My Dog’s Persistent Pulling on the Lead: A Dilemma

Welcome back to My Dog Dilemma: Country Living’s weekly dog column in collaboration with the PDSA. Each week, a vet will answer your dog dilemmas, sharing tips, tricks, and advice to help you and other owners.

We know how a pet’s irrational fear, unusual behavior, bad habit, or health condition can affect an owner’s life – and My Dog Dilemma aims to answer all your burning questions. Last time, we heard from Katheryn who asked how to get her German Shepherd to stop barking at cars. Keep reading for our next dilemma, submitted by Nina in Kent.

The problem…

My name is Nina from Kent, and I have a Golden Retriever called Cali who is two, and a black Labrador Bella, also two. My dilemma is if I take them on a normal street walk (not off the lead) and they see a cat, fox, squirrel, mainly cats they are worse, then they will pull so hard and they have actually pulled me over a wall onto someone’s front lawn before! I’m nervous about normal walks and end up taking them in the car to the nearest fields for off-lead walks which is safer. They are searching for cats on my road as soon as they go out the front door. Love my dogs but I need advice on how to stop them.

The advice…

Hi Nina, dog walks should be nice for both your dogs and you, and it sounds like Cali and Bella pulling are making walks unpleasant! Many dogs enjoy and have a strong desire to chase other animals, but it’s no fun for those animals or us as their owners. Unfortunately, when we stop dogs chasing, they can become frustrated, which isn’t great for their mental wellbeing.

Dogs usually have a strong focus on whatever they want to chase, so it can be tricky to stop them pulling and distract their attention elsewhere. In the short term, before going out for walks, try giving them playtime and a chance to run, getting rid of some energy, then something they can chew to help calm them before their walk.

For training, in a calm environment (with no cats to distract them!) teach your dogs to focus on you and their recall. Gradually build up to more distracting environments to strengthen their focus and response to commands. Distracting a dog from wanting to chase can be challenging, so please consider seeking advice from a certified behaviorist if you feel you need more help with it.

As with all training, make sure you positively reinforce good behavior with lots of praise and a small, high-value treat, making them much more likely to want to do it again – the tastier the reward, the more they will enjoy and respond to training! You essentially want the reward to be more appealing than the cats, or foxes are, so a smelly treat should be helpful.

Answered by PDSA Vet Nurse Gemma Renwick

If you would like to have your query answered, please email us at dogs@countryliving.co.uk and tell us a bit about you, your dog (with age and breed), and your problem. Please go into as much detail as possible.

In conclusion, dealing with dogs that pull on the lead can be challenging, but with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, it is possible to train them to walk calmly by your side. Remember to seek professional help if needed and always prioritize the safety and well-being of your furry friends.