Is your German Shepherd turning your daily walks into a tug-of-war? Do you dream of leisurely strolls where you’re not being dragged down the street? You’re not alone! Many German Shepherd owners face the challenge of leash pulling. But don’t worry, with the right techniques and a bit of patience, you can transform your walks into enjoyable experiences for both you and your furry friend. This guide will provide you with effective strategies to train your German Shepherd to walk politely on a leash, making your outings more pleasant and safe.
Why Do German Shepherds Pull on Leashes?
Before we dive into the training methods, let’s understand why German Shepherds are prone to pulling. Several factors contribute to this behavior:
- Natural Instincts: German Shepherds are intelligent and energetic dogs. They were bred to work and often have a strong desire to explore their surroundings.
- Lack of Training: Without proper training, puppies can develop bad habits like pulling.
- Excitement: The anticipation of a walk can cause them to get overly excited and pull ahead.
- Harness Use: A harness can teach the dog to pull.
Understanding these reasons will help you tailor your approach and address the root cause of the pulling.
Essential Equipment for Leash Training
Before you start, make sure you have the right equipment:
- Collar or Harness: Some trainers recommend a collar, while others prefer a harness. A harness may encourage pulling. Choose what you and your dog are most comfortable with.
- Leash: A standard 6-foot leather or all-weather leash is ideal. Avoid retractable leashes, as they can encourage pulling.
- Treats: High-value treats like dried liver, beef jerky, hot dogs, or cheese are great motivators. Cut them into small pieces to avoid overfeeding.
- Clicker (Optional): A clicker can help mark the desired behavior and speed up the learning process.
Effective Training Methods
Here are several effective methods to train your German Shepherd to walk nicely on a leash:
1. The Basic Heel Method
This method focuses on teaching your dog to walk by your side in a controlled manner.
Steps:
- Prepare Your Puppy: Fit your German Shepherd puppy with an appropriate collar or harness and a leash for his size. Give him a little bit of time to explore and sniff the leash. Attach it to his collar or harness and let him walk around the house getting used to the weight and how it feels.
- Position Your Puppy: Position your German Shepherd puppy on your left side and hold onto his leash. Do not allow much slack in the leash, try to keep the leash fairly tight so you can keep your puppy next to you. Over time, you will loosen the leash, creating slack between you and your puppy.
- Introduce Command: Begin to introduce the command to ‘heel’. Take a step forward, use the word “heel”, and then show your German Shepherd a treat he could earn if he moves forward with you.
- Treat: As your puppy steps near you, give him his treat. Be prepared with another treat and move forward again. Say “heel”, take a few more steps forward, and give your puppy another treat.
- Begin Walking: Give the command ‘heel’ again and walk forward several steps expecting your German Shepherd to come with you, matching your pace and keeping the leash tight without pulling. As your pup walks next to you matching your pace without pulling on the leash, give him rewards every few steps.
- Increase Distance: Continue practicing leash walking with your German Shepherd puppy by increasing the distance you’re walking between the command and giving him a treat.
- Challenge: Challenge your puppy by going further in distance and treating less often. You can also stop walking to ensure you have his full attention, begin walking again with the ‘heel’ command, and treat when he joins you.
- Practice: Training your German Shepherd to leash walk with you while heeling on your left side is going to take some time and practice. Be sure you are rewarding positive behavior, stopping for redirection should your puppy become distracted, and starting with the heel command again.
2. The Start In, Go Out Method
This method helps your puppy associate the leash with positive experiences.
Steps:
- Go for a Walk: Train Your German Shepherd puppy to recognize a command to get him excited about attaching a leash and going for a walk with you. This command can be simple such as ‘let’s go for a walk.’ As you say the command, attach the leash to your German Shepherd puppy and get ready to go.
- Inside: Before you take your puppy outside for leash walking, practice a bit inside your home. Place your pup on a leash, keep the slack between you and the dog loose, and give your command to go for a walk.
