pack animals. Walking your dog on a leash establishes you as the leader of the pack.
How does this happen? Well, the general public opinion is that it is okay and even natural, to allow your dog to walk ahead of you, pull you and sniff the ground in front of you.
You have seen those who if you look closely, they are not the ones walking their dog, but it is the other way around!
To the dog, when you allow them to “lead” you, they become the pack leader. Their respect for you diminishes, because now they are ahead of you on the food chain and you will find that this behavior will eventually affect the relationship in the home, as well.
If you have ever seen a pack of wild dogs, and most of us have not, but wolves are the closest we can get, you will see that the leader of the pack, always, ALWAYS, is the head of the pack and the others will be either beside them or a few steps behind. The leader of the pack has the responsibility to protect the members and to lead them.
If your dog feels they
have the responsibility
to protect and
lead you, then they
will feel off balance,
become aggressive towards
other dogs and people,
and not give you the respect
you expect from them!
They may become nervous, anxious and dysfunctional. Other behavior issues will surface and you will not realize it all stems from simply not knowing how to walk your dog properly.have the responsibility
to protect and
lead you, then they
will feel off balance,
become aggressive towards
other dogs and people,
and not give you the respect
you expect from them!
Any time you see a dog acting aggressive or lunging at another dog, or passerby while on a leash, or simply going out of control, be it on the walk, or at home, it is telling you a story about the relationship that the owner has with their dog, what is going on inside the dog and how the dog views their place in the pack. If your dog is acting aggressive, you can almost guarantee, that it is a lack of confidence and of respect for their owner and the ability of the owners to protect and lead them. Therefore, the dog feels that they are supposed to be the leader of your pack, a position they are not prepared or able to handle, and their world goes out of balance.
Well, it is the rules of the breed, it is their nature and you can prove it easily. Learn a few dog training techniques on how to properly walk your dog, and begin doing it correctly, and you will immediately notice how it translates to every issue and relationship milestone that you are facing.
Dog Training Tips on how to walk your dog properly:
1. You need the proper equipment (training collar and 6 foot non-retractable leash) –no harnesses please, these are made for pulling.
2. When walking out the house, make sure you go first out the door and your dog follows, not the other way around.
3. Once outside, dog should be on your left side. Not in front of you, not behind you, but directly in step with you. Their nose should be in sync with your left knee (or hip or ankle depending on the size of the dog)
4. Your right hand should be in the handle, the leash should be in front of left thigh and it should make a “J” coming up to your right hand, which you place in front of your belly button.
5. You will leave your hand there the whole time. NO PULLING, TUGGING, or SHOVING your dog.
6. Simply walk and the dog will keep step with you.
7. If you see that the dog wonders off, or tries to pull, you put your whole body into it and turn the opposite direction in order to get their mind back on walking properly. Dog goes right, you go left, dog goes left you go right and so on.
8. If you do this a few times, then you will see that your dog will no longer walk away and try to pull, but will keep step with you throughout the whole walk.
9. This technique works, but it takes time to perfect it. Keep at it and practice it every time you go out on a walk.
10. When you want your dog to go potty, simply say “Okay” and allow the dog to go to the grass and sniff and potty. Once done, you regain control of the walk and keep going.
Remember, bad habits are hard to break and it takes some practice for both you and your dog to get into proper walking mode. However, once this is accomplished, you can feel confident, it will make your life and your pooches life much more balance and enjoyable.
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