DOG’S BEST FRIEND: YOUR DOG PULLS ON THE LEAD?

03 Mar DOG’S BEST FRIEND: YOUR DOG PULLS ON THE LEAD?

Bowser’s a good friend, but he jumps up at inopportune times, and you’ve got muddy paw-prints on your clean sweater… Or, Bowser takes YOU for a walk, with a lead that is as taut as a guitar string, and you’re concerned he’ll pull you over when you hit the first patch of ice… What to do?

Watch this week’s video, as Ted Hoff, of Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel, deals with Aspen, a sensitive dog with a pulling problem. Note that not much changes- Ted deals with Aspen in the same easy, gentle way we’ve seen in so many videos. He does make the point that every dog is different, and that attention must be paid, but the end result is the same: lots of repetition, lots of praise when the behavior warrants, making sure that only correct behavior is rewarded, keeping his demeanor calm. Aspen clearly responds favorably to the training, and we see a calm dog, easy to get along with.

Remember: the training is important, but just as important is the follow-through when your dog comes home with you. Your consistency or the lack of it will determine whether your dog will need remedial training.