- Walk: As you walk forward, your puppy should follow you. As he follows you, give him a treat. If he does not follow you right away, walk until the leash tightens, call him by name and entice him with a treat before the leash pulls on him.
- Treat: Once your puppy makes the connection and begins walking toward you, start walking and allow him to catch up. Once he catches up to you and walks beside you at your pace, give him a treat.
- Practice: Practice walking with your pup on the leash in the house several times before going outside. While you are in the house walking, try to keep the leash loose without pulling on your puppy or allowing him to pull you. Be sure to reward him every few steps as he walks with you.
- Outside: Take your puppy outside for distraction-free walking. Use the same methods as above to practice loose leash walking. As long as your Shepherd is staying with you and walking next to you without going ahead and tugging on the leash, give him treats every few steps.
- Redirect: If your puppy becomes distracted, redirect him by stopping, getting his attention, and having him come back to you. When he comes back to your side, do not give him a treat but continue walking and start training over. Take several steps with your German Shepherd before he is rewarded again.
- Practice: Practice loose leash walking with your puppy several times a day for short walks. Continue to reward him as he works hard to stay with you without getting distracted while you walk together.
- Leash Pull: If your German Shepherd gets ahead of you and pulls on the leash, stop in your tracks, wait for him to notice, and call him back to your side. Once he’s back at your side, start over by taking a few steps and rewarding him for staying with you. If your puppy is distracted often, take your training slow and away from distractions.
3. The Different Direction Method
This technique teaches your dog to pay attention to you and follow your lead.
Steps:
- Leash: Put a leash on your puppy and give him a treat. This will get him excited for whatever is to come.
- Forward: Take a few steps forward with your pup on a leash. Try to keep the leash fairly tight but do not pull or allow your German Shepherd puppy to pull. You want just enough slack in the leash so you aren’t tugging or pulling on it but it’s not so loose that he has a lot of freedom to get far away from you.
- Treat: As your puppy takes a step or two with you, give him a treat. Stop in your tracks then turn and walk the other direction.
- Follow: Your puppy should follow you rather quickly. If he does, give him a treat immediately and keep walking. If he does not follow, call him and get his attention by showing him a treat. You can stop and wait for him to come back to you then start again walking in the opposite direction.
- Reward: Be sure to give your puppy a reward for recognizing that you stopped and changed directions and for following you.
- Practice: Keep practicing. Take several steps, increasing your distance, and then stop and turn. Your expectation should be that your German Shepherd stops with you and changes directions when you change directions. The entire time your puppy is on the leash he should be by your side and walking with you wherever you go. Be sure you are rewarding him for good behavior as he’s learning.
Additional Tips for Success
- Start Early: Begin leash training as soon as your puppy is comfortable wearing a collar or harness.
- Keep it Positive: Use positive reinforcement techniques and reward good behavior. Avoid punishment, as it can create fear and anxiety.
- Be Consistent: Practice regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. Consistency is key to reinforcing the desired behavior.
- Stay Patient: It takes time and patience to train a dog to walk nicely on a leash. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately.
- Use Verbal Cues: Talk to your dog to help distract it from distractions.
- Eliminate Distractions: Train in a distraction-free environment.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Pulling: If your dog starts to pull, stop walking immediately. Wait for him to stop pulling, then praise him and continue walking. You can also change direction to regain his attention.
- Distractions: If your dog gets distracted, redirect his attention back to you with a treat or a verbal cue.
- Leash Reactivity: If your dog is reactive to other dogs or people on the leash, consult a professional trainer or behaviorist.
Conclusion
Training your German Shepherd to walk nicely on a leash is a rewarding experience that will enhance your bond and make your walks more enjoyable. By using the techniques outlined in this guide and staying consistent with your training, you can transform your dog from a leash-pulling machine into a well-mannered walking companion. Remember to be patient, stay positive, and celebrate your successes along the way. Happy walking!