Are you a leash popper?

 Are you a leash popper?  Do you yank and crank? Guess what?  Your leash is not a steering wheel or a switch, it’s merely a safety belt!

Leash Corrections Don’t Teach Dogs Anything! When you leash pop, you’re not really teaching your dog anything at all.  Leash corrections are waiting for the dog to get it wrong. 

Look at it this way: You have a child and you want them to learn to play piano. You could introduce them to a piano as something fun, encourage them and reward progress or you can force them to play and deliver a painful shock or slap them or yell at them every time they hit the wrong key. Will both methods work? Maybe……. But the punishment is crazy and cruel right? But, that's the method you're advocating for when you use leash corrections. The punishment method is also likely to make your child hate playing piano and it can cause dogs to avoid engaging with you or participating in training.

Punishing is more rewarding to the punish-er than the punished. That statement probably stings, but it’s true.  Physical or verbal corrections destroy your relationship with your dog. I’ve witnessed how leash corrections ruined the bond between dog and owner so many times.  I’ve seen a dog get a leash correction and then totally give up, walk off, lay down or refuse to pay attention any longer. I have heard people say dogs “appreciate corrections because they’re done with love.” Yet, their dogs’ body language says otherwise.

All to often, people forget their dog is an animal that does not speak English and views the world differently than humans.  Taking your frustrations out on your dog, who is not a human, is so unfair. Anything and everything that goes wrong during the learning process gets blamed on the dog – your dogs are animals; they do not speak English and they cannot read your mind!

Be a teacher:  As a teacher, it’s your job to teach the learner. If the learner is confused, the teacher did something wrong! The next time you get frustrated during a walk or training session, take a moment to breathe deeply. Excuse yourself or hand the leash over to a friend, walk away, and compose yourself! It is your responsibility to be a great teacher.

First steps:  If yanking the leash worked, you would only need to do it once or twice and it would work!  Instead, teach your dog to focus on you!  Reward your dog for looking at you, paying attention to you and for keeping the leash loose.  Teach your dog to target your hand on a walk!

Need help?  Give me a call or text!

 

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