It's a well-kept secret, but dogs HATE to be forced to walk in the opposite direction from where they are headed, and it turns out this is an important tool we can use to teach our stubborn walking companions to maintain a loose leash while we are on our daily walk, while simultaneously trying to maintain ourselves in an upright position. Teaching our own dogs to walk on a loose leash is very important, but it's especially important for a homeless shelter dog to make a super-duper good impression on people who visit the shelter while he (or she) is hanging out waiting for a fur-ever home. This is where a Good Buddy comes in really handy! Here's how it goes:
At the very first sign of leash pulling, do not raise your voice or yank on the dog's leash, but just quickly, and in a very animated manner, say "Turn Around" and (of course) turn around and begin walking briskly in the other direction. Your dog will be confused and somewhat thrown off-guard by the change of direction in his forward movement. After about 15 seconds of walking in the other direction, turn back around and resume your walk. Repeat this process for as long as it takes to get that "loose leash." You won't get instant results, but you will get amazing results. Patience, repetition and consistency is the key. Be the leader and keep your cool.
Happy walking!
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