How to stop a Doberman from pulling while walking?
Dobermans are very strong and powerful dogs and it can be one’s pride when showing its sleekness while going on an afternoon walk. However walks can turn into disaster when the Doberman darts out and drags the owner to the ground. How can this be remedied to further prevent harm as well to the Doberman? Well, obedience training is the solution.
Here are some techniques: train the dog with commands to STOP and SIT while they are on the leash without any strong pulls. Hopefully they will do the commands as you stop walking. Another is tug on the leash with a verbal command as the dog starts to pull. If it persists, walk the other way and pull harder on it, Dobermans learn fast and this may help. Pinch collars can also be utilized however, they cause pain and if the dog keeps dragging the owner; the spikes will cut into the skin. Pain is not a healthy form of positive reinforcement.
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First of all this section gives very brief and incorrect information to help anyone stop a doberman, or any dog for that matter from pulling.
“Hopefully they will do the commands as you stop walking”
If the dog is pulling at the end of the leash in distraction, chances are they are not gonna stop and begin listening to you just because you have stopped walking.
Tug on leash and give what verbal command? Stop? If they new what the word stop meant you think you’d be able to say it and get them to stop pulling in the first place.
Pinch collars are made to surprise the dog and correct the dog in a similar way the mother dog corrected her puppies, by giving them a quick nip on the back of the neck for unwanted behaviors. Have you ever felt the prongs on a pinch collar? They are not Spikes and will NOT CUT into the dogs skin. A lot of times pinch collars are used incorrectly and if you continually let your dog pull into them it won’t help with pulling at all, your dog may get used to the tightening of the collar and your only building up their neck strength.
“Pain is not a healthy form of positive reinforcement.”
Pain is not a form of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is just how it sounds, its positive. You GIVE the dog something positive (treat, toy, praise) to increase the frequency of a behavior. Using a training collar is a form of Negative Reinforcement. Subtracting a Negative Stimulus (tension or tightening of the collar) when the dog offers the correct behavior. Also used to increase frequency of a behavior.
To get a dog to stop pulling the last thing you want to do is walk in the same direction that your dog is wanting to go. If your dog is pulling you down the street you are only reinforcing them for doing so. Your dog begins to learn, “Oh wow, I get it, I got to pull you to get anywhere!” Stop and take a step back. Give your dog some slack. It’s easiest to use a six foot leash. Hold the end of your leash, when your dog gets distracted and moves out to the end of the leash begin backing up. Don’t stop walking just keep backing up and pull your dog into your direction. Finally your dog will stop and think, almost saying “hey wait a second where’s my owner going,” once they look towards you continue backing up and encourage your dog to come all the way to you, keep that leash nice and loose when your dog is walking towards you.
Its best to use treats when starting a new behavior, so when your dog is next to you offer him a treat. Also once he is coming towards you continue to move in the same direction, but turn so you are walking forward instead of backwards. You want to reward your dog when your walking in a forward direction.
More then likely, especially in the beginning stages of this exercise your dog will turn and come back to you but then shoot out to the end of the leash again. This is common, once they shoot out the end again practice the same set of steps. Always rewarding your dog for walking next to you on a nice loose leash.
There are plenty more steps to continue before you’ll have a well walking pooch, this is only the beginning step. It is best to consult a trainer and continue to go from there.
Keep consistency in mind. When you begin this exercise it should be practiced wherever you go. If your dog is allowed to pull sometimes but other times has to stay with you then it will never be clear in his mind. the more consistent you are the quicker your dog will catch onto behaviors.
I hope that dog in the picture isn’t yours, with the information you provided your dog will never learn to walk on loose leash.