One question that most pug owners have asked at least once when they get their pet out for a walk:” How do I get my pug to stop pulling on the leash? First of all, let’s explain why they raise this particular question and in what context.
When your pug chases you down the street, pulls hard on the leash, and seems to be driven out of his mind by other dogs passing by, you are facing a rather unpleasant problem. It is without any doubt that all owners want to walk their cute little pug on the street without always being on high alert, for fear of them reacting to every single thing in their way.
Any pug, no matter how stubborn or impulsive, can be taught to behave properly, to walk, and not cause trouble. In this article, we will explain step by step what you have to do to get your pug to stop pulling on the leash.
How do I get my Pug to Stop pulling on the leash?
Like every life situation, understanding what causes a particular reaction is important to manage it properly. So is with the canines that pull on the leash, there are some reasons behind it.
Teaching your pug how to walk on a leash is crucial, whether you’re just getting your puppy accustomed to it or teaching an older pug to walk more courteously. And let’s face it, pugs love attention and everything will catch their eyes. To keep your dog under control when out for a walk, establish limits beforehand while keeping in mind the health, the well-being of your pug, and the security of the nearby pets and people.
Pugs pull on the leash because it’s typical canine behavior. It is not because they want to do it on purpose. In contrast, it comes naturally to them. They have the feeling they walk at their own pace and to their desired destination by pulling.
So, your pug pulls on the leash for functional reasons rather than to show dominance. As a result, if you chase them while you’re out on a walk and they’re pulling, they’ll learn to pull even harder. They assume this is good behavior if they are not taught it is a bad thing.
It will be challenging to break your dog’s leash-pulling tendency if it has always been present. A dog’s instinct is to resist constraint since they are used to going ahead while pulling, which has reinforced the action itself.
However, if you’re diligent, you can alter that behavior and eventually put a stop to all that pulling by teaching your dog that walking next to you is far more satisfying.
Tips you need to try for stopping your Pug from pulling on the leash
Note that it is much easier to train a small pug puppy than an adult one. If you have a pug puppy, then this is the perfect time to teach him to walk properly with a leash. You should start very early and here are some ways that you can try to stop your pug from pulling on the leash.
Start with the right equipment
When it comes to walking your dog, having the appropriate equipment may make a huge difference. Anti-pull collars, harnesses, barbed chain collars, and protective collars are not so effective when teaching good manners. They are used by and for people who cannot exercise control over their pugs without using physical force and are methods of avoiding training work.
For proper training, use a regular or buckled collar and a static leash. Stretchable leashes can be great for exercise, but they are not helpful when establishing good leash walking habits. You want to teach your dog to respect a set boundary and stay close to you, so choose a leash that is six feet or less.
Catch your pug’s attention
Take your pug in the park as this is the right environment for training. Bear in mind that there are many things that will distract him like other animals, smells, and people. The first step would be to make him watch you. Use rewards to get him to pay attention to you. Your pug will definitely be more caught by the reward in your hand.
How do you do that in practice? The first time makes him look at you holding the reward in his hand and prompt him to pay attention to you by using some commands. Try several times to get his attention by placing the reward in front of him. He will smell the reward, he will keep his eyes on it. Move the reward before your eyes. Make sure he’s looking at you, listening to you, then reward him.
Then try using only the prompt. If he responds positively, rewards him. If not, restart the procedure. Repeat until he looks at you intently, then gives him the reward. This is the first important step to go through before continuing with leash walking.
Maintain eye contact with your pug while walking
The next step is to take just a few steps. It is important that your pug pays attention to you during the exercise, and not to the leash. If he pays more attention to the leash than to you, he will want to pull and escape. During your walk, test the pug’s attention, always make him look at you. His attention will certainly wander elsewhere, but whenever he looks at you, reward him.
You may go on with practicing walking on a leash with your pug for a longer distance. Walk alongside him, and when you see him nervous, draw his attention to you. Make sure he listens to you, keeps eye contact with you, and is obedient to your commands. If he does so, give him another reward.
Reward good behavior
Good behavior should always be encouraged. You may use delicious rewards to encourage your pug’s progress while you work on leash training. He’ll quickly discover that being on a leash is enjoyable and tasty.
As he behaves better while being led, gradually cut down on the treats you offer him, but don’t cut them at all. To reinforce in your pug the behavior you want, use that technique as frequently as you can.
Be patient and success will follow
This might be the most difficult part of the training. Starting, stopping, changing direction, and constantly monitoring your dog’s progress can be frustrating. Making sure you’re in the right mindset before you head out the door is as important as the equipment you use, the reward you give, and the consistency of your training.
Our dogs are extremely adept at picking up on our emotions. We never want them to be fearful or reluctant to keep us company. Fortunately, with patience and consistency, you will enjoy your daily walks every bit as much as your dog does.
Walking is an activity that provides positive mental, physical, and emotional benefits for both humans and canines. Happiness is nothing but a contagious state of mind that benefits us all.
Why might some methods not work for your Pug as they do for other dogs?
One thing you should know before starting any form of training is that not all techniques will be effective for your pug. When it comes to teaching your pug to stop pulling on the leash, there are various techniques you may attempt, but occasionally you could feel as though they don’t work. Therefore, if you’ve read about this topic in the past but haven’t noticed any change, you’re not alone.
A key thing of training your pug to leash walk properly is to find your dog’s motivation and use it as leverage. No wonder the methods that consist of most toys and delicious goodies are the most effective.
