What Is the Best Dog Leash for a German Shepherd?
It can be frustrating to take your dog for a walk only for them to pull at any moment. The good news is that there are any number of training methods out there that can make for a more obedient dog.
German Shepherds are naturally quite trainable, great listeners who follow direction well. But you need to be the one to implement that training and ensure that they look to you with respect and discipline like no other. But is leash training the way to go?
What to Know About German Shepherd Leash Training
Leash training is not as simple as it might sound. There are a few key essentials that help you implement proper training and ensure that your dog winds up being the best listener that they can possibly be. There are other methods that work but this one is tried and true.
Dog leash training for a German shepherd can be quite simple when you know what to do and how to be prepared. Here are a few tips for properly training your dog with the use of a leash.
Size Matters
One of the most important things that you can do is have the proper size. Moreover, you want to harness the way that it walks. For that reason, one of the long, flexible leashes won’t work because it can create difficulty in communication between you and your dog.
Go with a short leash, but make sure that it is not overly tight. When the leash is too tight, it can not only be uncomfortable for your dog but potentially harm them as well. It can restrict your dog’s movements and even choke them.
The goal of a properly-sized leash is to ensure that they have enough slack but that they know they are not free to just roam. When the dog disobeys, you can give the leash a little pull backwards to give them the indication that they are not following directions properly.
Reward Friendly
Whenever training your dog, it is imperative that you use positive reinforcement. It can be all too easy to get frustrated and yell. But that is more than likely going to stress them out or make them afraid of you, not learn the directives as you issue them.
By being heavy with the positive affirmation and the treats, you start to program their natural response. They will recognize quickly that if they meet a certain level of behavior, they will get a treat. So, they will be more naturally inclined to want to replicate that behavior rather than pull.
Repeat the activity as much as you need to until it becomes apparent that your dog is ready to walk without pulling on their own. Depending on your dog, this can take some time but try to remain patient.
Don’t Move
Another way to deliver the message that pulling is not okay is to simply stop moving. If you are walking and they begin to pull, stop where you are. When the dog tries to move forward, they will realize pretty quickly that there is nowhere to go. After all, it is safe to assume that most dog owners are substantially bigger than their pet.
When they start to pull, stop right where you are. They may attempt to pull just because they aren’t quite sure what you are doing, but they should recognize pretty quickly that you are not moving. They should then follow suit by standing or sitting and waiting for your command.
If the dog notices that you aren’t moving but still tries to pull, turn around and move in the opposite direction. This tells your dog that you are only going to move in the direction that you want them to. Just make sure that you don’t pull the leash too tightly because it could potentially hurt them.
At Your Pace
Perhaps most importantly, you need to make sure that your dog is walking at your pace. When they are well out ahead of you, it is more likely that they are going to pull simply because there is such a huge distance between the two of you.
If they do move ahead of you, keep them on a short leash so that they fall back towards you. Keeping them by you is important not only because it means less stress on you but it also means that there is less chance of them getting hurt. Impatient dogs can move back and forth quite a bit, which can result in serious injury to both the owner and the dog. Keep them close to your body and there is much less of a chance that something can go wrong.
Conclusion
Leash training can be quite effective as a means for training. But you need to have the best dog leash for a German shepherd in order to have the most effective training possible. After all, you want them to be obedient to everything that you say, never questioning each move.
Leash training is consistent for training no matter the breed. Make walks a lot more pleasant than they would have been otherwise by interjecting leash training into your dog’s regimen.
