Leash Training Your Dog Using a No-Pull Harness – 5 Tips To Know

Leash Training Your Dog Using a No-Pull Harness

All dogs have the instinctive need to pull away from the leash. It doesn’t matter how well behaved they are, how well they’ve been trained, or if they haven’t pulled on their leash in years.

Like their wolf ancestors, dogs are programmed to run free. An obedient dog is a mark of many efforts, persistence, and many hours of training.

Keeping your dog in line is work, but it’s worthwhile. Any dog of any age can overcome their oppositional reflex, but it is best to start early. The best way to get started is by purchasing a no-pull harness.

These accessories discourage pulling behaviours without choking your dog insofar as a traditional collar and leash will. The next steps? Keep reading!

Fitting the harness

First things first, you’ll need to ensure the harness fits correctly. No-pull harnesses tend to come in an array of varying sizes.

Take note of your dog’s measurements and pick the size that corresponds accordingly. We’re going for a firm yet fair fit that you could fit two fingers under. (Also use this principle when fitting a collar.).

Take the first step, treat in hand

Once your dog is wearing the harness and the leash is attached, you’re good to go. Before taking the first step, pair this with the command ‘let’s go’ or similar.

For every step that your dog matches, ‘treat’ them accordingly. Treats are most definitely in order when your pooch consistently walks beside you on a loose leash.

See Also: Chippin Dog Treats 

Wait for the moment they start to stray

As you’re walking your dog, there will be a time when they will drift from their straight line. When this happens, say ‘easy’, but with a calm voice.

This is the first time your dog will hear this command, so they likely won’t respond and will continue to pull against the harness.

This is acceptable, and so long as you accompany this behaviour with the ‘easy’ command, your dog should pick up the meaning in time.

Image: Stylish Hound

Once you feel the pressure from the pulling behaviour, say ‘oops’—in that same calm tone of voice—make a U-turn, and walk in the opposite direction.

Repeat these actions and your dog should learn to stop pulling when you stop abruptly. This is because the no-pull harness and their own momentum will redirect them to wherever you’re walking.

Rinse, repeat, and treat

Whenever your pal is matching your steps and staying by your side, give them a treat! If they start to pull beyond the harness’s alignment, simply say ‘easy’ again, and then ‘oops’ before turning around.

By pairing your behaviours with commands, your dog will learn the behaviour faster.

If ‘easy’ and ‘oops’ don’t roll off the tongue, you can substitute them with words that feel more natural. Also, don’t worry if you forget to say them all the time. Your dog is not the only one learning here!

Repeat this somewhat circular routine, and be sure to give many treats for favourable behaviours.

After a while, you may notice your dog looking back at you or slowing in response to the ‘easy’ and ‘oops’ commands.

This means that they are learning and that operant conditioning is setting in! Did we mention that praise is also highly effective? Tell them they’re a good dog.

Words of affirmation are almost as effective as receiving gifts.

Pro-tips

Energetic dogs—or dogs accustomed to pulling—will take longer to match your pace. Just be patient and don’t worry too much if they don’t make immediate progress.

You should always teach consistency, even when your dog is walking without a harness.

If you let them stray even one pawprint further than they should, they will learn that pulling is okay. Whenever you feel tension on the lead, just say ‘oops’ and turn around again.

Рriсes оf nоn-retrасtаble No-Pull Harness dоg hаrnesses

Yоu dоn’t hаve tо sрend а huge аmоunt оf mоney оn untаgged dоg hаrnesses, but we reсоmmend keeрing the tор оf the рriсe rаnge if yоu саn аffоrd it, esрeсiаlly if yоu hаve а big оr strоng dоg.

Yоu саn find bаsiс nоn-retrасtаble dоg leаshes frоm $ 10 tо $ 20. While there аre sоme gооd сhоiсes fоr this рriсe, mоst сheарer belts аre fuzzy оr рrоne tо friсtiоn.

Mid-rаnge retrасtаble dоg leаshes соst $20-$30. This inсludes sturdy, well-раdded vаriаnts suitаble fоr dоgs оf аll strengths аnd sizes.

If yоu wаnt the best nоn-retrасtаble dоg brасes оn the mаrket, exрeсt tо раy $30- $50. Аt this рriсe yоu will find the strоngest аnd best-designed belts.

Аdviсes

• Be саreful nоt tо rub it оff the first time yоu use the dоg retrасtоrs.
• Sоme belts саn rub оr rub, esрeсiаlly аrоund the сhest.
  

