How to get my dog to stop pulling on walks?

Dogs
1

Hey everyone… I’ve got a seven-year-old German Shepherd who just loves to pull me on our walks. He’s pretty strong, and it can be tough to control him. Anyone have tips or tricks to help with this? I’d really appreciate it!

2

I’ve heard that you should stop walking completely when they pull. It’s super tedious, but I’ve been doing it and it seems to be working for my dog!

3

Kiran said:
I’ve heard that you should stop walking completely when they pull. It’s super tedious, but I’ve been doing it and it seems to be working for my dog!

That sounds like a good idea! How long does it usually take for your dog to get the hang of it?

4

@Oren
It took a couple of weeks, but now he’s way better at it! Just gotta be patient, I guess.

5

Same here! My dog pulls like crazy. I’ve been stopping and making him sit when he pulls, then I walk again. It’s slow progress but getting there!

6

Sage said:
Same here! My dog pulls like crazy. I’ve been stopping and making him sit when he pulls, then I walk again. It’s slow progress but getting there!

How long do you make him sit for? Just curious…

7

@Whitney
I usually do about 30 seconds. Just enough for him to chill out before we start again.

8

Have you tried using treats to reward good behavior? It could help keep him focused on you instead of pulling!

9

Teagan said:
Have you tried using treats to reward good behavior? It could help keep him focused on you instead of pulling!

I haven’t really… what kind of treats do you suggest?

10

Teagan said:
Have you tried using treats to reward good behavior? It could help keep him focused on you instead of pulling!

Just his favorite snacks! It makes him more eager to listen.

11

I think keeping the training sessions short and fun is key too! My dog gets bored if we go too long.

12

Remy said:
I think keeping the training sessions short and fun is key too! My dog gets bored if we go too long.

Totally agree! If we’re out too long, my dog just wants to rush everywhere.

13

Oh, and don’t forget to stay calm! If you’re stressed, they’ll pick up on that and it might make things worse.

14

Zephyr said:
Oh, and don’t forget to stay calm! If you’re stressed, they’ll pick up on that and it might make things worse.

Good point! I’ll try to keep it chill during our walks.