Can Dog Leads Help With Leash Pulling Issues?

Dog Leads Help With Leash Pulling

A dog lead is a common accessory for many dogs but can be an issue for those who pull. Pulling on a leash can be frustrating for both dog and owner and often leads to the dog being walked less frequently. When this happens, dogs miss out on important exercise and enrichment. The good news is that there are many tools and training techniques available that can help with leash pulling issues. These include animal friendly harnesses, positive reinforcement training, classes and books on understanding dog behaviour. These methods are a lot more effective than verbal and leash corrections.

Choosing the right lead is a big part of getting the results you are looking for and can be influenced by your dog’s temperament and obedience level, how comfortable they are around other people and animals, their ability to focus on you and what they enjoy most about walking. Some leads are also better suited for certain behaviours and dispositions such as running off, agility, obedience or K9 work.

Some of the most commonly used types of dog leads are slip leads, retractable leads, padded obedience leads and slip chain leads. These can all be used to help with leash pulling and are suitable for dogs of any size or breed. A retractable lead is a cord that can be lengthened and shortened as needed to keep your dog next to you while they walk, run and play. It is particularly useful for dogs who get distracted easily as it helps them to stay focused on you and can be a great tool for training heel work, especially when combined with a clicker.

Can Dog Leads Help With Leash Pulling Issues?

A padded obedience lead is a soft nylon or leather lead that has a piece of cushioning on it, making it more comfortable than traditional woven rope or chain leads. These can be a good option for dogs who are sensitive to the rough material of other leads or those with collar or skin issues. A slip chain lead is a small metal or plastic handle with a clasp that attaches to the collar. It is often used for tracking and control in hunting and in police and military K9 work to prevent a dog from being able to escape.

Choke collars are not only an unpleasant experience for the dog but can cause a variety of other health problems including damage to the thyroid gland and salivary glands, increased heart rate and blood pressure, neck misalignment, a lack of energy flow to the body, anxiety and stress, increased coughing and hiccups and even death. It is no wonder that so many people who use choke collars or other leash corrections for pullers say they find it hard to maintain a strong bond with their dog or end up relinquishing them.

Using animal friendly methods that discourage pulling is the best way to get enjoyable walks and ensure you can spend as much time with your dog as possible. Whether you have a prong collar, a choke chain or a no-pull harness, if you want to stop your dog from pulling, you will need to change their behaviour by being more predictable and training them to listen to you instead of the things they see, hear and smell on the walk.