This dog is reacting to something that he and the owner encountered on their walk.
In my previous post on this subject, Dog Pulling – Its all in the leash | The Animal Nerd , I discussed methods of managing and training a dog who pulls on a leash habitually. I also went into detail on the best way to harness and leash a pulling dog, to remain in control of the walk, and some methods on reducing the pull and training him to walk politely with a human handler.
But these methods aren’t guaranteed. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution and pulling isn’t due to one single cause. The dog may pull because of a prey drive (Squirrel!!!) or be reacting to something that he sees or hears. He may be pulling towards another dog, out of either excitement or fear. The pulling may intensify due to his frustration at being restrained. At some point, it may become necessary to call in a professional.
Most dog owners do not have the training and experience needed to identify the cause of a dog’s behavior or to correctly determine their dog’s emotional state. I routinely hear accounts of dogs suddenly taking off or acting aggressively with no warning and taking their owners completely by surprise. And I have no doubt that this is what the owners perceived. However, the fact is that dogs are constantly communicating their emotions and excitement level; the owners in these cases just didn’t see the behavioral clues that the dogs were sending them.
So, when in doubt, seek help. If you find that your dog is lunging towards other dogs, people, etc.; or if you are simply having continued trouble with his behavior on leash, its time to get a qualified professional to help. And by qualified, I mean a canine behaviorist or behavior consultant who has been certified by either the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (iaabc.org)) or the Certifying Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT, Certification for professional dog trainers and behavior consultants (ccpdt.org)). By seeking professionals who are credentialed by these organizations, you will be getting help from people who are not only experienced but have demonstrated knowledge in canine behavior and – most importantly – abide by a strict standard of professional ethics Certification for professional dog trainers and behavior consultants (ccpdt.org).
When you’re hiring a behavior consultant, here’s what to look for:
- Look for someone who offers to carefully observe you and your dog prior to identifying the cause of the pulling behavior, and then tailors the treatment of that behavior to the cause and conditions under which it occurs. If he wants to start in with a leash training session without first observing and documenting or recording you and your dog’s behavior, you probably want someone else.
- Does he take the time to ask you what result you want, or what you would like the dog to do instead of pulling your arm off? It isn’t enough to make the dog stop doing something, you must teach him what to do instead.
- Does he offer to “board and train” your dog at his facility? If so, find someone else. Your dog isn’t a car that can be dropped off with a mechanic when it acts up. The whole point of the training is for you to learn how to interact with your dog.
- You want a trainer or behaviorist who will abide by LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principles, Force-Free and/or Fear-Free behavioral methods. You want someone who can help you reduce your pup’s excitement and anxiety level, so he can enjoy a quiet walk with you.
- An ethical trainer will use the minimum equipment necessary to reduce the undesired pulling. The proper use of collars, leashes and harnesses was discussed in a previous post. Any aversive training tools, such as electrical collars, slip leads or prong collars, should be used only as a last resort. If the trainer mentions these aversive methods as a standard training tool, find someone else.
- Take the time to review the CCPDT standard of ethics (above) prior to interviewing a trainer or behaviorist.
I hope this was helpful. As always, you can contact me with any questions at headnerd@animalnerd.com or in Facebook @animalnerd.