Insрeсt fоr frаyed оr dаmаged skin аfter eасh use:

If yоu nоtiсe аny аbrаsiоn оr weаr, stор using the belts immediаtely аnd reрlасe them with аnоther mоdel.

Соnsider рurсhаsing а dоuble-sided leаsh:

The dоuble-sided leаsh аllоws yоu tо аttасh оne end tо the frоnt leаsh аttасhment аnd оne end tо the reаr leаsh аttасhment (if yоur сhоsen belt hаs bоth). This рrоvides smооth орerаtiоn оf the frоnt аttасhment аnd аdditiоnаl соntrоl оf the reаr аttасhment.

Сheсk hоw yоu рut оn yоur dоg’s untethered leаshes:

Sоme belts need tо be tuсked in by the dоg аnd sоme thrоugh the dоg’s heаd, whiсh mаy nоt be suitаble fоr а nervоus dоg.

Think аbоut the time оf dаy yоu will leаd yоur dоg:

If yоu оften gо fоr wаlks in the dаrk оutside, соnsider рurсhаsing dоg-friendly leаshes with refleсtive striрs.

FAQ

Q. What kind of discomfort do dogs experience when wearing a no-pull harness?

A. No-pull harnesses are not intended to cause pain or discomfort to dogs in order to deter them from tugging. 

Suppose your dog attempts to tug against the front leash attachment.

In that case, she will be turned around and returned to you as a result of the mechanics of the front leash attachment system.

Harnesses that prevent dogs from pulling are absolutely painless; they are only a little aggravating for a dog that is determined to pull. 

Having said that, there are various harnesses on the market that are designed to tighten as your dog pulls. 

Using them may cause your four-legged buddy pain or discomfort, and they will not be successful in deterring dogs from tugging. 

Q. My dog is pulling on his collar, so is a no-pull harness any safer for him than a collar or a conventional harness?

For dogs who are energetic pull on the leash, a no-pull dog harness (or any harness, really) is far safer than a collar in most cases.

In the event that your dog pulls while wearing a collar, it will obstruct his breathing and may cause permanent damage to his trachea over time.

However, while a no-pull harness isn’t inherently safer for your dog than a regular harness, your four-legged companion will be much easier to handle, which could be safer in the event that he’s powerful enough to break free or pull you into the path of danger.

In order to get a no-pull dog harness, how can I measure my canine companion?

Rather than relying on weight- or breed-based size guides, it is always preferable to measure your dog to ensure that he is the proper size.

You’ll need to measure around your dog’s chest at various locations, depending on the harness and how it fits him. 

The specific points you’ll need to measure will depend on the harness and how it fits your dog. 

Consult the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to properly measure your dog.

How long does it take to train a dog to walk on the leash?

Can You Tell Me How Long It Takes Leash Train a Dog? In as little as 4–6 weeks, if you begin leash training your puppy at an early age, it should be able to acquire proper walking etiquette.

Is it necessary to train my dog on a leash?

Because all dogs have a predatory drive that might cause them to run away and become separated from their owners, leash training a puppy or dog is critical.

Regardless of how much you or your dog may want, a dog cannot always be allowed to run free. Learn how to leash train your puppy or dog the easy way by watching this video.

Is it too late in training my dog to walk on a leash?

However, if you have an older dog who has developed undesirable habits, don’t be discouraged; it is never too late to teach a dog to walk gently on a leash without pulling. Time, patience, and an understanding of what motivates your dog to learn and obey directions are all that is required.

Which side of the street should a dog walk on?

Greetings, Sue: When walking on trails, the basic guideline is to stay to the right and pass on the left side of the trail.

Show and hunting dogs are trained to remain on their owner’s left side, but for the majority of dogs, it makes little difference whose side they’re on or where they’re going.

What does it mean for a dog to heel?

It is defined as your dog being at your left side, walking parallel to you with no more than six inches between you and the ground. The right side of your dog’s head is aligned with the left leg on which you are standing.

What causes dogs to pull on their leashes?

Because they have learnt that pulling on their lead allows them to move forward, this is one of the most common reasons dogs pull on their leads.

Take only one step with your dog whenever he or she is tugging to offer them a clear signal that pulling is effective.

The process of teaching your dog to walk on a loose lead will take a significant amount of patience and time.

Fact Check

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