The walk from the dog's perspective
Think about what the walk means for your dog. They step out into a world full of smells, sounds, movements. It's like the door opening at a party.
The dog wants to explore everything immediately. Their nose pulls them here and there, the excitement is huge. The leash, from their side, is an obstacle between them and the world.
Why do they pull?
Natural pace. Dogs naturally walk faster than us. What we consider "pulling" can simply be the dog's natural pace.
Reinforcement. Every time the dog pulls and gets where they want, they learn that the strategy works. The walk "rewards" them for pulling.
Over-arousal. The dog is so excited they can't think.
Unmet needs. If the dog doesn't get out enough or doesn't have enough mental stimulation, the walk becomes the only "outlet" and the excitement becomes extreme.
What doesn't work
Sharp jerks back, choke chains, slip collars or e-collars: They create pain, fear and negative associations. The dog may stop temporarily, but your relationship and their health are at risk.
Yelling and scolding. The dog doesn't understand what you're saying. They simply feel that the walk is becoming stressful.
The walk can change
With the right approach, the walk can become a pleasant experience for both of you. But this doesn't happen with a "trick" or a tool. It requires understanding why this particular dog pulls, and an approach that suits them.
We try to become like a magnet for our dog. To make them want to listen to us and to make their walk pleasant so they want to and enjoy cooperating with us. We need to find a motivator our dog likes. Play or food, combined with the way we speak to them and when we ask them for something. It's important to find the right moment to ask our dog for something, and we try to meet their needs on the walk without constantly being an obstacle to the things they really enjoy doing.