Teddy’s Top Training Tip: To avoid confrontation and your dog’s willingness to turn away from distractions, throw some treats on ground so that he/she has to hunt for them.
Lead manners is part of teaching your dog some life skills. Dogs can become very frustrated on lead and this can result in the dog jumping, pulling towards another dog or person, lunging, stopping and staring, etc.
There are of course points to consider helping your dog when it is confronted with a distraction or problem, and these include:
- Walking your next to you on a loose lead.
- Thinking about the path ahead – be vigilant.
- Using leads/headcollars/harnesses that will help you walk your dog. Choose the right piece of equipment that will help your dog.
- Teach a sit, focus (look or watch), wait, etc
- Teach your dog to carry out a quick about turn -make this fun.
To teach your dog a quick about turn this will help to improve their willingness to turn away from distractions:
- Use an area of the park, or your garden to start off with – will little or no distractions.
- Have some treats (ones your dog will work for) or you can use your dog’s favourite toy.
- Think of a phrase you can use that will mean something to your dog that he or she needs to turn.
- Make sure you turn in one direction (left or right) – to start with lure your dog around and then throw the treat/toy a short distance away from you.
- Gradually over time build up the distance you will throw the treat/toy on the ground – which can help when your dog is off lead.
- Above all make the training fun.