Welcome! Today we will give tips to stop your Doodle dog from pulling the leash. You may have thought of everything when you bring your new addition to the family.
You’ve got the toys, chew sticks, bed, food supplies, and maybe even training treats. But one thing you probably haven’t thought about is leash training.
Every puppy is ecstatic to go out for their first walk around the neighborhood. This delight can quickly turn hazardous for your Doodle.
Dog leash pulling can lead to accidents and injury if you don’t anticipate leash training.
Gentle Leader
The Gentle Leader is one of the best inventions to stop your Doodle dog from leash-pulling. This fantastic device will quickly train any dog not to pull on its leash in no time.
This device stops Doodle dog leash pulling because it attaches to the collar and leash and wraps around your dog’s nose. So any time your dog gets too excited, it gently pulls its nose down.
These harnesses are entirely safe when used correctly. They do not cause any harm to your dog, and your dog will grow to love it in time.
Though it will take some getting used to at first, you may find that your dog will rub his nose and not want to go for his walk when you first try it out. But, after some practice, he will get excited to see it.
To use this Gentle Leader, have your dog wear it around the house a few times daily. Once your dog realizes that it will not harm him, try for a walk around the yard.
This will provide a great safe place to do a test run. If all goes well, you can take a stroll around the block. Any time your dog pulls, it will gently pull his nose down.
Over time your Doodle will understand that pulling will not get him anywhere any faster.
Stop Turn Around Method
The Stop Turn Around method is another way to stop your Doodle dog from pulling leashes. In this training exercise, you do not need any training devices if you wish.
The idea of this method is that getting to where your dog wants to go is the reward. Your Doodle will pull on her leash because she is excited and wants to go to a specific area.
So, to stop pulling, the consequence is that it will take longer to get there if she doesn’t behave.
To start the Stop Turn Around method, you only need to go for a walk with your dog. The moment that your dog pulls on her leash, stop moving forward.
If she continues to resist, turn around in a circle to redirect her focus. You may then keep walking until she pulls again, then you will repeat the process.
This can be a slow training method, but it can be highly effective. Walking up and down the street might take several minutes, but Doodles are fast learners. She will get it in no time.
Short Leashes
Next, we will talk about leash length and what to avoid. Many websites will tell you to use a longer leash meant for training. I do not recommend that for several reasons.
It encourages your dog to go wherever they wishGives too much space between owner and dog can promote more pulling to go even further since they were able to do it before.
They also defeat the purpose of training your dog to walk by your side or slightly ahead of you
For training purposes, it is best to get a least that is shorter, no more than 3 feet long. Also, never use a retractable leash to train your Doodle.
These leashes are impossible to train with and break all too often from excessive pulling. Using a short leash makes your dog walk right at your side within safe distances.
Once your Doodle is thoroughly leash trained, upgrade to a longer leash.
Heel Command
Number four is all about teaching your dog the heel command. Heeling can be taught in several ways, even using the mentioned techniques.
This heel command is helpful throughout your dog’s lifetime. And it can be an essential step to stop Doodle dog leash pulling.
To use this command, pick a method to redirect any time your dog pulls. This training could be stopping completely, using the Stop Turn Around method, or using a Gentle Leader.
While using the redirection method, tell your dog to heel. Once your dog is right back by your side, you can continue to walk again.
When doing this repeatedly, your dog will soon make the connection that heel means to come back by your side. Eventually, you can use just the command and no redirection.
Since Doodles are intelligent dogs, they will easily pick up on these commands. They always want to please you, so praise your dog and reward them with a small training treat.
You can even practice this command at home without going on a walk. Repetition is the key to training any dog well.
Treats
To go off of tip #4, treats are a great tool in motivating your dog to do any training. Any time your dog performs a task or command, give them a small training treat and reward them immediately.
The trick is to provide them with praise quickly because they will not remember the good behavior if you wait too long.
Giving them praise and a treat is also a great idea if they perform the expected behavior without being prompted.
It will make your dog so happy to receive a treat for being a good boy without being told to do so. It will also help encourage him to do this repeatedly in hopes of another snack.
Clickers
Another excellent training tool is using a Clicker to correct bad behavior.
A lot of people misunderstand that a clicker is supposed to be used instead of a treat. They believe that it is a reward for good behavior when in actuality, it is a redirection.
When you start correcting dog leash pulling, you will use whatever method you have chosen in conjunction with a treat. Every time your dog gets a reward, give your clicker a press.
Soon, your dog will associate the click with good behavior; thank you, Pavlov.
Once your dog has gotten the idea that pulling is bad and that they get a treat for walking at your side, it is time to change the game.
Now every time your dog pulls, click on your clicker. Now your dog will associate the clicker with doing good behavior that will get a reward. Your Doodle will stop pulling and resume his place at your side.
This method redirects your dog and trains him to behave well when performing a bad one. Your dog will know that any time he hears that click, it means to return to you.
This can work on walks, at home, or at the dog park. The clicker recommended above comes with a starter book to begin clicker training. It explains very well how to get started and even how to use for more than just leash training.
Don’t Give Up
Our last tip is the most important tip of all. Do not give up. If you are inconsistent with your training, your Doodle will never catch on to what you expect of them.
No matter how brilliant your dog is, you must practice and never give in to what they want. Giving up can be very confusing for your dog.
It can make the process a lot slower and more of a strain than it needs to be. If you need to, set reminders on your phone to go out and practice with your Doodle.
Ensure everyone walking your Doodle is also following the same steps. That way, your dog doesn’t think he can get away with it with other people.
And be sure to practice several times a day. The more you practice, the faster your dog will learn.
As much as you might want to, don’t give in even once. Allowing your dog to pull even briefly can backtrack your entire training process.
Conclusion
Doodle dog leash pulling can be a difficult thing to overcome. But since Doodles are highly intelligent breeds, with a few easy tips, you will have a well-behaved dog in no time.
Walks will be a breeze, and you will never have to worry again about an accident. Everyone will envy how great your dog does on her leash and will wonder how you did it.
We hope you enjoyed our list of tips to stop your dog from leash-pulling. And we hope you have found inspiration to begin your training process.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
