Pulling On Lead - New Habit

[Georgia'sMum]

As some of you know our sheltie girl, Georgia had patella surgery 5 weeks ago. She's healing nicely and I take her for 3 slow, short walks daily. She's always walked beautifully on lead, pretty much from the day she arrived but now its like trying to walk a steam train.

I think this has a lot to do with excess energy, since she's not getting the physical activity she had before, as she's not allowed to run and jump at the moment, which is fun with a 1yo sheltie... NOT!

Anyway, should I try correcting her and getting her to walk nicely now. I'm hoping she'll calm down once I can increase the excercise and use up some of that pent up energy. My main focus has just been getting her to walk on all four legs and rebuilding those muscles which have suffered due to limited use in the last few weeks. So I'm kind of letting her get away with it, at the moment.

hmmm any ideas?

 

[BarbV]

Hold the leash in two hands. The next step depends on whether your prefer to walk the dog on your left or your right.

Assuming the left, hold the leash loop in your right hand. With your left, gather up the loose end of the leash and hold it close to your body.

As you walk, if the dog pulls, gently tug back with your left hand to bring back to you. Praise if she slows her pace to match yours. If necessary, put the dog into a sit beside you, treat and praise. Then resume the walk at your command. If dog pulls again, then sit, praise and treat again.

The dog needs to learn to walk at your pace and you will control it if necessary by doing sits.

There are other methods, but this is the least "cumbersome" that I know of.

Good luck!